Wisconsin state lawmakers chose partisanship over the men and women who defend their freedom this week, with a bill that fails to bring back the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program or VHRP to Green Bay. Instead, we’ll have to go to Milwaukee, Madison, or Janesville for help (story HERE).

All of this could have been avoided.

I live a reality everyday as a struggling veteran here in Green Bay. I work a job but because lawmakers have created a friendlier environment for property management and real estate than our brothers and sisters, I can’t find a stable place to live.

And there are veterans who are even worse off. Some of them never found peace after taking off the uniform. This is because of bad transition services that we pledge to fix every year but never seem to get right.

Now, we’re asking the bravest from us here in Green Bay to leave their home to get help.

These lawmakers would rather score points with their colleagues and insult each other through headlines than make sure we’ve have a place to sleep at night.

The worst is possibly the theatrics. They could have easily have saved the Green Bay VHRP. I don’t understand how someone signs off on that decision to begin with. Still, it happened.

To these politicians the matter is now closed. But we can’t let them forget what they took from us. And no reminder will be more stronger than when we see someone who was once a proud solider, sailor, or Marine on the streets begging for change.

Green Bay veterans lose again.