FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 10, 2012

Media Contact Bill Law (260) 602-3717

STATE SENATE CANDIDATE TOM KEEN HOLDS VETERANS TOWN HALL Candidate lays out plans to fight for those who have fought for our country FORT WAYNE Today, Candidate for State Senate, Tom Keen, held a town hall meeting with area veterans. Keen revealed his plan for supporting Active Duty Servicemen and women, Army and Air National Guard, reservists, veterans, and their family members. His immediate goals include reducing the unemployment rate for returning veterans using a Private Enterprise Indiana Tax Credit, securing full state tax exemption for military pay, and establishing a Veterans Education Center of Excellence (VECE) that would be co-located on campuses in Indiana. Keens Town Hall gave him the opportunity to discuss issues facing Hoosier veterans. Investing in our veterans is critical to the long term economic success in Indiana and more importantly, its the right thing to do, said Keen. Sadly, Indiana ranks near the bottom, 46th, in support for veterans. Yet, we have the fourth largest National Guard in the nation and they have deployed more often (per capita) than any other state. The State of Indiana needs to get its priorities straight. The current administration and leadership in the legislature have failed our veterans. Instituting a $2000 Private Enterprise Indiana Tax Credit for each documented veteran hired as a fulltime employee during the tax year is a win- win explained Keen. Indiana businesses win with a qualified new employee and veterans are put to work in the state. This tax credit would be in addition to the $2000 federal tax credit that already exists. Indianas veteran and Reserve Forces unemployment rate is much higher than the national unemployment rate. Keen also supports the repeal of SB577 that was passed during the 2011 legislative session, which gutted a 75 year old program for Disabled Veterans. He advocates repeal of the now two tier program, noting that there is no valid reason for providing lesser support to new service men and women. We need to fully support those that have sacrificed the most with their blood, sweat and time away from loved ones, noted Keen. Indiana is already ranked near the bottom in support to our veterans. Gutting this program was a shameful example of Senator Longs failure of leadership and his lack of support to Veterans Tom Keen is a resident of Fort Wayne and is running against longtime incumbent David Long in Senate District 16. Tom and his wife Laura have been married for 22 years and have two college aged children. Tom is active in several veteran service organizations; he is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV). He is also a member of the Military Officers Association of America, United States Naval Institute, and the Fort Wayne Base Community Council. Tom currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fort Waynes Science Central. ###