Ohio's firefighters, officers, nurses, doctors and child care providers all worked outside the home throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
But who among them deserves a $1,000 bonus check from the American Rescue Plan Act dollars allocated to the state has now become a heated debate in Columbus.
Three Republican representatives and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost introduced a plan to give first responders (fire, police and EMS) $1,000 checks if they worked full-time throughout the pandemic and weren't disciplined during that time period. Part-time first responders and volunteer firefighters would get $500 checks.
"We are doing this because we want to show our first responders we value you guys, we care for you guys, we love you guys," Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, said at a press conference.
