Hottinger Pushes For Veterans Bonuses Despite Budget Woes

The Newark Advocate - Newark, OH, USA

By AMY HOLLON • Advocate Reporter • December 10, 2008

NEWARK — An Ohio House bill introduced by Rep. Jay Hottinger could soon be providing bonuses to veterans of recent wars.

“The state of Ohio for all of our recent major conflicts has always provided a military bonus for our recent military conflicts. No one is in disagreement that these veterans are deserving of this,” Hottinger said.

But in a time when the state government is facing drastic cutbacks in a sour economy, the bill is expected to cost $106 million, according to Hottinger. The resolution will allow up to $200 million, however.

Hottinger said the cost was not fixed because veterans are still serving.

A similar bill was passed in the Senate earlier this year but stalled in the House because it proposed taking out bonds, which would have to be paid back later, to pay for the expenditure. Hottinger’s bill instead proposes paying up front with money from a budget stabilization fund or rainy day account.

The expenditure is an appropriate use of the account, he said, because it is a one-time purchase. It would be inappropriate to use it on the operating budget because that is a repeat expenditure.

“This is a very important issue but it’s part of a broader philosophical discussion we continue to have,” Hottinger said. “Living way beyond our means is not something that should be acceptable of anybody and certainly not government. It is always cheaper to pay for things today rather than putting it on your charge card.”

If passed, the bill will award veterans of the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan wars $100 for each month he or she served, up to $1,000 each. Veterans who served during that time period elsewhere in the world would be awarded $50 per month, up to $500 each. The families of those who were killed in action or are missing in action would be awarded $5,000.

“These numbers have been indexed for inflation and they are in line with what previous veterans have received,” Hottinger said.

Hottinger said the bill continues a tradition of giving back to veterans in Ohio.

“Our veterans deserve this award for their commitment to our country and the ideals on which our nation, and state, is founded and the sacrifices they have made,” Hottinger said in a press release. “This is a small token of our appreciation that we have given to veterans since World War I, and it is important that this tradition continue.”

The bill was voted Tuesday out of the House Finance and Appropriations committee, which Hottinger chairs, on a straight party-line vote.

Hottinger said Gov. Ted Strickland has said he will veto the bill because it draws from the budget stabilization account.

Amy Hollon can be reached at (740) 328-8543 or ahollon@newarkadvocate.com.