In April, 2013, Assemblyman Jim Frazier (of Oakley) introduced AB-935, a bill which, among other things, allowed veterans to have a Veteran designation on their DMV Licenses. After its passage in the August 2014 session, he held a Press Conference in every town in AD-11, touting how hard it was to pass this legislation, as well as talk about the speed bumps along the way in its passage.
I would agree with him that the Veteran’s Designation is a useful designation, to ALL California Veterans, the affluent as well as the homeless, and something that has been a long time in the making, to help Veterans attain the services they have earned by serving this great nation.
After a careful Legislative Analysis, the Designation was deemed “non-mandatory” in its current state, but what Assemblyman Frazier failed to mention in his Press Conference is the $ 5.00 FEE to receive the designation, with the Agency (CA DMV) reserving the right to raise that fee to a figure as high as $15.00. Meaning, “if you want the designation, which you deserve, you’ll need to pay for it!!!”.
In my estimation, the introductory program amounts to a “PROMO CODE” Time Period where the State DMV will access the success of the program. At that point, if successful, they will unleash Section 14901.1 of the Vehicle and Traffic Code to raise the Veterans’ designation fee, to the FEE they wanted to charge all along, which is $15.00/veteran.
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, there are 1,851,470 living Veterans, from all branches of our nation’s service, residing in the State of California. What Mr. Frazier is seeking, is that $15.00 “cover charge” from each California Veteran, which translates into over 27 MILLION DOLLARS over 5 years’ time, into most likely Transportation/infrastructure earmarks.
If I were to speak to every Veteran from around this State, I would tell them to not get too excited about this very long overdue Veterans designation on their Driver’s License. I would tell them to wait until your current DMV License expires in a few years before committing to a new one, or wait until Republicans in the Legislature, can offer this at a price it deserves to be offered at, which is FREE OF CHARGE!!!
If Democrats are going to insist on charging for this, they should put it where it will do the most good, that being County Veterans Service Agencies. We’ve already seen the Federal Government “whitewash” how they handle things at the Veterans Administration, and the State is no better. Now, when they finally come up with a great idea, to help Veterans earn the benefits they deserve, they find ways of making money off your service to our nation!!! I won’t even bore you with the Statistics that Assembly Appropriations came up with when they drafted this bill, suffice it to say, that was their first and only consideration.
If elected to replace Mr. Frazier, in California’s vast 11th Assembly District, I WILL introduce new Legislation to amend this otherwise well-meaning Law, striking the fees to Veterans from it. I agree with Mr. Frazier that we should always honor our veterans; what I vehemently do not agree on is imposing a tariff to receive the Veteran designation. What I see is nothing more than a Revenue generating Bill, that Mr. Frazier and his colleagues are secretly imposing on our Veterans…and it is utterly despicable!!
Regards,
Dave Miller,
Conservative Republican Candidate for California State Assembly 11th District
Vacaville, Fairfield, Suisun City, Rio Vista, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Knightsen, Bethel Island, Oakley & Discovery Bay
23 comments
Am I missing something here, Assemblyman Frazier has fought for veterans and there is nothing wrong with a $5 fee. That is one less Starbucks coffee in someones life.
It’s no wonder the Republican Party is scrambling to find another candidate to support over Mr. Miller who shows he does not have the brain power to represent me or anyone else.
Jake G : Ask yourself this… Why are veterans being charged $5-$15 to type the word VETERAN on their licenses but no one gets charged to have the pink circle with the word DONOR in it put on?
I would assume that TO YOU $5 is meaningless but it is still $5 and those who can not afford to spend $5 on something that should be free.. and yes there are a lot of us.. tend to see this as a slap in the face for our service.
I’m guessing you are a democrat… And I would also guess that you would be one of those people that think that requiring an ID to vote disenfranchises people that don’t have IDs… Did you know that a non-driving ID for people that are on welfare still costs $8?
Would you be first in line to tell those people to just suck it up and just drink less coffee to pay for it?
Mr. Miller hit the nail squarely on the head with this one. Why are veterans being billed to have the fact they are a veteran printed on their license? Other states have this and they don’t charge for it.. Not even dark blue New York State.. Not even Socialist Vermont… So why is CA trying to make money off it?
Jake G : Ask yourself this… Why are veterans being charged $5-$15 to type the word VETERAN on their licenses but no one gets charged to have the pink circle with the word DONOR in it put on?
I would assume that TO YOU $5 is meaningless but it is still $5 and those who can not afford to spend $5 on something that should be free.. and yes there are a lot of us.. tend to see this as a slap in the face for our service.
I’m guessing you are a democrat… And I would also guess that you would be one of those people that think that requiring an ID to vote disenfranchises people that don’t have IDs… Did you know that a non-driving ID for people that are on welfare still costs $8?
Would you be first in line to tell those people to just suck it up and just drink less coffee to pay for it?
