Vote yes on Issue 1 to give Ohio veterans a bonus

Definitely we should support our veterans and vote for Issue 1!

I hate to be the only one to think this…but I will be voting no for issue 1.

I do appreciate veterans, just as I appreciate other public servants.

I will vote no because veterans were not drafted as they were in prior wars (the article refers to a tradition), in fact, they are getting enormous signing bonuses. I feel it should be one or the other. Service to the country is a job. They get paid well, and get good health benefits, food, room, board, education, etc., etc., etc.

Not that I don’t appreciate what they do…but it is a choice to serve.

I know of a cook in the Army who had a $25,000 signing bonus…and just reenlisted…with another hefty bonus. Plans to retire after 20 years….at age 38. I know of another member of the services who is getting his wife’s fertility treatments 100%paid for thousands and thousands of dollars…and I can’t think of another health insurance program that would even consider chipping in for fertility treatments.

I think they are well taken care of as it is. I hope I don’t sound bad.

dd sorry but you have no Idea what your talkin about lol. I was over in Iraq . Get paid well dd? I was freekin gettin shot at how well do yo think i got paid for that idiot. Room and board lmao. I gusee 125 degree weather and sand fleas biteing you is good room and board. dd before you open your mouth again and say something stupid like this again TALK to the soldiers Who put there life on the line for you.

I have talked to the soldiers. My cousin is one. He is currently in Iraq. Knowing of the bonuses he has received is the main reason I am voting no.

You can't deny the many perks you are given/will be given, even years after your service. Joke about the room and board...but you didn't touch the health benefits, education, signing bonuses, early retirement, etc.

While I appreciate your contributions, nobody drafted you to go. In my humble opinion, this makes your situation vastly different than the prior wars, where veterans received the bonuses. The signing bonus you received should have been in lieu of a post-service bonus.

Again, just my opinion.

This is not the economic conditions to be borrowing money and/or giving bonuses.

Service to the country is a job. Yes...you enlisted...but employees in other lines of work apply. All work is a choice. You get just compensation.

And I know that the signing bonuses are hefty....and the health insurance is EXTREMELY good. I cited examples from people I personally know who are serving.

I do appreciate what you have done…but it was a choice to serve.

Members of the armed services are well taken care of...quick search results:

http://www.military.com/recruiting/bo...

http://www.kaptest.com/Military/Milit...

http://todaysmilitary.com/benefits

People in Ohio who do nothing are well taken care of...quick search results:

http://unemployment.ohio.gov/

http://www.fcjfs.org/

http://www.ohiowelfare.org/

I can do it too. What is your point?

The point is that you are already sufficiently compensated for your choice to serve.

Issue One is not about offering a bonus to people on welfare or unemployment. I'd vote no to that too!

I served three tours in Iraq. It’s a choice to serve and it’s a choice to apply for a crappy job. The compensation you speak of can be great but your base pay is small. For vets returning it’s not easy to find a job. It takes time and we lose money in that time. I can not change your mind; you will never understand what we have gone through. There is no reason to tell you what I have gone through. I loved it. I am a different breed of person then you are; my blood is different my mind set is different. I am President of my Colleges Veterans Organization and I have hundreds of people voting YES on this so I feel that it will pass I hope.

I appreciate your service.

These economic times are difficult for everyone. Not just vets. It would be wildly irresponsible to borrow money for bonuses in this economic condition we are in.

With all due respect...of course you hope it will pass.

I respect and appreciate your sacrifice for this country....and voting no to this issue doesn't change that...or mean that your service isn't appreciated.

All those are bonuses for people who don’t work if you think about it. Also thousands take advantage of those programs. This is a thank you from the people of Ohio that is all a one time thank you. We appreciate those people of the great state of Ohio who do vote YES on issue one. Not only will this money go back into Ohio’s economy, just think how many vets are going to school in Ohio. That’s millions of dollars going to the state a year.

