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Key questions about Issue 1

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Updated 4:58 PM Tuesday, November 3, 2009

If Issue 1 passes, Jim Gravelle expects the questions to come early and often.

Mostly one question: “How do I apply for the bonus and when will I get my money?”

Gravelle, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Veteran Services, said the application process has yet to be developed and nobody can predict how much time will pass between voter approval and the mailing of checks.

“I can tell you that our counterparts in Pennsylvania were pleased that their state began sending checks to their veterans 18 months after their bonus plan was established,” he said.

Issue 1 would provide financial bonuses to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Before the phones start ringing, Gravelle prepared a list of answers to some anticipated questions.

The Issue One resolution will not take effect until the Ohio Secretary of State certifies the election results.
Quoting from the Issue One resolution, the Ohio Department of Veterans Services (DVS) “...shall adopt rules...including rules regarding the amounts to which beneficiaries are entitled, residency requirements...and any other rules necessary...”
The Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (J-CARR) must review the DVS rules and work with DVS to make changes and/or adopt additional rules.
The Ohio Public Facilities Commission “...shall proceed to issue and sell, from time to time, bonds or other obligations of the state in such amounts as necessary...”
DVS will use some of that bond money to hire staff and rent the office space needed to implement the program. We also need time in which to train the new staff.
Once these systems are in place, eligible veterans will be invited to apply for their bonus.
Then, all applications must be screened in detail to determine eligibility. That screening includes confirming military active duty status, dates/era, service locations, honorable status, Ohio residency when deployed to active duty and when applying for the bonus, and so on.

Gravelle says it’s anybody’s guess how long it will take before veterans start receiving checks. But, he said, “Based on the experience of people accustomed to writing and selling investment bonds and the experiences of other states with similar bonus programs, we can estimate that, if Issue One is approved today, payments to the first eligible veterans will be about one year away.”

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Well lets see even though that moneys tax free wow maybe youll make 30 to 35 thousand a year but we did 12 to 18 hour missions every day with maybe 2 days of down time every 2 weeks wow thats maybe 1.50 an hour how would u guys like to work that many hours and that lil pay you woudnt want to u all complain now about making 15 to 30 bucks an hour and working 8 hours.

Joshua
7:37 PM, 12/23/2009

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Dont get all the hate about vets. All neg. commets ,just take a short moment and and think if it wasent for vets. you would not have a public fourm that you could post your commets on. You take so many things for granted.There are many useless bills pased every year. if we are going to " waste tax payer money" why not to a meaningful cause.And yes i am a proud vet. and have never ask for anythig.

Bill morrison
7:20 PM, 11/4/2009

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What a ridiculous waste of taxpayer resources! Yes, I'm a vet. Yes, I voted against it!

Friar
10:38 PM, 11/3/2009

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To answer that question... yeah, i got nothing. According to the bill I am eligible and I still voted against it. I personally don't feel the state of Ohio owes me anything but somebody has made this a pretty significant issue and it was over shadowed by the BS casino bill. So, who knows... Maybe you (What the...) should join up, volunteerily, and see if you still feel that way?

When is enough?
8:44 PM, 11/3/2009

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When is enough be enough. The veterans went in the service voluntarily. The can get a free education. When in these conflicts the get paid tax free. The can apply for a VA home loan. Many went free to Kings Island, Reds games, Bengals games. When will we draw the line of stuff for the veterans?
My brother served 2 tours in Iraq. Made tax free money both times. His job was still where when he returned. Saw a few free Reds and Bengals games. Where do we draw the line at enough?

What the...
8:26 PM, 11/3/2009

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