Mr. Miller hit the nail squarely on the head with this one. Why are veterans being billed to have the fact they are a veteran printed on their license? Almost every other state has this option.. and they don’t charge for it.. Not even dark blue New York State.. Not even Socialist Vermont…
Jake G : Ask yourself this… Why are veterans being charged $5-$15 to type the word VETERAN on their licenses but no one gets charged to have the pink circle with the word DONOR in it put on?
I would assume that TO YOU $5 is meaningless but it is still $5 and those who can not afford to spend $5 on something that should be free.. and yes there are a lot of us.. tend to see this as a slap in the face for our service.
I’m guessing you are a democrat… And I would also guess that you would be one of those people that think that requiring an ID to vote disenfranchises people that don’t have IDs… Did you know that a non-driving ID for people that are on welfare still costs $8?
Would you be first in line to tell those people to just suck it up and just drink less coffee to pay for it?
Mr. Miller hit the nail squarely on the head with this one. Why are veterans being billed to have the fact they are a veteran printed on their license? Almost every other state has this option.. and they don’t charge for it.. Not even dark blue New York State.. Not even Socialist Vermont… So why does Mr. Frazier think it is ok for California to do it?
A republican thinking something should be free. I am shocked. Not impressed Mr. Miller. What else do you think is wrong with California, maybe that should be your focus.
Jake G : Ask yourself this… Why are veterans being charged $5-$15 to type the word VETERAN on their licenses but no one gets charged to have the pink circle with the word DONOR in it put on?
I would assume that TO YOU $5 is meaningless but it is still $5 and those who can not afford to spend $5 on something that should be free.. and yes there are a lot of us.. tend to see this as a slap in the face for our service.
I’m guessing you are a democrat… And I would also guess that you would be one of those people that think that requiring an ID to vote disenfranchises people that don’t have IDs… Did you know that a non-driving ID for people that are on welfare still costs $8?
Would you be first in line to tell those people to just suck it up and just drink less coffee to pay for it?
Mr. Miller hit the nail squarely on the head with this one. Why are veterans being billed to have the fact they are a veteran printed on their license? Almost every other state has this option.. and they don’t charge for it.. Not even dark blue New York State.. Not even Socialist Vermont…
Charging veterans to be recognized as people who risk their lives for our freedom is unacceptable even at 1 dollar. It’s the principal. Frazier should begin righting his wrong adapt with an amendment. We send our veterans to get maimed and blown up only to charge them to be recognized when and if they get home.
In my opinion this is just an attempt by Frazier’s opponent to attack him. This is hardly something that would create outrage in the veteran’s community. Sure, there are folks out there that probably would like the license but if they are so stretched financially that the cost would be an issue then they probably have bigger things to worry about. I think the opponent should focus on his own accomplishments and abilities instead of nitpicking.
@ Joe, you must not know veterans. My father is one and he socializes down at the local veterans Hall. They are not fans of Mr. Frazier or the cost. Most are on a very fixed income and extremely frugal.
Jim Frazier does things to promote Jim Frazier. Most people are on to how he operates (even those in his own party) and those that haven’t yet are figuring it out. It’s all about Jim.
Mr. Miller sounds like exactly the type of disingenuous blowhard that we don’t need representing us in Sacramento. I’m a Republican and a Veteran, and while I don’t always agree with some of Mr. Frazier’s votes, I have found him to be honest, hard working and an advocate for Veterans. I rarely vote for Democrats, but if the choice is between Mr. Miller and Mr. Frazier, my vote will be for Mr. Frazier.
I wanted to clear up something really quick that does not have to do with the story.. RE: My multiple identical posts. I had tried to comment but it wasn’t showing up.. so I kept trying .. I guess there is some sort of time delay between hitting “POST COMMENT” and it actually showing up .. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Sorry.
ECT has to approve all posts before they appear…thus the delay.
I have to say that I do appreciate our veterans, but I don’t understand why they’d want or need acknowledgement on a drivers license that is almost never seen by anybody except the licensee or police? That’s meant as a real question…I’m not trying to be flip or disrespectful.
$15? Talk about trying to make an issue out of nothing.
Sean, It appears to go beyond the 15.00 fee.
“According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, there are 1,851,470 living Veterans, from all branches of our nation’s service, residing in the State of California. What Mr. Frazier is seeking, is that $15.00 “cover charge” from each California Veteran, which translates into over 27 MILLION DOLLARS over 5 years’ time, into most likely Transportation/infrastructure earmarks.”
Do you think taxing our Veterans millions for a simple driver’s license designation is really nothing?
Wow.
As a retired veteran of 22 years active duty I’m at a loss about the value of having Veteran put on your California drivers licence. Do you get a break from a police department if caught speeding? Because you can stop by the county Veterans Affairs and they will issue you a Veterans Administration Id card that will get you any military discount, all that’s needed is for you to bring in your Form 214. The retired folks already have a military ID card and our dependents have theirs so we are more than covered.Their is also a new program from the Federal gov to issue all Veterans who have a valid discharge form to be issued a ID card that would be accepted by those who want to give military discounts all these are given free of charge.
