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Rep. Courtney Announces Retroactive Stop Loss Payments for Veterans, Troops Troops Subjected to Involuntary Service Extension Now Eligible for $500 Payment per Month WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Joe Courtney was joined today by Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal, former Sergeant in the Marine Reserves, and Major General Thaddeus Martin, Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard, as he announced that the federal government, through an act of Congress, has begun providing retroactive payments to troops subjected to extended military service in Iraq and Afghanistan through the policy of Stop Loss. Since 2001, 422 members of the Connecticut National Guard have been subjected to Stop Loss. Of that total, 177 are stilling serving today. The commitment that our veterans, active duty troops, and their families have made must be matched by our assurance that they will be treated honorably and fairly for the unexpected disruption to their lives caused by Stop Loss, stated Courtney. Those who were stop-lossed went far above and beyond their contracted obligation and we owe them more than just a thank you . This is one way to give our veterans and troops something tangible and real that may help relieve the burden to their lives and the lives of their loved ones. My office is prepared to help each qualified veteran and active duty troop apply for and receive their retroactive payment. At a time of rhetoric and speechmaking, this stop loss reform provides real action to back our words. We owe so much to our military men and women -- and this step is a long overdue measure they deserve. All who were stop- lossed -- compelled to stay beyond their enlistments or retirements -- should apply for this compensation. Extra pay -- $500 for each month of stop loss -- is the least we can do for these servicewomen and men who did extra service going above and beyond, stated Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. All who serve in our military make sacrifices, but stop-lossed service members paid a higher price. While it cannot fully compensate for the sacrifices and consequences caused by stop loss, this step is a heartfelt show of appreciation for uncommon service. My office has been contacted by many who were stop-lossed and who now rightfully receive benefits that reflect their service. I am grateful to Rep. Courtney for his leadership. Stop Loss was the involuntary extension of a service member s active duty service under the enlistment contract in order to retain them beyond their initial end of term of service (ETS) date. For nearly 185,000 members of our military, this policy extended their already difficult tours of duty, placing extreme strain on them and their families. In March 2009, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced the phase-out of the Stop Loss program. The Army s active component program is to end on January 1, 2010, while the Army Reserve and Army National Guard programs ended in August and September 2009, respectively. Congressman Courtney has strongly supported the creation of the Stop Loss payment program in order to address the unfair burden this policy placed on our men and women in uniform. In 2008, Courtney cosponsored legislation to create a Stop Loss compensation program, H.R. 6205. In September 2008, the Connecticut lawmaker voted to provide $72 million in compensation to service members extended through Stop Loss. The legislation provides $500 a month to service members for every month their deployment was extended in 2009. Earlier this year, Congressman Courtney voted to expand the program by providing $734 million to compensate service members who were extended through Stop Loss since September 11, 2001. Service members, including members of the Reserve components, former and retired members are eligible for the retroactive Stop Loss pay. All pay claims must be submitted before October 21, 2010. Family members of deceased service members who had their military service extended through Stop Loss should contact the appropriate military service for assistance, or contact Representative Courtney s Norwich office (860) 886-0139 for assistance. Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil Navy: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=49196 Marine Corps: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss Air Force: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss

Conspiracy theories abound on the left and the right--the "Birthers" are only the most recent incarnation. But there are plenty of scary secrets out there that are real and well-documented, from Max Blumenthal's investigations into the religious right to Jeremy Scahill's work on Blackwater. It can be hard to tell where the conspiracy theories begin and the truth ends. Our guests today talk about shady global conspiracies, corporate overlords, and the military-industrial complex, and what we can do about any of it. John Perkins is the author of Hoodwinked and Confessions of an Economic Hit Man , and has written about how corporations push politicians around and even threaten them with violence. Russ Baker, meanwhile, is the author of Family of Secrets: The Bush Dynasty, the Powerful Forces That Put It in the White House, and What Their Influence Means for America and has written extensively about the military-industrial complex. They argue the only weapon we have is public opinion and public pressure--and we need to bring it to bear not just on the government, but on the corporations. In the new film Collapse, filmmaker Chris Smith follows Michael Ruppert, a former Los Angeles police officer who publishes a newsletter where, among other things, he predicted the economic crisis. But his theories often range into the apocalyptic. Smith joined Laura in the studio to discuss his film and whether or not he believes Ruppert. Is he a genius, or just paranoid? Today is Veterans Day, and we are supposed to honor those who have served in the military. This video from New America Media takes a look at the struggles of veterans to readjust to civilian life, and asks what more we could be doing to truly honor them. With all the depressing news about corporations and the government today, we thought we'd add some of the brighter side of capitalism. Social Capital Markets aims to help save the world--and still make a profit. The Earth Island Institute created the annual Brower Youth Awards to honor six young people for their outstanding activism and achievements in the fields of environmental and social justice advocacy, and we take a look at another of their winners, a food justice activist in Texas who is redefining environmentalism.

