Today, Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C,I-Deerpark) is demanding answers after Gov. Cuomo vetoed a veterans’ pension buy-back program for the second year in a row. The bill, which was passed in both the Senate and Assembly, was sponsored by Brabenec, and its passage was one of his top priorities his first year in office. The legislation would have allowed honorably-discharged veterans enrolled in the state pension system to exchange up to three years of active military service to be used toward their retirement benefits. Currently, this privilege is reserved for military members who served during a specific period of conflict.

“It’s disrespectful to the men and women of our military, simple as that. I told the governor months ago not to veto this legislation,” said Brabenec. “I can’t understand why this bill, having widespread bi-partisan support and being of little to no cost to taxpayers, has been vetoed by Gov. Cuomo two years in a row. I’ve been fighting for this bill for months, and the people of this state should not let him continue to get away with this kind of outrageous behavior.”

Brabenec has been an outspoken proponent of this bill, and a previous press release advising the governor not to veto the pension bill can be read here.