Because of the issues that I addressed in my first post I see this as a clever way to fleece the Vets , I see that some don’t consider the state taking an extra 5 to 15 bucks no big deal just a cup of coffee as one person wrote. But I look at it a little different , maybe its just because I spent the best years of my life serving with these men and women but I want the State government to get their hand out of our pockets. Here is a Idea how about charging the illegal aliens a little extra money to get their California Drivers licence that you just voted to give them.
Folks: I don’t take issue with the program. What I do find, is that it’s yet another redundant service provided by the Government to the Military Veteran who has served our Country honorably. Mr. Frazier felt the need to roll this out on, (of all days) Veterans Day, yet if you go to Mr. Frazier’s very own Assembly website, and watch the You tube video, you will see for yourself, the one thing he omitted from his comments was the $5.00 “Promo Code” fee. The Bill suggests, that the Agency (DMV) has the right to raise the fee to as high as $15.00, depending on the success of the program. It does translate to about 27 Million dollars earned over 5 years if every veteran applied for this designation.
The Vets I’ve spoken with today only see this as a way to raise TAX monies that they couldn’t otherwise attain via other Tax increase Legislation. I find it necessary to once again remind voters that Mr. Frazier authored the Constitutional Amendment to literally toss out Prop 13, which keeps most Californians safely in their homes, for without it, this State would’ve gone belly-up decades ago!!!
I do not intend to make a mountain out of a molehill here, I’m simply stating the facts as they laid out before me and my staff. That explains the 20 dissenting GOP votes on AB 935. Led by former Assemblyman and former GOP Gubernatorial candidate, Tim Donnelly, Shannon Grove, and others.
Bottom Line: The same Democratic Majority in Sacramento that wants to TAX its Veterans, for their honorable service defending our Nation, wants to provide FREE OF CHARGE ID’s to Foreign Illegals, who reside in the State. If you don’t think that’s “some kind of screwed up” then Jim Frazier is definitely your guy.
AD-11: The time has come to make better choices at the Ballot Box!!
Dave, what you say makes sense. This blog is loaded with tax and spend minions. They can’t see the irony of giving illegals free ID and charging the american veterans who fought for their freedom.
More ambiguity from “Local” because he doesn’t want to actually pay for emergency services AND he doesn’t even know what tax and spend means. Minions? Now that’s rich…
Dave, ignore the troll. He can’t help himself, he is just not very educated.
It would seem a fine idea to designate a person as a veteran. Really a great idea. But why in the world do you want to charge someone for a designation they earned . I personally never did anything in the service to speak of. I held my hand up. I wore the uniform but I never fought in a war. I respect and admire all who did. Veterans earned everything they get. This is a line of code in a computer folks, easy to do. Why would you even think of charging someone for something they earned? We all know the government at all levels takes in huge amounts of money and spends it like they are printing the stuff in the basement up there in Sacramento. $5.00 – $15.00 or 5 cents who cares its the principal of the thing.
Its just wrong to even think of charging for this designation vets earned through honorable service. When are people going to wake up to what these career politicians are doing to us all? We get billion dollar trains to no where. We get Tunnels in the Delta that would drain it dry. We find the transportation tax has been diverted to other programs. Really?
Now you want to take $5.00 from a vet for a drivers license for a title yeah I said title VETERAN. Politicians are there too long and get too comfortable spending other peoples money. Aren’t you tired of it? I know I am with both party’s. Then a man questions it and some throw rocks at him call him names yeah real smooth guy.
Mr. Frazier is a real nice guy. But interestingly enough a comment he made to a friend of mine up in Sacramento when this friend went to see him on a matter. Frazier asked my friend who is a Realtor how is business. My friend said good . Frazier’s response was great make more so we can tax you more so we can spend more. Really? My friend said he was shocked and disgusted .
How much longer will it be before we get charged for the air we breath. Whoops I forgot we do have the rather spend thrift California Air Resources Board ( CRAB ) telling all our trucking industry they need to destroy perfectly running trucks putting working people out of business and out of our state.
Where does it stop? Maybe we try someone new and see what they can do. If we don’t like how they do the job throw them out too. After all it is supposed to be We the People in charge not We the Politicians.
@B-Wood
Thank you Jim. Thanks for your service too. I rest my trolling case. B Wood is a prime example of a misled minion. Veterans deserve more respect. It is they B Wood that allowed you to spread your crap.
@Local, Wow, just wow. Are you really that screwed up, that you can see I’m of the same opinion of “Jim”, “Rod”, “Dave” and the majority here? By switching your positions it appears you have confused yourself. Besides weren’t you just whining that you were being censored here? I can assure you, it isn’t anyone but ECT that controls this site. It was a nice try but your attempts to try to come across as a patriot is as transparent as your anti fire department stance is. Such a fool and you are just circling the drain.
It’s amazing to me that you do not have a grasp on the simplist of things. If I didn’t know any better I would believe you are “acting” dumb. If you really are, then I can only hope your not old enough to vote or operate a motor vehicle. Your demeanor here doesn’t demonstrate that you are qualified for anything besides an occasional “drive by hit piece”. The truth be told, You really suck at that too.
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