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SIGN OF THE TIMES UPDATE: OHIO GOV.
VETOES VETERANS'
BENEFITS BILL -- "I am disappointed the governor
has
chosen to veto the veterans' bonus and expressed
his support for incurring more state debt..."
All "Sign of the Times" articles are here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/si
gnofthetimes.htm
For background on this story, with backlinks,
click here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/n
f08/nfdec08/nf121908-9.htm
Story here...
http://www.newarkadvoc
ate.com/article/20090107/NEWS01/901070305/1002
Story below:
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-------------------------
Strickland vetoes veterans
benefits bill
By AMY HOLLON
Advocate Reporter
NEWARK -- A bill sponsored by Rep. Jay Hottinger creating bonuses for Ohio
veterans met its demise Tuesday when it was vetoed by Gov. Ted Strickland.
Although Strickland, a Democrat, supported giving veterans bonuses, he did
not support using money from the state "rainy day"
 fund
and instead wanted to take out bonds to pay for them.
Hottinger, a Newark Republican, said taking out bonds could cost an
additional $15 million to $20 million in addition to the initial $106
million expense.
"Ohio veterans deserve this bonus," Hottinger said in a press release. "I
am disappointed the governor has chosen to veto the veterans' bonus and
expressed his support for incurring more state debt at an estimated cost
of $15 (to) $20 million in interest at a time when he estimates that we
will have a $7 billion deficit in our state budget."
The bill would have awarded $100 for each month of service, up to $1,000,
to each veteran of the Persian Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Similarly, $50 per month, up to $500 each, would be awarded
to veterans that served elsewhere during the same time period. Families of
those killed or missing in action would have been awarded $5,000.
"Although bonuses have certainly been earned by our Ohio veterans ...
financing them with the Budget Stabilization Fund in the state's current
economic climate is simply not fiscally sound," Strickland said in a press
release. "The people of Ohio have a long history of
 providing
bonuses to Ohio veterans through bonding and this symbol of support, and
the more responsible method of financing it, should be continued today."
Strickland also vetoed bills Tuesday that would have shrunk the state's
early voting period and provided tax credits for movies filmed in Ohio.
Strickland signed 37 other bills into law, including a bill that maintains
a workers' compensation system that provides discounted rates to
businesses that pool in groups.
Republicans no longer control both the House and Senate in the new
legislature that opened Monday. Democrats took control of the House for
the first time in 14 years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Amy Hollon can be reached at (740) 328-8543 or
ahollon@newarkadvocate.com.
-------------------------
posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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