ABERDEEN, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- On Friday, Governor Larry Rhoden signed HB1238 into law.  The law establish protections for a veteran seeking assistance in a veterans’ benefit matter.  One person who was opposed and spoke on the floor of the House and in front of the Senate Military and Veterans Committee was Representative Christopher Reder of Warner.  Reder is a veteran of the United State Navy.

Upon learning of the signing by Governor Rhoden, Reder sent the following statement to us at HubCityRadio:

“I am deeply saddened with the signing of HB1238.  This allows unaccredited private, out of state companies, to illegally put together initial disability claims & then take a large chunk of the Veterans Disability Payment with no cap for compensation.  Our veterans should never be used as a tool for monetary gain from these predatory companies such as this, and SD should be following Federal Law and the protections set forth by the Dept of Veterans Affairs.  The Governor chose to not follow these standards set forth by the VA.  It is truly a disheartening day in SD when we allow out of state companies and lobbyists to illegally finance their endeavors off the backs of our veterans and their hard earned disability benefits.”

Govenor Rhoden did sign a bill Representative Reder primed(HB1188) on Friday.  The bill allow nonresident military members to purchase three-day temporary nonresident waterfowl licenses.