An email from Jay Obernolte.

I’d like to give you an update on what is happening with the Governor’s budget proposal to close the Barstow Veterans Home. I am happy to report that this week the Senate Budget Subcommittee 4 on State Administration and General Government rejected the Governor’s proposal! This is great news but we must keep fighting to ensure that this proposal dies.

I have had conversations with both CalVet Secretary Imbasciani and the Budget Committee Chairman about how unacceptable the Governor’s proposed closure of the Barstow Veterans Home is to our community. I look forward to working with both of them to ensure that we save this vital facility.

To make sure the administration understands the importance of this issue, I authored a letter to the Governor with my colleagues in both the Senate and the Assembly opposing his proposal. You can read the entire letter here.

And just yesterday, I joined Congressman Cook, Senator Grove, and Supervisor Rowe in writing an opinion editorial outlining why this veterans home is so important to our community. It represents our commitment as a society to the veterans who have served our country. These veterans are not just an item in the budget. They represent real people with real families and real lives. They’re a segment of our population we have an obligation to protect.

As the Vice Chair of the Budget Committee, I will continue to fight for this home to remain open. I will do everything in my power to ensure that our veterans are not displaced from their home.

It’s an honor to represent you.