Currently Dan Langshaw is in contact with the following State of Ohio Senators: Senator John Boccieri of the 33rd District, Senator Tom Roberts of the 5th District, Senator Joy Padgett of the 20th District, Senator Robert Spada of the 24th District, and Governor Ted Strickland's Office. He is working on this on going proccess to lobby for our proposal to be written into law and through the help of these government officals; we hope to make it so.
As a military veteran myself who is paying for his college education; it truely is a struggle not only to transition back to civilian life but financially as well. It would be in the economic and best interest of the state of Ohio to assist Active Duty Ohio Military Veterans with college. So that the state can retain good reliable skilled workers and help boast the Ohio economy and tax base. Many of Ohio's college students are leaving this state in record numbers. In order to help keep good skilled workers; giving incentives like state financial assistance to Ohio Active Duty Veterans. For example I am 21 year old US Army Veteran who wants to be a teacher. When I graduate I could work in a public school and teach. But if I am hurt so badly by tutition cost for school in Ohio, then another state offers to pay more to help me with my college loans then I am out of Ohio in a heart beat. But if Ohio offered me an exeption or some state scholarship or state assistance then of course I would stay to return the favor. It makes good economic sense to give incentives to keep good skilled workers for Ohio's workforce and tap into this great untapped resource of Ohio Active Duty Veterans.
I would like the State Legislature to create this Ohio Active Duty US Military Veteran's Education Assistance Bill through using a few different states own legislation for veterans ed and coming up with one similar to it or use it as a framework. For example for my proposed legislation look to the following states:
State of Texas has the (Hazlewood Exemption) (Hazlewood Act) Texas Education Code 54.203 which: Provides an education benefit to honorably discharged or seperated Texas Veterans via a need based application process. The Hazlewood applies to all US Military Veterans both Active and National Guard. Those who can apply must meet the following criteria: Are a citizen of U.S. at the time of entry; Were Texas residents at the time they entered the US Armed Forces; Have served at least 181 days of active duty as indicated as net service on their DD214; Have recieved an honorable discharge or seperation or general discharge under honorable conditions; Have exhausted all Federal benefits available for the semester for which they are enrolled; Are not in default on Federal education loan or student loan made or guaranteed by the state of Texas. Award is only for use at a Texas public college or university. The State of Minnesota
has passed legislation which went into affect in July 2007, which Veterans attending a public or private colleges in the state of Minnesota who served in the armed forces on or after 9/11, and who have exhausted other federal and state benefits, can be reinbursed $1,000 per semester up to $10,000 under the law. The State of Wisconsin in 2006 passed legislation that waved 100% of tuition for veterans, up from a 50% wavier, enacted in 2005. Finally the State of New York has legislation which Veterans are eligible for awards of $1,000 per semester for full time study or $500 for part time study. I also recommend that the State of Ohio Legislature considers any of the following four suggestions for this proposal as well: (1) Create an additional state tax break in Ohio's Tax Code for those Ohio Active Duty Veterans attending an Ohio public university or college. (2) Create a state grant for Veterans who attend a Ohio public university or college that is an award amount between $200-$1,000. (3) Create a state wavier for veterans who attend a Ohio public university or college in which they will get a % off their tuition at the particular state institution. (4) Create a state funded need base scholarship that through application process or board of regeants that offers assistance to Ohio Active Duty Veterans who have exhausted all their federal GI Bill for school at a public university or college.
In conclusion the need for legislation to help Ohio's Active Duty US Military Veterans with funding their college education is REAL and needs to be taken seriously by the Ohio General Assembly. The only way possible for the state of Ohio to full fill a new promise to help its veterans is by adopting this proposal's recommendations and making it into law. Ohio has forgotten its Active Duty Military Veterans for too long. Since 1996 and more reccently under the Taft administration the state of Ohio has cut from the state fiscsal budget for funding higher education at Ohio's public colleges and universities. The Taft administration had cut funding to higher education by -14.0% or more each and every year while in office. Yet, the state government increased each year funding for the state corrections inmates of 31.2% and funding K-12 students by 40.2%. The state needs to re-evaluate what really helps the state for the future. Its felons will not help the state's economic future or growth. Helping to support higher education and through proposed legislation are part of the formula to correct Ohio's economic problems. When it comes to funding my proposal ask yourself this: "Are Criminals more important than Ohio's Active Duty U.S. Military Veterans who are risking their lives to protect our freedoms, our country, and the state of Ohio?"
Sincerely,
Dan Langshaw
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