I never received a "signing bonus" and I don't know anyone who has. I also can't name anyone who would be willing to risk their life to get money for college. National Guard soldiers don't get health insurance unless they are at drill, and during that short time, it covers ONLY the service member, not family members, and only covers injuries occurring in the line of duty. During a deployment, there is family coverage, but only during the deployment. When the soldier returns from deployment, the coverage for both soldier and family members ends. We don't get "room and board" as dd calls it. I live in my home when I'm not drilling. MY home, that I pay for. And as far as bonuses, you need to stop doing research that is based entirely on Active Duty numbers. Issue 1 is for all soldiers that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, meaning Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserves, from all branches of the military.
And as far as dd's argument about "you chose to serve", I've heard that a million times. You don't want to admit what we do is noble and selfless service, that's fine. You're welcome. If I hadn't joined, obviously YOU wouldn't have taken my place. It's the easiest thing in the world to say you're supportive of a cause, but it takes real belief and conviction to do something about it.
You can keep your thank yous, your appreciation, and your hollow words of support for the military. I find them personally offensive since it means absolutely nothing coming from you, dd.
"People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do." - Lewis Cass

dd ~ are you serious! Lets see, first the signing bonus you speak of are usually used for college tuition.

This does not help pay the bills @ home when a husband or wife are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The only other Veterans that will receive any funds are Veterans of the Gulf War. I think we owe the young families that are serving or who have served in Afghanistan, Iraq, or the Gulf War some help.

I would not want to live in a state that will Not do this, and suggest you move to Michigan, since this issue will pass.

To anyone with the American Legion, VFW, USO or any veterans organization. I am willing to put an VOTE for Issue 1 sign in my yard. I am not a Jack*ss like dd!

Remeber dd, if it was not for our soldiers, and veterans we would have more 911's to deal with.

I AM VOTING YES! MY WAY of saying THANK YOU!!

Veterans don’t expect anything in return for their service except a little respect from the people they are sworn to protect. I have a couple of issues with some of the posts on this issue. To say that veterans are being well compensated is complete ignorance to that way of life. To speak this garbage while military families qualify for food stamps is just plain disgusting. I want to get to the point. If you asked a Veteran they would be to proud to accept it, but if anyone deserves it they do. To say we don’t have the money is absolutely laughable. I am sure people like dd would have no problem extending welfare for people who in no way deserve it. We could find the money if we really cared.
Unfortunately too many people believe the stuff dd is shoveling.

P.S. Those bonuses that dd is raving about are taxed at 50 percent.

All I can say, is I thought I was not very patriotic, until I got to the polls today and voted FOR issue one. My best buddy is about to return to Afghanistan, and I wept as I cast my vote, because it his people like him and the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have served before him, many who have not returned to our homeland we call America, that have fought so that we even have a right to cast a ballot!

I read everyones post on here about who should get what and why. I understand where everyone is coming from. I was in Iraq this year, and i am going to Afganistan next year. no one is my unit joined because of a signon, nor did we get any. we didnt join because of free college. i already had a degree (which they wont repay my loan!) i didnt join because of drill pay. its less than $300 a month. i didnt join to be away from my family for many months at a time. But i did it.

When i was in Iraq, the room and board i had was an old Iraqi pilots building from the 70's, which in the start of the war was used as a building where they cut off peoples heads at. T'was the hilton, minus the smell of death and decay, rats, mice, bugs, lizards, dust and misery.

The money. it was decent. i left my family when my daughter was just 2 months old. and my wife was off of work.

i came home from the desert, tried to fit back into my job, my family, friends and normalcy. it was hard, still is, sometimes. its to quiet to sleep, to bright, too cold to safe here sometimes. so what did the military do, sent me to talk to a shrink. thanks.

keep your tax dollars rollin' and keep listening to what Mr. President tells you about the war and where all of your money is going. Its not about the money, its about who you are.

As a spouse of a former active duty vet (two tours in Iraq with the 3ID...the third-most deployed unit in this engagement) and a current National Guard vet (one tour in the middle east), I certainly will vote yes for Issue 1.

The "benefits" that soldiers get are nice. Very good health care. Nice housing allowances. Combat pay. Hazard duty pay. Separation pay. But, please believe me, they aren't "bonuses." Those men and women EARN every single penny they make. How many civilians and their families must "purchase" their excellent health insurance benefits or salary with 2.5 years of separation from their loved ones? How many civilians miss the births, birthdays, first days of school and graduations of their children in order to pay their bills and serve their country?

My husband chose to serve his country, and I am proud to be a military spouse, but what the veterans (past and present) have "earned" doing their duty cannot possibly be compensated! That small "bonus" the state would allow is basically a thank you gift, and when I think of all the other programs and issues that require money in our state today, I feel that appreciating the sacrifice these men and women made (and continue to make) is a priority.

While it certainly isn't much, that extra little bit might help some out-of-work combat vet have a little nicer Christmas with his or her family, or it may just help pay some of the bills that accumulate when a Guardsman returns to such a terrible economy with little chance to find a decent-paying job. Our family has been extremely lucky and blessed, but not all vets are in the same position we are.

As an Operation Desert Storm (90-91) and Operation Iraqi Freedom Vet (03-04) I am very moved that my state would care and create this Issue...Thank You! I hope this passes...
I remember while serving in ODS (90-91) I found out that many other Reservists were getting tax free status from their states during their deployments, but not Ohioians.
Do Ohio vets deserve this or can Ohio afford this? We could argue this till' the troops come home...and that doesn't look like it will be happening soon. (I believe there are other items in the state budget that will NOT have the positive impact this issue will have if it passes)
(Argue, no...but I am grateful and privileged that I can share my opinion as the others here...I love this country!)
First a great deal of those in Ohio who will get a boost from this Issue are the Reservists and National Guard members who tax payers from this state. They kept the US from the draft by being a renewable source of military for full time military. Some of the Reserve forces immediately volunteered for this service in the desert...some were already in the Reserves and NG by/in fulfilling past commitments. But even those with prior Reserve commitments did not take them without understanding the possibility of going in harms way.
ODS in 1990-91 taught those who were serving in the Reserve Forces that signing on the line meant the real possibility of leaving home, job and family to serve in difficult settings will be part of their current and future commitments. After ODS I witnessed many who got out because this was more that they thought they bargained for, but most stayed!
Today's Reserve Force members have many motives to serve but the one that is very much part of their commitment is to serve whenever and wherever our Nation needs them....and I was very proud to be part of this dedicated Force.
(My son is a SSG in the USAR and has been deployed twice since 9/11. He turned down academic scholarships to volunteer after HS graduation in 2002 because he wanted to do something for his country after 9/11 - read here Proud Papa!)
I am now 56 years old and a Disabled Veteran living on a VA check of $601 per month. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and lost my wife of 32 years as well as my ability to work at the level I did before my last deployment because of this ailment. Yes, I will get my Reserve retirement of $1400 a month (for 22 years in the USAR with three deployments - minus my disability pay) when I turn 60 (an issue that Congress needs to tackle). I will live on this VA check until then. I know many vets who are in similar lifestyle settings.
I want to thank those who voted "YES" on this issue .
This is my first post on this issue and I know the polls close soon and it will have little effect on any voters. But to those who voted "Yes" on this issue I say "THANK YOU". You voted for something important to many!
V/R

I voted No for Issue One. The state of Ohio has a budget deficit that has "forced" them to cut grant money for college students yet we can afford to borrow 200 million to provide service men and women a $50/mo check? Its as big of a political sham as the "economic stimulus" checks mailed out during the Bush Administration. Provide help to services that ACTUALLY help the citizens of Ohio. The Governor is up for reelection this year and buying a lot of Republican leaning Veterans votes sure sounds like a good idea. The members of the Armed Forces are FEDERAL employees not STATE employees. It is up to the Federal Government to extend benefits to their employees. If the Issue was limited to National Guardsmen I might have thought differently. $50/mo is not going to help any Veteran in the long run but $200 million will definitely hurt Ohio. We spend between 925billion and 1.14 trillion on Defense in a year and yet we are asked to borrow more.

