Kasich Proposed Cutting Funding for 13 Veterans Organizations His First Year in Office

Today, Governor Kasich will tout his efforts to improve higher education and job opportunities for Ohio’s veterans at a bill signing at the University of Cincinnati. Here’s why that’s just pure electioneering: in his first state budget, Governor Kasich proposed weakening access to state jobs for veterans, and sought to cut funding for thirteen different veteran organizations.

Kasich’s latest budget also allocates the smallest percentage of funding for higher education in forty years – hiking tuition at six public universities, including the University of Cincinnati, and putting higher education out of reach for many veterans.

Governor Kasich Proposed Weakening Preferences Given to Veterans in State Hiring Decisions: “The bill modifies the bonus, for veterans who receive a passing grade on a civil service examination, from 20% of the veterans total grade to 20% or an equivalent weight of the veterans total grade. The individuals ranking on an eligible list must reflect the passing grade plus the additional credit. The bill eliminates the priority in rank on an eligible list that a veteran is currently entitled to when there is a tie score between a veteran and a nonveteran. Under the bill, the time of filing the applicationwill solely determine the order in which the names of persons who receive the samescore are ranked on an eligible list. Current law requires a veteran to be ranked above a nonveteran who has the same score, in addition to receiving the 20% bonus.” [Legislative Service Commission Report, 2011]

Kasich’s First Budget Proposed Cutting Funding for Veteran Organizations and Freezing Funding at Reduced Level: “Thirteen veterans’ organizations, including the Korean War Veterans, the Jewish War Veterans, the Catholic War Veterans, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion of Ohio, the AMVETS, the Disabled American Veterans, the Marine Corps League, the 37th Division Veterans’ Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Army and Navy Union, U.S.A., and the American Ex-Prisoners of War, receive a subsidy from the state to help veterans and their dependents identify and claim benefits to which they are entitled….Funding Recommendation for FY2012 and FY2013: Funding for fiscal year 2012 is $1.7 million (or a 5.0% decrease from fiscal year 2011). Funding for fiscal year 2013 is $1.7 million (or no change from fiscal year 2012).” [State of Ohio, the Executive Budget Fiscal Year 2012 & 2013, page 736]

Despite Tuition Increases at Six Public Universities and Colleges, Kasich Dedicated Smallest Portion of Budget to Higher Education in 40 Years: “Eight of Ohio’s 14 public universities have imposed or proposed tuition increases for next school year, despite a push from students to keep costs down. University of Akron leaders agreed to raise tuition by 2 percent last week, following increases that have been approved at the University of Cincinnati, Youngstown State University and Shawnee State University. Four other schools have proposed increases: Ohio University, Miami University, Wright State University and the University of Toledo.” [Columbus Dispatch, 4/28/2014]

When in Congress, Kasich’s 1993 Budget Proposal Cut Military Retirees’ Cost of Living Adjustments: CQ Weekly wrote in 1993 of the budget proposal Kasich co-wrote, “Some of the proposal’s other large cuts include deferring the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for military retirees until they reach age 62 ($5.5 billion over five years)” [CQ Weekly, 10/30/93; H. Con. Res. 64, Vote #81, 3/18/93]

Kasich Then Complained About Mail He Got For Cutting Military Retirees’ COLA:: Kasich said of his 1993 budget, “Look, when you’ve got $430 billion – you know, $429 billion worth of spending reductions – I’m saying that military retirees under the age of 62 ought to lose their COLA.  They ought to get their pension, but not a COLA.  You know what my mail looks like?  They don’t like that.” [Larry King Live, 5/26/93; H. Con. Res. 64, Vote #81, 3/18/93]