Proposed Ohio Constitutional Amendment from Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray
Sparked by an inquiry from Iraq by an Ohio soldier, Treasurer of State Richard Cordray has
proposed a constitutional amendment to provide compensation to Ohio veterans of the conflicts
in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan or Iraq would receive $100 for each month
of service up to a total of $1,000. Veterans who served elsewhere during those conflicts would
receive $50 a month up to a total of $500. Family members of those killed in action would
receive $5,000 in addition to any other allowable compensation. These figures are in line with
previous service bonuses, updated for inflation.
In the past, Ohio has issued bonds through four separate voter-approved amendments to the
state’s constitution in order to provide compensation to its veterans of World War I, World War II,
Korea and Vietnam.
The cost is estimated at approximately $100 million and will be spread over 15 years with a
maximum annual debt service payment estimated to be approximately $9.5 million.
Veterans Press Release
Treasurer Cordray asked the legislature to place on the ballot a constitutional amendment to provide compensation to Ohio veterans of major conflicts in recent wars.
Veterans Service Bonus Testimony
Read sponsorship testimony from Senator Timothy Grendell along with Treasurer Cordray's testimony to the Senate Finance Committee on the significance of the Amendment.
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Previous Veterans Amendments
Ohio has passed constitutional amendments for veterans of conflicts previously. These wars include World War II , the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Letter to General Assembly
Treasurer Cordray wrote a letter to the members of the General Assembly informing them of the proposed amendment, the reasoning, and the cost of the proposal.
Compensation History
Compensating veterans has a very lengthy history in Ohio. View the highlights dating back from 1776 to the present of Ohio veterans' compensation history.
Veteran Benefit Cost Chart
The chart details the costs of the proposed Veteran amendment to the Ohio constitution. The information and numbers in the chart are current as of October 2007.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question regarding the proposed veterans amendment such as, "Who would be eligible for these benefits?" check the Frequently Asked Questions section.
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