COLUMBUS — Senate President Bill Harris wants to give a Christmas bonus to Ohio veterans.

So does House Speaker Jon Husted. And Gov. Ted Strickland wants to help veterans, too.

They just don't all agree on the best way to finance the plan.

Harris on Wednesday, Nov. 26, said he would support Husted's plan of appropriating the money rather than funding it through a bond issue, as the Senate approved last January.

Those eligible would include all veterans of the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War and the ongoing fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The January proposal called for bonuses up to $1,000 for veterans who served in the conflicts and bonuses up to $500 for veterans who served elsewhere during the conflicts. Also, family members of those killed in action would have received $5,000.

"I think whatever the speaker does we'll be looking at doing our best to pass it," Harris, R-Ashland, a retired Marine Corps major, said. Harris said he wants the veterans to have the bonuses by Christmas.

Husted, R-Kettering, supports bonuses but rejected issuing bonds to borrow the money. He is preparing legislation to appropriate the money from existing state funds. Potential sources include the "Rainy Day" fund, which holds about $1 billion.

The cash approach puts the Republican legislative leaders on a potential collision course with Democratic Gov. Strickland during the lame-duck session that will mark the end of complete GOP control of the legislature. Democrats won control of the House on Nov. 4 and will take over in January.

"(Strickland) continues to believe the best way to move forward to pay for this is the same way veterans bonuses were paid in the past," Keith Dailey, Strickland's spokesman said, referring to bonds.

Dailey also said the governor "is confident the newly elected Ohio House will concur."

Dailey declined to say whether Strickland would veto legislation appropriating the bonus money.

The Senate last January unanimously voted to put a proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot that required voter approval for the bonuses.

The plan, originally proposed by Democratic State Treasurer Richard Cordray, called for issuing up to $200 million in bonds to pay for the bonuses. Cordray estimated that 206,066 veterans and families of the deceased would qualify at a cost of $105,921,000 spread over 15 years.

Ohio voters approved bonds to provide cash benefits to veterans of previous wars. A vote of the people would not be required if the legislature appropriates the money.

Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDaily

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