HungerNetOhio #6.10:
“Death by a thousand cuts”

With the dust settling (but smog still hovering) over recent Statehouse financial struggles, it seems safe to speculate about what just happened and what's next within the biennial budget.

On July 17th, over two weeks after the constitutional deadline, two extensions, and 61 vetoes, Governor Strickland signed a two year budget. Keyed into his continuously declining figures, legislators cut $2.3 billion from Governor's original proposal. Then, maybe papering over the remaining gaping hole with a wild card, sleight-of-hand, latter-day move, a divided majority weakly assured each other of $933 million in new monies which would be collected through 17,500 video slot machines at race tracks.

First to the good news, particularly with services to the most precarious among us for whom we primarily advocated: largely as a result of persistent messages to legislators, part of the money was ultimately restored for emergency food.  Also, a program operated through many churches, Benefit Banks were saved along with food stamp outreach programs. 

However, to the bad news, Second Harvest Foodbanks funding was still down over $5 million and county Jobs and Family Services offices now face the enormous challenge of trying to serve a major influx of the neediest Ohioans with drastically less funding.  Therefore, as the demand for emergency assistance grows--especially with unemployment roles regularly going off the charts--less and less emergency food and case worker attention will be available.

As for “ugly,” picture a sinking ship. It is being pulled under by the unabated decline in tax revenues and slim chances of rescue from slot machines.  Relying mainly upon wishful thinking, the feasibility for this budget to remain balanced is widely seen as short-sighted, risky, and demanding constant scrutiny.  Therefore, the process of balancing the State budget will likely continue month-to-month throughout the next two years (when, minus another economic stimulus, an even bleaker scenario emerges).

Thus, along with the administration, the two Committees (House and Senate Finance) already exasperated in trying to avoid the situation we are in will be pulled back into service.  They will be forced next to make budget corrections in order to reduce chances for an even greater disaster. And if the State's inability to come up with solid budgetary projections this past spring is an illustration, they could be called upon again…and again.

So, amid this catastrophe-in-the-making, do we as people and communities of faith have a role?  With many anti-poverty advocates exhausted, human services receding, and state coffers dwindling, what do we do next?
 

SHORT CUT:
For those who insist, "JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"

LONG SUIT:
For those who plead, "GIVE ME MORE DETAILS"

We could spend a lot of time and ink (electronic verbiage) assessing the “good” and “bad” of House Bill 1 (the new biennial budget) from multiple angles-nutrition, medical coverage, mental health care, jobs, libraries, education generally, children and elderly services, etc., etc. Although referencing some of those stories below, let's rather “to cut to the chase”: what are we prepared to do about the “ugly”? 

Sitting through and testified before the House Finance and Appropriations and the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committees, many were moved both by the passion of struggling citizens who articulated their cases and compassion of legislators who patiently listened. Sometimes waiting many hours to deliver a few minutes of heartfelt presentation, advocates of diverse causes were treated with respect, sensitivity, and care by those committee members.

With their original obligation to pass a balanced budget now met, public officials continue to need both our support and ideas. Working within faith-based ministries to try to compensate for the deficiencies in State funding for a myriad of depleted programs, we may also help lay the ground work for reinvigorating public policy debate over how re-balancing expenditures and income.

Therefore, we hope to continue to bring the witness of hurting Ohioans (and those who know and service them) to bear upon recycled budget discussion. Beginning next week and continuing into the fall, we are arranging for meetings with legislators, beginning with those finance committees from both houses.  Please contact us (Hunger Network in Ohio referenced below) if you are willing or have others to recommend to meet with members either at the Statehouse or your local districts.

Also, the Campaign to Protect Ohio's Future needs your help to document the devastating effects of state cuts on services for Ohio's citizens and on the agencies that provide those services. It is critical that human service providers - both public and private - document what is happening as a result of state budget cuts. We will use this information to educate the public and elected leaders toward restoring funds badly needed in our communities. Please take a moment and share with us what your organization is experiencing (reference below).

PRIMARY REFERENCES AND LINKS

The Campaign to Protect Ohio's Future is a coalition of health, human services, primary and secondary education and higher education organizations seeking to protect Ohio's most vulnerable citizens by restoring or adequately funding vital services through a responsible budget that has - as its primary priority - to meet basic human needs (food, shelter, clothing and medical care) and provide a safety net for the most vulnerable Ohioans. A responsible human services budget should ensure opportunity for low-income Ohioans to achieve self-sufficiency through education, training, work, and supportive services.

On line survey:
http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=1303019

Download the paper version:
http://oashf.org/StateBudgetImpactSurveyverisonfinal.pdf


Articles

Budget is bad deal for Appalachia, Ohio
http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/20090728/OPINION02/907280324

Mental health funds in state budget tied to Medicaid not 'real' money
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/07/mental_health_funds_in_state_b.html

Cuts in budget shut out seniors
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/24/elderly_wait.ART_ART_07-24-09_A1_S1EIL7G.html?sid=101

Activists try to halt slots plan
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/21/GAMBLE_FIGHT.ART_ART_07-21-09_A1_6EEHJSK.html?sid=101

Painful Ohio budget leaves few happy
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090720/NEWS0108/907210306/1055/NEWS/Painful%20Ohio%20budget%20leaves%20few%20happy?GID=cjOaa8z0crMbvCd15URYc8O6rvN02GU4fhPhKAlRbJ4%3D

Soft budget: The state spending plan faces legal challenges to major sources of funding. That's hardly an ideal situation for the Statehouse
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/opinions/51120547.html

Scrutiny missing in state budget: Before vote, legislators had just 300 minutes to examine 1,000 pages
http://www.ohio.com/news/51120612.html

Bolon calls budget talks, cuts 'extremely emotional'
http://www.reviewonline.com/page/content.detail/id/516718.html?nav=5008

Agencies: Ohio budget restricts in-home services
http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20090716/UPDATES01/90716009

Poor treatment: Hiking hospital fees will mean cuts in services that hurt all patients
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2009/07/17/hoppie.ART_ART_07-17-09_A12_GQEG191.html?sid=101

Schools fix has plenty of doubters
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/17/copy/skol_funding.ART_ART_07-17-09_A1_MNEGFJT.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

Tobacco lawsuit freezes $258 million in state budget for human-service programs
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1247733123222090.xml&coll=2

Worries not over after Ohio legislature passes budget
http://timesbulletin.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=153287&TM=18332.21

Strickland gamble has big risks here
http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/07/15/editorial_strickland_gamble_ha.html

Budget critics say tough decisions still loom
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/budget-critics-say-tough-decisions-still-loom-205396.html

Failure to lead: Ohio's new spending plan is two weeks overdue. In reality, the document is evidence of lack of political courage
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/opinions/50824752.html

Is Ohio racing toward a financial cliff?
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/is-ohio-racing-toward-a-financial-cliff-205395.html

Impact of state budget cuts unclear for now
http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/jul/15/impact-of-cuts-unclear-for-now/

Ohio slot machine critics say budget gamble a bad bet
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/ohio-slot-machine-critics-say-budget-gamble-a-bad-bet-205401.html

Hunger Network in Ohio
82 East 16th Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43201
Phone: 614-424-6203
E-mail: info@hungernetohio.org