Comments on: Political Fix (4 February, 2016)

By: Saul Travers

Saul Travers — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:19:13 +0000

Maybe I don’t have the right idea of what the basic function of disability payments are, but Mathis needs to be asked if you can really be a “100% disabled” Assemblyman. It does seem like a gaming of the system.

That said, I have not been satisfied by his adoption of Devin Nunes’ lame “man-made drought” rhetoric. Polemics are not what I want in representation. Cooperation is what I want.

By: Justin Bond

Justin Bond — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 04:30:27 +0000

In reply to Norbie Lara.

Well said Norbie!

By: Joseph Oldenbourg

Joseph Oldenbourg — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 17:44:50 +0000

In reply to Victor Moheno.

Again with the anonymous sources! These people remain anonymous to you–and other readers–but they are not anonymous to the author, who has also spoken to veterans in this regard. Even those veterans wished not to be named. It’s not the author’s job to out people, but to report on things so that people can form an opinion. I can assure you that the author holds no animus toward–and indeed is grateful for–Mr. Mathis’ service. This was brought to her attention–she did not seek it out. To be clear, the author and this newspaper have given Mr. Mathis more press than the Visalia Times-Delta, and more favorable press (After he was elected the Valley Voice was the only paper to cover Mr. Mathis’ first press conference at the St. John’s River) while to this day Mr. Mathis does not appear in the VTD’s directory of local reps. In fact, for six months after his election, Connie Conway was still listed as holding Mr. Mathis’ seat.

By: Victor Moheno

Victor Moheno — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 17:05:41 +0000

Editorial writer Doe goes to great lengths to suggest that Assemblymember Devon Mathis may be a 1 term legislator. Ms Doe chooses to rely on apparently disgruntled former staffers — who remain anonymous — to attack Mr Mathis’ receipt of his unquestionably earned disability benefits. What’s up with that?
Recall that Mr Mathis was elected by the voters, defeating the chosen candidate of the Republican Party establishment. As an independent conservative he is the most representative of his constituents.
As a taxpayer, I am very happy he receives his benefits, and continues to work in Sacramento for our veterans.
Devon placed his life in harm’s way so Ms Doe could utter her extreme views. I wish she were more grateful.

By: Nancy Vigran

Nancy Vigran — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 06:26:55 +0000

Whoa, whoa, whoa!
While I do not know Ms. Doe’s sources–and therefore, whether or not I would consider them credible–I do know Ms. Doe, having co-worked with her for the past couple of years. I do not believe she was in any way attacking Mr. Mathis’ military record or the fact that he is a disabled veteran.
In reading her column, I believe what is at issue here is whether or not someone–anyone, be it a former teacher, postal worker or truck driver–should receive full disability benefits while working at a different type of full-time (and then some) job while also receiving full-time pay. Plus, an additional amount for a care worker to take care of that person.
While I have never served in the armed forces, my mother served as an army nurse during WWII–she remained stateside and was not disabled by the work she did while caring for injured forces for the US, its allies and opposing soldiers. However, growing up in the ‘60s, I had several friends who were drafted and served during the Vietnam War. Some came home with no physical (although certainly emotional) injuries, others came home to only later father children with birth defects (Agent Orange), and some never came home at all. I appreciate and honor their service. In no way would I ever want to discredit those who have served our country, and I don’t believe Ms. Doe does either.
However, let’s take the military aspect out of the picture here and consider anyone who has had some form of disabling injury, physical and/or mental. At some point in time, when that person is able to find a job, or a service that they are able to function at, should they receive full-time disability benefits while working and receiving full-time pay? Isn’t the purpose of disability to help those who cannot work and earn wages to care for themselves and their families?
So, why is this matter any different?
I respect and applaud Mr. Mathis’ desire to serve his community through political office–even more so, perhaps, because of what he has gone through in his life. I can appreciate that he has pain, and some days may find it hard to function at any level.
But, if he is working a full-time job while receiving full-time disability benefits, well, shame on him. If his wife is receiving pay as his at-home caretaker, while he is in the State Capitol working, well, shame on him and her.
I am not doubting that sometime in the future Mr. Mathis may not be able to work and will need disability benefits, due to his injuries sustained while serving our country, and he should then receive it– but not while working in another full-time position.

