Despite election results that will transform the state Capitol next month, a local lawmaker anticipates very little will change in terms of veterans policy.

State Rep. Terry Musser (R-Black River Falls), who survived his re-election bid Nov. 7 against Democrat Curtis Miller, said veterans benefits have never divided the two political parties.

“Historically, it has been a non-partisan issue,” said Musser, who was elected to his 12th term. “It’s my goal to keep the Democrat/Republican thing out of it.”

Republicans lost seven seats in the Assembly in the Nov. 7 election but held control by a 52-47 margin. In the state Senate, Democrats gained four seats to turn a 19-14 Republican majority into an 18-15 Democratic advantage.

One of the newly elected senate Democrats, Jim Sullivan of Wauwatosa, will chair the Senate committee on Veterans & Military Affairs, Biotechnology & Financial Institutions. Musser hasn’t met Sullivan yet but hopes to arrange a meeting soon.

Musser has already successfully lobbied for one change: the reunification of the Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.

The committees were split in 2005, leaving Musser chairing just the Military Affairs Committee. Musser had chaired a unified committee from 1995-2004 and asked Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) to merge the committees again.

“My argument was the military affairs and veterans are one in the same,” Musser said.

Musser’s agenda for the 2007-08 session includes:

*Expand the property tax credit for all disabled veterans. The credit is limited to those 65 and older, and Musser wants to remove the age limit.

*Allow Wisconsin veterans who entered service while living in another state to receive veterans benefits. Musser said the provision is unconstitutional.

*Use general revenues to pay tuition reimbursement for veterans attending the University of Wisconsin campuses. “I don’t feel it’s right to make other kids pay for this,” Musser said. “It should be state dollars. Everyone should pay.”

Musser’s 92nd Assembly District includes most of Monroe County, including the city of Tomah.

Musser isn’t the only area state representative who will chair a committee. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) defeated incumbent Republican Ron Brown in the 31st state Senate District, which includes all of Musser’s 92nd District.

Vinehout was chosen by state Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) to chair the Agriculture & Higher Education Committee. Vinehout and her husband own a farm in Buffalo County, and Vinehout’s district includes the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus.