Governor Jim Doyle has signed bills benefiting Wisconsin veterans. The Capitol signing ceremony comes as the state prepares to mark Veterans Day, Sunday. John Scoccos, the state's Secretary of Veterans Affairs who's just back from Iraq, praised Doyle's efforts on behalf of veterans: “this governor, a governor of principle, stood by us.”
Governor Doyle said Wisconsin's leadership in veterans affairs is about more than simply being nice to people. “Obviously we should be nice to our veterans, we owe them so much,” said Doyle. “But we have a real stake as a state in this as well.”
The four bills establish Veterans Awareness Week, add new representatives to the Council on Veterans Programs, allow nonresidents in the Wisconsin National Guard to obtain a hunting permit and allow active duty service members from outside the state to get special hunting licenses when visiting Wisconsin on furlough or leave.