By: Kevin Gerke

Kevin Gerke — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 05:47:28 +0000

I think it is a shame to imply that a wounded veteran could be unqualified for his job based on an injury sustained during combat operations. Assemblyman Devon Mathis has never hidden his injuries and every person who voted him into office did so based on who he is now and what he can do for the citizens of this area, veteran and non-veteran alike.
I applaud his efforts to help veterans find the help they need. It took years for him to get to where he is today, and if he can help others get help faster, than he is doing what he was elected to do.
As a member of several veteran service organizations, I know it is difficult to know what is available. I meet veterans all the time who don’t know where to start.
Also, for 20 years, I had no idea that I could get help from the VA regarding the constant ringing in my ears until I happened to talk to a veteran representative. If Assemblyman Mathis’ bill would help other veterans, then I think it’s money well spent.

By: Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 05:12:43 +0000

As the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs for California, I applaud Assemblyman Mathis for pursuing his education after his military service, despite his disabling injuries, and for sponsoring this legislation to help other California veterans receive the benefits for which they are eligible. There are many veterans who have fallen through the cracks and need assistance in understanding the benefits available to them and the process to access those benefits. Veteran Service Organizations, like AMVETS, VFW, American Legion and others plus the California Department of Veterans Affairs and County Veterans Service Officers work hard on behalf of veterans to assure that they can receive these benefits but more needs to be done. This bill will help in that regard. Ms. Doe has done a disservice to all veterans, and indeed to all persons with some disability, by suggesting that their willingness to go beyond their disability to achieve a greater purpose in life should require of them additional sacrifices.

By: Another Valley Voice

Another Valley Voice — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 04:27:37 +0000

These so called “former staffers” obviously did not know Devon when he was sent home from the war and do not know what he has had to go through physically to get to where he is right now. I remember going to the VA hospital with him because of continuous excruciating headaches and body that would give way to the point that he would have to be drug or picked up and carried due to his injuries. Instead of choosing drugs so willingly offered by the doctors, he chose to work hard to try to overcome the damage that he received in protecting the rights of all, even those who so insultingly oppose Veterans receiving some compensation for bodily damage(s) received in battle. Shame on you, Ms. Doe!

By: Richard Osborne

Richard Osborne — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 02:38:23 +0000

I have known Devon Mathis since 2009 when he was a student in several of my classes at Porterville College (PC), and feel compelled to comment on the editorial entitled “Debbie Does Double Dipping.” Editorials, I realize, represent the personal views of the author and as such, are not constrained to factual boundaries. The allegations in this piece regarding Mr. Mathis’ financial situation come from an unnamed former staff member (or members), and fall into the category of hearsay, not fact. Then, based upon that hearsay, the editorial goes on to suggest improprieties on his part. Here are a few facts regarding Assemblyman Mathis:
1. On two different occasions, he was “blown up” by roadside bombs (IEDs) while serving with the United States Army in Iraq. The result of these incidents was a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury.
2. When he returned home he used his GI Bill benefits to earn an AA degree at Porterville College and later, a BA at Fresno State. While at PC, he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for community colleges, and he maintained a high grade point average throughout his college career.
3. Mr. Mathis became an advocate for veterans during his college years and was in the forefront of veterans’ affairs at both schools.
4. In 2014 he won a hard-fought race for the District 26 Assembly seat.
In my mind, the above represent an honorable and laudable behavioral progression. Does Mr. Mathis receive VA benefits for his traumatic brain injury? I certainly hope so. Neither you nor I know the amount of that benefit, but whatever it is, it was determined by a team of qualified professionals within the VA system. Does his wife receive $2,000.00 per month from the Wounded Warrior Project? I very much doubt that . . . why don’t you just ask him?

By: Dennis Sirkin

Dennis Sirkin — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 23:09:39 +0000

The remarks that have been made by Ms. Doe truly shows the mentality of one who has never had or been willing to write a check for everything including their life for their country. Then having to endure the ridicule and disdain from those that you risked your life to protect their right to have the freedom to their opinion no matter how wrong or warped it may be. Assemblyman Mathis wrote that check to serve his country when called and paid a high price in doing so. The fact that he is disabled in some ways does not negate his ability or desire to continue to serve his country and constituency! The fact that he collects for his disabilities has nothing to do with his crusade for the Veterans in this state, or his ability to represent us in Sacramento. Being a Vietnam Veteran 69-70 myself, I can relate to the noises being made by Ms. Doe, I too can remember being called names and being spit at in airports, and on the streets and all for doing my duty and serving my country. Now I like many others of our time and war are put on the back burner, ignored, and put on hold to get what we earned from a people and government that would just rather us disappear. Assemblyman Mathis earned his disability serving our country and has a right to it and has a right to also be paid to continue to serve us in Sacramento! An honest days pay for an honest days work. Ms. Doe, let Assemblyman Mathis do his job, and maybe instead of trying to smear his name for some disgruntled former staffer that probably is getting ready to run for the Assembly; you should be trying to do something positive for your country!