Lawmaker Wants To Locate Vets Eligible For State Bonuses

Democratic State Representative and State Auditor candidate Connie Pillich wants income tax returns used to help locate veterans eligible for Ohio bonuses. Voters in 2009 approved a 200 million dollar bond issue funding bonuses for eligible veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq wars. But there has been concern that thousands still may not know about the money. Pillich says her bill would provide space on Ohio income tax returns for taxpayers to indicate whether they, their spouses or dependents were active duty military during the bonus periods. Names, addresses and terms of service would be forwarded to the Department of Veterans Services to help reach veterans.