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HungerNetOhio #6.8: Backing into an Economic and Human Catastrophe
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How to avoid wiping out public services in Ohio |
Life is jumping at the Ohio Statehouse these days and the latest version of State Budget is getting trampled. Early yesterday, religious leaders gathered for a combination press conference and prayer vigil to call on legislators to develop comprehensive, systemic reform of Ohio schools. Declaring first in a spirited rendition of “…Woke up this morning with my mind…stayed on freedom” and then on “justice,” they expressed support for renovation of public education. They agreed largely with that emphasis in the earlier House Bill 1 (Governor Strictland's design) as a first step toward providing freedom from inequality and justice for opportunity of Ohio's children. But, short of a wholly embrace, they then tagged him a backslider in his reversion to raising revenues through slot machines at race tracks.
The reason for this gathering and basis of their chorus--if not the lyrics--were matched by representatives of public libraries across the state bombarding these scared (if not necessarily sacred) halls of government with sophisticated mass e-mails, blogs, phone calls, social-networking sites, leaflets and person-to-person contact to rally opposition to the proposed cuts. They were joined by swarms of advocates for other precarious human services programs such as health care, children's services, senior citizens, the mentally ill, charter schools, county government, unions and dozens of other interests in making last-ditch efforts to use the court of public opinion to roll back $2.4 billion in proposed budget cuts.
These are a snippet of the range of causes and snapshot of the breadth of persons who will be impacted if Senate-House Conference Committee adopts the spending plan issued last Friday by the Governor. However they mince, slice, or dice public services alongside of diminished estimated revenues, the biennial allocations will be woefully inadequate to keep the “ship of state” afloat.
Representing the Campaign to Protect Ohio's Future, Gayle Channing Tenenbaum summarize a disaster seemingly in-the-making in the week ahead:
“Leadership is essential in these economic times to balance the budget in ways that protect Ohio's economic future as well as the individual futures and safety of our children, disabled, elderly, and mentally ill. We implore the Governor to rethink this budget framework and work with the House and Senate Conference Committee to propose something that does not shred the safety net.”
SHORT
CUT:
For
those who insist, "JUST TELL ME
WHAT TO
DO!"
ASK EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW TO JOIN YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN PICKING UP THE TELEPHONE OR SENDING AN EMAIL TO THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE/HOUSE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS YOUR SENATOR OR HOUSE MEMBER:
o EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR ANY PREVIOUS SUPPORT
o ASK FOR FULLY FUNDING THE OHIO ASSOCIATION OF SECOND HARVEST FOODBANKS AT $17 MILLION PER YEAR, $34 MILLION OVER THE BIENNIAL, SERVICES 1.8 MILLION CHILDREN, SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS, THE POOREST AMONG US, WHO DESPERATELY NEED THESE SERVICES IN ORDER TO SURVIVE. WARN THEM THAT CUTS TO COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF JOBS AND FAMILY SERVICES WILL CRIPPLE INTAKE AND MAINTENANCE FOR AN INCREASING NUMBER OF OHIOIANS REQUIRING ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
o REQUEST ATTENTION TO OTHER VITAL SERVICES FOR WHICH YOU HAVE A SPECIAL AFFINITY AND WHICH IMPACTS THE MOST VULNERABLE OHIOANS-PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, CHILDREN'S SERVICES, ELDERLY SUPPORT, ETC.
o URGE THEM TO RE-CONSIDER OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUES. ARGUE THAT OHIO'S LOOMING BUDGET SHORTFALL IS TOO BIG TO ADDRESS BY CUTTING SERVICES ALONE NOT TO EXPLORE TAXES REDUCTIONS, FREEZES, DELAYS, AND SELECTIVE INCREASES.
o AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO FINISH THEIR JOB NOW AND COMPLETE THE BUDGET BY JULY 1, NOT TO DELAY BY PASSING. SOME MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WANT TO PASS A SHORT TERM BUDGET LASTING ONLY A MONTH OR TWO RATHER THAN DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW. AN INTERIM BUDGET WILL ONLY COMPLICATE THINGS. IT WILL MEAN USING OUR LIMITED ADDITIONAL REVENUE INAPPROPRIATELY AS WELL AS DIMINISHING THE TIME AVAILABLE TO IMPLEMENT ANY CUTS IN STATE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE MADE THUS MAKING THEM MORE SEVERE.
