Eagle Forum opposes Governor Ivey's bill to replace the State Veterans Affairs Board

February 15, 2025 – Alabama Eagle Forum comes out against Governor Kay Ivey's bill on the state veteran's board

Becky Gerritson is the Executive Director of Eagle Forum of Alabama.

"I'm an Air Force wife (Ret.) and have grave concerns that AL veterans will lose their voice if the Governor's bill to restructure the State Board of Veterans Affairs (SBVA) is passed," Gerritson said in an email blast to Eagle Forum.

Senate Bill 67 is being carried for the Gov. Ivey be state Senator Andrew Jones (R-Centre). House Bill 154 is the same legislation being carried in the Alabama House by state Representative Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville).

"The Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs was established in 1945 as a non-partisan, a-political organization to oversee the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA)," Gerritson explained. "The board is made up of representatives from veterans' organizations. I appreciate this board composition because it's "veterans choosing veterans".

"The SBVA is composed of the Alabama Governor (who serves as the head of the board) and members directly nominated by the following nine service organizations:

American Legion (3 seats)

Disabled American Veterans (3 seats)

Veterans of Foreign Wars (3 seats)

Military Officers Association of America (2 seats)

Vietnam Veterans of America (1 seat)

Marine Corps League (1 seat)

AMVETS (1 seat)

American Ex-Prisoners of War (1 seat)

The Military Order of the Purple Heart (1 seat)

The SBVA is responsible for and has the authority to make rules and policies that direct veterans' affairs in Alabama and oversees the Department of Veterans Affairs. Who better to address veterans' issues than the SBVA which is made of members who are selected by Alabama's military organizations.

The SBVA, chaired by the Alabama Governor, selects (hires/fires) the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In summary, in the fall of 2024, Gov. Ivey had a disagreement with the Commissioner and requested his resignation. However, the Governor did not have the legal authority to make this request, as the law states that only the SBVA has the power to hire or fire the Commissioner.

The SBVA board did not support the Governor's call for the Commissioner's resignation. In fact, the SBVA held two separate public board meetings and voted twice to retain him. Despite this, minutes after the second vote, the Governor's staff handed the Commissioner a letter removing him from his position and locking him out of his office.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS A NEW SBVA

Gov. Ivey has a bill (SB67/HB154) moving through the Alabama legislature that will give her sole authority to appoint the Commissioner of the Dept of Veterans Affairs as well as to completely restructure the SBVA and remove all its power.

Rather than having nine military service organizations (as it is currently) make direct appointments which were vetted and selected by their respective executive committees, SB67/HB154 strips nominations from at least six of the nine service organizations on the SBVA. However, the Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House and the Senate Pro Tem will each get to appoint a member selected from one of the three largest organizations. The Disabled American Veterans (lt. Gov), American Legion (Speaker of the House) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (Senate Pro Tem) will each be able to offer 3 nominations, of which one will be selected from each organization. The other 11 members will be political appointments; nine from the Governor and one each from the House and Senate Majority Leaders."

"The Governor's bill strips the SBVA's authority and responsibility to make rules and policies to govern veterans' affairs. The SBVA would serve only as an "advisory" board. All oversight and permission previously held by the SBVA to hold the Commissioner accountable has been removed. The Commissioner alone will be able to make decisions relating to Alabama Veterans affairs without SBVA approval. Removal of this accountability is dangerous and does not serve the veteran community well."

Gerritson continued, "The bill was sold to the public as "The Governor wants authority to hire/fire the Commissioner. Most veterans have no idea that this bill would also strip Alabama veterans' service organizations of their direct nominations (and their representation) on the SBVA. Members would become purely political appointments."

"Veterans were not told that the SBVA would lose all rule-making responsibility to address and direct veterans' issues and that the SBVA would become "advisory only". Veterans were not told that the newly appointed Commissioner would no longer be held responsible by the new SBVA. They did not understand that the Commissioner would be free to make all decisions regarding veterans' issues without accountability, permission or oversight. "

Gerritson offered a compromise: "Given the extensive amendments to the bill, we propose introducing a substitute bill. This new bill would enable the Governor to directly appoint the Commissioner, chosen from three nominees which are presented to her by the SBVA. The Governor can make the Department of Veterans Affairs a cabinet level position at any time. She does not need a law to do that. Alabama veterans' organizations would then remain front and center of the SBVA not only in their representation on the board but also in their responsibilities and duties to direct veterans' affairs and oversee the Commissioner."

Gerritson called for Eagle Forum members and supporters to take action.

"Veterans are just now realizing what is at stake but SB67/HB154 are moving quickly through the legislature," Gerritson warned. "Contact your senator and representative and ask them to vote "NO" on the Governor's bill to restructure the State Board of Veterans Affairs. (SB67/HB154) (You can use the pre-written message or draft your own.) https://www.votervoice.net/AlabamaEagle/Campaigns/121826/Respond."

This legislation is the Governor's response to a dispute between her and then Commissioner Rear Admiral (Ret.) Kent Davis (R).

SB67/HB154 would give her sole authority to appoint the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs and restructure the SBVA as well as 7 of the 9 members of the SBVA. The Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House would also get to make appointments. SB67 was amended on the floor of the Senate to allow the Lieutenant Governor to appoint two members. The minority leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the House would also get appointments according to changes made by the Senate. That heavily amended bill is being carried over in the Senate but could be resurrected at any time that Jones and Senate Pro Tem. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) chooses to bring it back.

Veterans have a much higher rate of suicide than the general public. Davis and the existing Board had an issue with Ivey's handpicked Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health Kim Boswell. Davis and the Veterans Board silently accused Boswell of improper dealings with the veterans on the handling of federal ARPA funds. They filed a secret Ethics Commission complaint. One member of the 17 members of SBVA leaked that confidential information and rather than launch an investigation into possible corruption within her own cabinet or allow investigators from the Alabama Ethics Commission have a year to conduct and independent investigation Ivey demanded that the SBVA fire Davis. When they refused Ivey claimed supreme executive authority (a legally dubious claim of executive privilege) and then wrote this legislation to give herself the sole unfettered authority to hire and fire the Commissioner. Ivey retaliated against the SBVA for daring to defy her will by abolishing the existing board and replacing it with one chosen by herself and Montgomery insiders.

Admiral Davis is reportedly considering a run for Governor in 2026.