Vote yes on Issue 1 to give Ohio veterans a bonus

Vote yes on Issue 1 to give Ohio veterans a bonus

Veterans bonuses are a tradition in Ohio that covered every major war of the 20th century, and now, on Nov. 3, Ohio voters will decide whether to extend the tradition into the 21st century.

Issue 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment would allow the state to borrow more about $200 million that would be repaid over 15 years in order to pay one-time bonuses to veterans who served in the Middle East.

The payments would be given to Ohioans who served in recent years in the Iraq or Afghanistan theaters and to those who served during Desert Storm in the early 1990s in Kuwait. Veterans of those conflicts would be able to apply for a bonus of $100 per month of service, up to a maximum of $1,000. Those who served in the armed services but outside the areas of conflict would be entitled to $50 a month, up to $500. Families of veterans killed in action during those conflicts would receive $5,000 in addition to any bonus the service man or woman would have been entitled to.

The only possible objection any voter might have to these bonuses is the method of financing. This is not the best time for the state to be borrowing money. But it is no time for the state to attempt to find $200 million elsewhere in the budget.

Following tradition

This proposal actually follows Ohio precedent, since the state financed earlier veterans bonuses the same way, through bonds. The first of those was approved in 1921 for veterans of what was then called the Great War or the World War. Since the hope was that it would be the war to end all wars, there was no anticipation for the need a generation later to approve bonuses for veterans of World War II. But, indeed, Ohioans approved the financing for bonuses for those veterans as well and, subsequently, for veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Now, unfortunately, it has become necessary again for Ohioans to show a token of their appreciation to those residents of the state who have put their lives on the line in service of the nation.

The amount of money that will go to each veteran is hardly life-changing in amount. But it is an important and concrete acknowledgement that the people of Ohio respect their veterans and appreciate their service. And, of course, in tough times, any monetary reward for service well done will be appreciated by the veterans.

For all those reasons, and because giving veterans another pat on the back is the right thing to do, The Vindicator recommends a yes vote on state Issue 1 in November.