Situation
Responding to a challenge by the Senate/House Budget Conference Committee, Governor Strickland announced late last Friday more than $2.43 billion in cuts to government services, following the nearly $2 billion in cuts already made. At the same time he said, “We can't eliminate essential safety net services that Ohioans need more than ever.”
However, advocates for Ohio families, children and elderly claim that is exactly what this budget is doing. However, the budget shreds the safety net of services needed for Ohio's poorest families, frail elderly, disabled, unemployed, young children, and those needing substance abuse and mental health treatment, literally putting their safety and health in jeopardy.
What's at Stake
Here's a caption of the human services that are proposed to be cut:
* Reduced funding for food bank programs by $7 million, at a time when demand is at all time unprecedented record levels and many agencies are now rationing food.
* $196 million for mental health and addiction treatment.
* $25 million from county boards to support those with developmental disabilities.
* $28 million for protection of abused and neglected children.
* $34 million for Adopted children with special needs.
* Elimination of funding for children in kinship settings.
* $45 million in Services for frail elderly Ohioans to protect them from harm and keep them in their homes.
* Elimination of quality child care for 14,000 children and reduction in eligibility for child care for working poor families.
This list doesn't include $40 million local governments to serve the rapidly increasing number of Ohioans who need assistance because of unemployment. Ohio counties have already cut over 2000 staff at the same time they are seeing record numbers in need of services. And libraries, especially offer access to education, job information, and internet connections to those otherwise inaccessible.
Advocates for the poor are calling on Governor Strickland, Speaker Budish and Senate President Harris to find other ways to balance the state budget, now projected with a deficit of $3.2 billion. They point out that cuts have fallen disproportionately on health and human services for Ohio's most vulnerable. They are also calling for increases in revenues if that is what is needed to help Ohioans struggling in the economic downturn.
Perspective
These recommendations come as Ohio's unemployment rate continues to rise, hitting 10.8 percent in May--4.5 percent higher than it was one year ago. The new rate is up from 10.2 percent in April, and is the highest it has been since October 1983. The U.S. unemployment rate for May was 9.4 percent, up from 8.9 percent in April.
Another Approach
If it were not for the large takes cuts made by Ohio's leaders in 2005, we would not be in as serious of a bind as we are now. The impact of the tax changes of 2005 are questionable, except in one respect: the enormous budget gap we face today. The Governor's original executive budget proposal acknowledges that there is available approximately $2 billion less than if it weren't for the tax “reform” of 2005. The State cut the corporate income tax and reduced taxes for corporate executives, and are now contemplating paying for those changes with cuts to health and human services, public transportation, education, and training-all these and countless other critically important programs. If we continue on this course, low-income and middle-income Ohioans will suffer in order to subsidize corporations and their executives. It is time for our leaders to stand up for the people of Ohio, to protect the interest of Ohio's citizens who they represent
New Revenues Versus Services Cuts
Arguing that Ohio's looming budget shortfall is too big to address by cutting services alone, a coalition of health, human services and education organizations are advising consideration of another solution to the new budget shortfall numbers: raise taxes.
The Campaign to Protect Ohio's Future outlined possible increases that the Legislature could make to fill a $2 billion gap in the budget.
According to the group's numbers:
* By raising the top personal income tax rate of 7.5 percent on incomes over $200,000, returning it back to its 2005 level, the state could generate up to $470 million annually.
* By eliminating the $20 personal exemption credit for the personal income tax that every worker receives, the state could generate $150 million.
* Temporarily increasing the sales tax by half-a-cent would generate up to $675 million.
* Closing tax loopholes for special interest groups, including levying a sales tax on lobbying, debt collection and public relations, could generate another $150 million.