In 2007, a VA survey found that 18 percent of recently discharged veterans were unemployed and that of those who had found a job, 25 percent made less than $22,000 a year. Those numbers have only gotten worse since the recent recession, but with ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, more and more servicemembers are returning home and trying to find work. This video from New America Media takes a look at the struggles of veterans to readjust to civilian life.

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NEW YORK President Bush will be talking later this morning about Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' resignation. The president is expected to make comments on the matter from his ranch in Crawford, Texas. ABC NewsCREW Releases Statement On Resignation Of Attorney General Alberto ... YubaNet, CA - 37 minutes ago "Attorney General Gonzales' resignation is welcome and overdue news. His resignation should not, however, end congressional and Department of Justice ... White House officials: Alberto Gonzales has resigned Newsday Alberto Gonzales to resign today San Jose Mercury News US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigns: Report Times of India Boston Herald - Times Online all 592 news articles Reaction to Gonzales' Resignation FOX News - 16 minutes ago By AP "Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job. He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to Karl Rove. ... Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Resigns Washington Post, United States - 1 hour ago By Howard Schneider Embattled Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales has resigned from his post, ending a controversial cabinet tenure that included clashes ... Alberto Gonzales Resigns: Online Gambling Community Rejoices Gambling911.com, FL - 13 minutes ago Gonzales' decision was first reported by the New York Times on its Web site. Gonzales' resignation marks the loss of another Bush loyalist at a time when ... US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Brisbane Times, Australia - 17 minutes ago After months defying demands by Democrats and even some of Bush's Republican allies in Congress for his resignation, Gonzales told Bush he would quit in a ... US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigns: report Welland Tribune, Canada - 1 hour ago Gonzalex, who has been under withering criticism in recent months, is said to have submtted his resignation on Friday. A possible temporary replacement for ... Conyers: Circumstances surrounding attorney general's resignation ... Detroit Free Press, United States - 16 minutes ago By TODD SPANGLER Congressman John Conyers reacted this morning to word that US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is resigning by saying it is unfortunate ... US Sources say Attorney General Gonzales has resigned Houston Chronicle, United States - 13 minutes ago "Better late than never," said Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, summing up the response of many in Washington to Gonzales' resignation. ... Attorney General Gonzales expected to resigned News 8 Austin, TX - 17 minutes ago By: AP CRAWFORD, Texas -- President Bush will be talking later Monday morning about Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' resignation. ... NewsGirlWASHINGTON (CNN) White House hopeful Barack Obama is out with a ... CNN Political Ticker - 21 minutes ago "I have long believed that Alberto Gonzales subverted justice to promote a political agenda, and so I am pleased that he has finally resigned today," he ... Attorney General Gonzales resigns CNN International all 14 news articles Nate Perkins Live's Perspective: http://nateperkinslive.ning.com/Join My Yuwie: Invite friends. Hang out. http://www.yuwie.com/yuwie.asp?r=5514 Townhall.Com with NATE PERKINS LIVE http://townhallnateperkins.blogspot.com/2007/08/1-syndicate-nate-perkins-live-iptv-show.htmlFREE This real HOT! Beat High Gas Price Now: http://www.4planetearth.com/nateperkins Check it out! Nate Perkins Live: IPTV You are viewing a feed that contains frequently updated content. http://nateperkins.blip.tv/rss