Before he became an elected member of the St. Tammany Parish Council, Pat Phillips was a major in the U.S. Marines, flying airplanes during the first Gulf War.

Responding to the difficulties some veterans can have returning to civilian life after their service, Phillips has sponsored two pieces of legislation to help veterans going through that transition, he said in an interview on Monday, which he noted was the 250th birthday of the U.S. Marines.

Thanks to one of the pieces of legislation, starting Jan. 1, St. Tammany businesses certified by the Louisiana Veterans First Business Initiative will receive a $500 savings on parish occupational license fees.

If a business owes the parish $500 or less in license fees, it pays nothing. If a business owes more than $500 in license fees, then

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