As editorialized in the Columbus Dispatch yesterday, “as Ohio lawmakers would eviscerate libraries, health centers, food bank, and child-abuse protection programs,” nursing homes are in line to receive generous increases. That amount--over $750 million a year beyond the national average for similar services--could be channeled more fairly into in-home care and go toward over greater relief to these and many other worthy programs. A fuller discussion of these and other option is offered by Policy Matters Ohio.
Sticking Out Their Necks
In response to these analyses and increasing encouragement from advocates in their districts, four members of the House publicly have called for Gov. Ted Strickland and legislative leaders to consider taxes as a way to fill a $3.2 billion deficit in the next biennial budget.
Their push comes despite firm, repeated statements from Strickland, Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) and House Speaker Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) that they don't support tax increases, especially not in this economy. Countering this resistance, they “feel very strongly that we want to recommend to the leadership that they consider everything ... and everything would include tax increases."
They include Reps. Ted Celeste (D-Columbus), Dan Stewart (D-Columbus), Bob Hagan (D-Youngstown) and Mike Foley (D-Cleveland). Foley estimated six to eight House Democrats are sympathetic to their views, and said at least one Senate Republican is willing to consider it.
They reported getting thousands of e-mails just recently from constituents in response to proposals for deep cuts to library funding. Child and adult protective services and food banks were also potential cut targets the lawmakers cited in calling for more revenue.
Contacts with Public Officials
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
_Senate Finance Chair: _Senator John Carey R 466-8156 SD17@senate.state.oh.us
Senate Finance Ranking Minority Member: _Senator Dale Miller D 466-5123 D23@maild.sen.state.oh.us
Appointed Conferee Senate Majority Whip:_ Mark Wagoner R 466-8060 SD02@senate.state.oh.us
House Finance Chair Representative: _Vernon Sykes D 466-3100 district44@ohr.state.oh.us
House Finance Ranking Minority Member: _Representative Ron Amtstutz R 466-1474 district03@ohr.state.oh.us
Appointed Conferee House Majority Whip_: Jay Goyal D 466-5802 district73@ohr.state.oh.us_
Others may be reached in a variety of ways:
Governor Strictland (http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Assistance/ContacttheGovernor/tabid/150/Default.aspx)
You're own Ohio house of representative member (http://www.house.state.oh.us/) or senator (http://www.senate.state.oh.us/)
Also AARP is offering the opportunity to use their 800 number for calls (1- 800-926-5875). The callers can connect to their Representative and Senator and leave a message.
Articles
“Budget Backlash”:
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/24/PUSHBACK.ART_ART_06-24-09_A1_LPE97GH.html?sid=101
“Suicides increase, but mental health funding faces cuts”:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/suicides-increase-but-mental-health-funding-faces-cuts-175306.html
“One big deficit: Think $3.2 billion is a large shortfall? Wait two years, when the stimulus money and other one-time sums are spent”:
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/opinions/48983056.html
“Caught in web of Catch-22s”:
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090624/EDIT01/906240355/1019/EDIT/Caught+in+web+of+Catch-22s
“Some Democrats think tax hikes are the answer”
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/24/ohbudget_23.ART_ART_06-24-09_A1_LPE97R1.html?sid=101
“Painful budget cuts join new slot machines in Gov. Ted Strickland's budget proposal”:
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1245832273148710.xml&coll=2
“Enough already - Lawmakers should stop allowing nursing homes to plunder Ohio's treasury”:
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2009/06/24/nursbad.ART_ART_06-24-09_A10_7DE8QTK.html?sid=101
“Strickland proposal will devastate Ohio libraries”:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/06/23/guest_column_strickland_propos.html
Key Organizations
The Campaign to Protect Ohio's Future: http://www.protectohio.org/
Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbank:; http://www.oashf.org/
Oho Consumers for Health Coverage:
http://www.uhcanohio.org/
Coalition for Homelessness and Housing in Ohio: http://www.cohhio.org/
Voice for Ohio's Children:
http://www.vfc-oh.org/cms/site/841df35d572b686e/index.html
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