All the conservative voters that complain about government spending and give away programs dont seem to care when the money is given to them

DD, and Phayes_1

DD:
What huge bonuses are you referring too? I received a $3000 sign on bonus, and was allowed to make my money tax free while I was inhaling desert fumes. In return I was shot at, blown up, and had to deal with some of my friends dying. Oh I forgot to mention my free rent. While in Iraq, I shared a small room with a platoon of 27 men. The daily mortar rounds landing 100 feet from my cot were my daily/nightly alarm (no snooze button). My sweat soaked through my DCUs/ACUs (I went twice) while I performed my 16hour + patrols; they turned white from all the salt. Many back in the states complain about being away from their loved ones for a few days; I was gone from my loved ones for a whole year. Yes I volunteered for this. I did not know the pain, and the long term effects that war has on a man that I would have to deal with. When I hear taps in a movie, I cannot help but cry. Imagine me, a 6’ 220lb man crying to a little song. I know what that song means; I heard it played at 6 of my friend’s funerals. The gunshots from the salute really do send shock waves straight to your bones; just like the movies. Try to imagine this if you can DD. I have had many jobs in my life, and none was so under compensated as the military. Why did I serve if it wasn’t for the millionaire lifestyle that the Army gave me? Because my country needed people like me to pick up a weapon, and defend our homes with great violence. I had to fight, and kill so you didn’t have to. I put my family through pain, and many worried nights, so you didn’t have to. For you to say I was well compensated for that is an insult to me, and every Veteran who served (alive, and dead).

Phayes_1:
It seems you’re really concerned about the college students who are selflessly going to school so that they can land that great job that will pay well. You’re right we need to give them the money, and not to the family of a soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice for your freedoms. Funny I remember supporting the universities by being forced to pay state taxes while I was living in Europe for 6 years (Ohio is one of the few states that requires this). So how about I just consider this a small return on my investment; does that make you happy. I won’t even go into the whole philosophy of ‘if I wasn’t in Iraq, the insurgents would be here’. I won’t even mention that some of that red on the flag came from me. How much is it worth to you to be able to wake up and have your caffe mocha nonfat with nutmeg? 500/month? 100/month? I pray that my children will have the same liberties as you and I. I hope that they grow up in a country where they don’t have to fear riding the bus, or going to the mall because a mad man plans to blow them up. I hope they grow up just as spoiled as you and I, and have the freedom to pursue happiness without a second thought. I would gladly pay anything for that security, for that peace of mind. I would pay with my life; how about you?

“The price of freedom is everlasting vigilance” ~ Thomas Jefferson

Looks like Issue 1 Passed! Over 74% majority with 94% of the precincts reporting. Thank you Ohio!

What if you lived in Michigan and moved to Ohio 7 years ago. Do you still get the bonus??

Members of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, take an oath to the United States as well as the state they serve in. Active duty and reserve members of the Armed Forces take an oath to the United States.

just saying.

I am a veteran who suffered injuries in Iraq in 2004. I was deployed again in 2006. Hurricane deployments in 2005 & 2007. I enlisted in the National Guard. Did I "voluntarily" enlist? Yes.Absolutely. However, I was a young 18 when I enlisted as many young kids are. I had not foreseen the events on September 11. So for those making the argument that soldiers basically "asked for it" asked to be thrusted into a controversial war and deployed over and over, is sad. I was NATIONAL GUARD. Yes, the education is great...if you are able to regularly attend. I never did, due to several deployments. Yes the medical care is excellent, unfortunately most vets will need it for the rest of their life because they are psychologically or physically affected FOREVER. As far as bonuses, only a few soldiers are receiving bonuses these days. They cut ALL bonuses. The FEW soldiers who are receiving bonuses are probably receiving those high bonuses because the military is very short in that particular MOS. Bonuses vary state to state on the demand for the job. I am looking forward to this bonus. I know the state cannot afford it either. If we really want to put things into perspective, we really could not afford the Iraq war and because of the Iraq war, we are ALL PAYING A PRICE.