California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to roll out some new programs aimed at helping veterans and National Guard members during his State of the State Address next month. He wants to make it easier for veterans to get into higher level state jobs. Right now veterans have to apply for entry level civil service jobs.
Secretary of the State Department of Veterans Affairs Tom Johnson says that would change under the Governor's proposal.
Johnson: This legislation would allow them to come in at an upper level and to compete for positions at these more management or leadership level categories.
Schwarzenegger also wants to set up a program to help California National Guard members pay for college fees and books. The administration estimates that would help roughly one-thousand guard members each year.
California National Guard Adjutant General William Wade says the golden state is the only one that doesn't have an education benefit program for its guard members.
