State must treat survivors equitably

When state lawmakers committed themselves in 2005 to giving $250,000 each to the families of three fallen Kansas National Guardsmen on top of other death benefits, they made a tacit promise to those whose grief was still to come. After a problematic attempt to cover further payouts via an insurance plan left four more families with fewer benefits, legislators rightly acted this year to equalize the benefits, including to the family of Staff Sgt. David Russell Berry of Wichita. Since adjournment, though, two more Guard members have been killed, leaving their families short until or unless lawmakers can act. As Rep. Lee Tafanelli, R-Ozawkie, a colonel in the Kansas National Guard, told the Topeka Capital-Journal, “Clearly we need to have some uniform policy.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman

8 Comments

  1. XXX
    Posted August 28, 2007 at 5:34 am | Permalink

    $250,000!?!?!That’s money that could have gone to schools or to help the homeless!(sarcasm off)Looks like this piece of grandstanding could really end up costing the taxpayers, especially when you consider this war could go on for another 20-30 years.

  2. The Phantom
    Posted August 28, 2007 at 8:27 am | Permalink

    That’s what, maybe two years pay for a haliburton laundry worker in Iraq?

  3. Mary Caruso
    Posted August 28, 2007 at 9:00 am | Permalink

    I don’t think families should be given this additional benefit…too many young people might sign up in order to be a financial “hero” to their family if they die. This is exactly what the Muslim terrorists do for their suicide bombers, and it becomes a big motivator for vulnerable young people to sign up for duty.

  4. Ed Friedemann
    Posted August 28, 2007 at 10:28 am | Permalink

    Send the bill to Israel. It’s their war.

    But on second thought, never mind sending a bill, { which will never be paid as no other bill has ever been paid } and deleting all advances and confiscating current assets would bring better results.

    With that new relationship, gasoline prices would return to a buck a gallon, as an added bonus to help off-set the grief of military families and Americans in general.

  5. Vaughn Tolle
    Posted August 28, 2007 at 1:29 pm | Permalink

    I think the state legislature, in its early attempts to provide some financial solace to the survivors, set an expensive precedent. No amount of money can assuage a loss, to be sure, and I hate to sound callous, but I think there should have been a bit more thought on setting a policy in the beginning as to the financial recompense the legislature would provide under these circumstances.

    Mary, what are your thoughts on the $20,000 bonus for Army recruits who agree to immediate combat training and deployment?

  6. Nathan
    Posted August 28, 2007 at 2:55 pm | Permalink

    I guess I am confused on this one.

    Service members are already given the SGLI which is 450,000 dollars in coverage if you die.

    So did our state decide to give these guys another 250,000 on top of that?

  7. door king
    Posted August 28, 2007 at 3:56 pm | Permalink

    Clearly we need to have some uniform policy

    Lot’s of puns today.

  8. Vaughn Tolle
    Posted August 28, 2007 at 4:00 pm | Permalink

    Nathan, it is my understanding that the state did vote to give the $250,000 on top of any other benefits. I’ve been away from pay and benefits way too long, but at one time National Guard troops weren’t necessarily provided the SGLI coverage at the same levels/or at all as the Active Duty troops (can’t recall the rule on reserve forces).