Ohio Republicans Refuse To Act On Proposal To Increase Death Benefit For Ohio Servicemen

COLUMBUS – House Republicans voted today to table a Democratic proposal that would have created a $100,000 state death benefit for Ohio National Guard members killed while on active federal duty.

House Democratic Leader Chris Redfern, D-Catawba Island, said he was deeply disappointed that his proposal was set aside today by House Republicans on a 53-41 vote, largely along party lines.

“We are talking about men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our state and our nation,” Rep. Redfern said. “While it is impossible to put a price on this sacrifice, I would think we could all agree losing one’s life in service to our country is worth more than a used car.”

Currently, state government offers a $20,000 death benefit for Guard members killed while on state active duty and no benefit at all to those killed while on federal active duty. (The federal death benefit for Guard members on duty in places such as Afghanistan or Iraq is just $12,500.)

Rep. Redfern’s amendment would have increased the death benefit offered by the state of Ohio to $100,000 for all Guard members on federal or state active duty. Since Sept. 11, 2001, six Ohio National Guard members have been killed while on federal active duty.

These House members, all Republicans, voted to table the proposal, effectively killing it: James Aslanides of Coshocton, Charles R. Blasdel of East Liverpool, Louis W. Blessing Jr. of Cincinnati, Danny R. Bubp of West Union, Stephen Buehrer of Delta, Charles Calvert of Medina, Jim Carmichael of Wooster, Bill Coley of West Chester, Thom Collier of Mount Vernon, Courtney Combs of Hamilton, Tony Core of Rushsylvania, David T. Daniels of Greenfield, Kevin DeWine of Fairborn, Matthew J. Dolan of Novelty, David R. Evans of Newark, Keith Faber of Celina; Diana M. Fessler of Bethel Township, Larry Flowers of Canal Winchester, Bob Gibbs of Lakeville, Mike Gilb of Findlay, John P. Hagan of Alliance, James M. Hoops of Napoleon, Merle Grace Kearns of Springfield, Sally Conway Kilbane of Rocky River, Robert E. Latta of Bowling Green, Randy Law of Warren, Earl Martin of Avon Lake, Jim McGregor of Gahanna, Tom Patton of Strongsville, Jon Peterson of Delaware, Tom Raga of Mason, James Raussen of Springdale, Steve Reinhard of Bucyrus, Tim Schaffer of Lancaster, John Schlichter of Washington Court House, Derrick Seaver of Minster, Bill Seitz of Cincinnati, Arlene Setzer of Vandalia, Geoffrey Smith of Columbus, Jimmy Stewart of Athens, Mary Taylor of Uniontown, James Trakas of Independence, Joseph Uecker of Miami Twp., Jeff Wagner of Sycamore, Mark Wagoner of Toledo, Kathleen Walcher of Norwalk, Shawn Webster of Hamilton, John White of Kettering, Chris Widener of Springfield, John Widowfield of Cuyahoga Falls, John Williamowski of Lima, Larry Wolpert of Hilliard and Jon Husted of Kettering. All House Democrats defended the proposal for an increased death benefit by voting against tabling. The Democrats were joined by Republicans Tom Brinkman of Cincinnati, Clyde Evans of Rio Grande, Ron Hood of Ashville, Jim Hughes of Columbus, Scott Oelslager of Plain Township and Linda Reidelbach of Worthington Hills.

Redfern’s proposal for more generous death benefits would have been included in House Bill 11, a bill to award high school diplomas to Vietnam War veterans who left school early in order to serve in the United States armed forces. H.B. 11 passed successfully Tuesday, but without the increased death benefit.