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Letter to Governor Newsom Option 1



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Letter to Governor Newsom Assembly Bill 46

Two Letters to choose from.  Tailor as you see fit!

Option 1

Your Name
Organization/Title (if applicable)
Address

Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814

Keep Veterans in California:  Please Support AB-46 Personal income taxes: exclusion: Military Services Retirement and Surviving Spouse Benefit Payment Act

Governor Newsom,

Assembly Bill 46 has received overwhelming public support from members of both parties in each house of the Legislature. Not a single vote cast against it.  BUT – the Franchise Tax Board raised a concern of an estimated negative income of $100 – 150 million.  The FTB’s comment exposes a discrepancy that pales in comparison to the potential loss of billions of dollars. The second income pay received by military retirees flows into the economy of their chosen state.   This coupled with other factors of how Veterans bring CA monetary and community value, such as the $22.5 billion the state took into CA economy from the Veterans Administration in FY 2022.

Add that CA is home to 103 Veterans Medical Facilities, the largest number in the country, with Texas having the 2nd largest at 93.  A state's Veterans' population has a direct impact on funding allocations to keep those facilities open and operational.  According to the National Center for Veterans' Analysis and Statistic's, CA’s Veteran population in FY2010 was 2.2 million.  They listed CA’s FY2020 Veteran population as 1.6 million.  Losing those Veterans resulted in millions of federal dollars no longer coming into CA’s economy.  As the patient population decreases, those medical professionals with VA Medical Facilities are transferred to other states, no longer paying income tax or bringing money into local economies.

Let’s also recognize the skilled professionals the military brings to CA.  With two decades of military service under their belts, retirees emerge highly proficient & constitute an available workforce capable of filling many of the 40,000 technical vacancies & over 20,000 medical field positions. These include fields such as software engineering, cybersecurity, aerospace, AI, biochemistry, medicine & management.  Let’s add the educational benefits used by military retirees, surviving spouses & children in this state which further amplify its gains.

AB46 stands as a tribute to those who dedicated their lives to serve our nation. Beyond this, it plays a vital role in aiding our state to retain & draw in retirees from the uniformed services.  Our Veterans fortify the economic strength of this state & they bolster our communities.

Every state in the nation, except California, recognizes the positive economic and community impact of keeping military retirees in their states.  How can California afford to miss this?

Please support AB46 for our Veterans and for our State.

Signature

Name, Address
[Organization/Title if applicable]
 

Option 2

 

Your Name
Organization/Title (if applicable)
Address

The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814

Governor Newsom,

It has almost been a year since Lt. Gen Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), then President and CEO of The Military Officers Association of America wrote a letter to you (attached) asking that you support the exemption of military retirement from California income taxes.

Now a year later AB 46, which was introduced by Assemblymember James Ramos (D), 45th District, was held on September 1, 2023 in the Senate Appropriations Committee, as a two-year bill.

In a press release dated September 1, 2023 Ramos stated “I will collaborate with the Newsom administration to find a responsible budget solution”.  We applaud Assemblymember Ramos for his continued efforts to have AB 46 become a reality in California.  It is well past the time for California to recognize the workforce development and economic advantages of keeping military retirees in California.  California’s military retiree population has realized a steady decline dating back to 2010 and over 500,000 veterans have moved to other states following those military retirees, based on DoD data.

AB 46 has overwhelming bi-partisan support from the state legislators. It cleared the State Assembly with zero opposition and has strong bi-partisan support in the State Senate.  What we have failed to achieve is your support of AB 46.

I am asking that you join the California State Veterans Commanders Council, 28 veterans organizations, PORAC, SDMAC and many other civic organizations along with local elected officials and publicly support the passage of AB 46.

California has more military installations than any other state and the largest active-duty military population of any state.  Yet, California continues to be the only state in the nation that fails to provide an exemption from state income taxes on military retirement.

A study conducted by your own Military Council estimates the defense industry brings $168 billion dollars to California’s economy annually.  Military retirees at a young age of 38 provide an experienced workforce which can help fill critical jobs California currently has a shortage of.   It is time for California to join the rest of the nation. Support AB 46.

Respectfully,

 

 

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