COLUMBUS, Ohio – A proposal offering cash reparations and other benefits to three women abducted and imprisoned in a Cleveland man’s home has cleared a divided Ohio House committee with several changes.
An Ohio House committee approved a measure yesterday that would pay Amanda Berry (above), Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus cash for every year in captivity plus tuition to a public university.
The proposal also offers the women lifetime Medicaid benefits.
There’s no word yet when the full House will vote on the bill, which would provide the women with annual cash relief payments, minus other victim assistance awards for which they’re eligible.
The bill’s initial offer of tuition, fees and living expenses at an Ohio public college would now be administered through Cleveland State University.
Rather than making lifetime federal government medical assistance available to the women, the amended bill gives the governor the power to annually review and pay eligible expenses.
Ariel Castro pleaded guilty to kidnapping the women, then repeatedly raping and beating them. He was found hanged in prison last month.