The Ohio House has voted to award bonuses to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars using $200 million from the state's rainy day fund.
The Republican-controlled House voted 53-41 on Tuesday to dole out bonuses of up to $1,000 each from the emergency fund. Gov. Ted Strickland has said he will veto the bill because he opposes using state emergency funds when Ohio faces a projected $7 billion deficit over the next two years.
The Senate would have to pass the House bill before it could be sent to Strickland.
The governor has said he supports a proposal passed by the Senate that would pay the bonuses using bonds - the same way it's been done in the past.
Veterans who served in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War are also eligible for the bonuses.