Ohio House approves plan to pay cash bonuses to Mideast war vets

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio House has approved a plan to pay cash bonuses to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

The plan, approved today, provides $100 for every month of service, up to $1,000, to veterans of the conflicts.

The Ohio Senate approved the plan last month, and Gov. Ted Strickland is expected to sign it.

But voters would still have to approve the plan on the November ballot because the bonuses would be paid for from selling bonds.

Late last year, the Legislature passed a similar veterans bonuses bill, but Strickland vetoed it because it tapped the state’s rainy-day fund. Strickland says he favors using bonds.