Rally Wrap-Up—That Was Great!!!
The April 9th Rally was a big success. An estimated 3,000 to 4,000 Ohio citizens rallied in support of human service programs in the Ohio budget. Many thanks to you and to those who worked so hard to make it happen. Carin Channing did a wonderful job as did Emergency Campaign for Ohio’s Future leadership from the Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio, Federation for Community Planning in Cleveland, AARP, and the Public Children’s Services Association of Ohio. Have A Heart Coalition members, folks from local United Way member agencies, and most significantly—folks who use and need human services, attended and shared their stories. The rally was one more way to show legislators that human service programs matter and make a difference in people’s lives.
The rally occurred on the same day that the full House debated and passed the budget. The media coverage was great.
The Emergency Campaign continues. Look for Emergency Campaign for Ohio’s Future Weekly Update and other information at www.ouw.org. The Ohio United Way will post information from the Campaign as it is received.
Keep Going
The House process is just one more step on the way to June 30th. Next the budget goes to the Senate. The Senate Finance & Financial Institutions Committee does not have the same subcommittee structure as the House. The full committee will hear all state agency and public testimony regarding Amended Substitute HB 95. The current plan is to pass the bill out of the Senate in early June. The bill will go to conference committee before landing on Governor Taft’s desk around June 30.
Call, write, and/or e-mail your state senator if you have not already. Continue to keep both your house representative and your senator informed about the issues important to you. Invite them to visit your programs and meet people who depend on state-funded services. Remind them that you are willing to pay more taxes for programs that are important to you especially if those taxes are structurally sound, stable, and adequately fund programs important to Ohioans.
Contact Information for State Senators
OHIO STATE SENATE
DIST. NAME (TERM LIMIT) PARTY DISTRICT ADDRESS TELEPHONE STATE
District HOUSE #*
22 Amstutz, Ron (08) R 4456 Wood Lake Trail, Wooster 44691 330/262-7371 6-7505
13 Armbruster, Jeffry (06) R 33030 Woodhaven Circle, North Ridgeville 44039 440/748-7601 4-7613
10 Austria, Steve (08) R 2537 Obetz Drive, Beavercreek 45434 937/429-5230 6-3780
8 Blessing, Jr., Louis (04) R 3153 McGill Lane, Cincinnati 45251 513/385-5302 6-8068
23 Brady, Dan (06) D 1272 West Blvd., Cleveland 44102 216/281-0642 6-5123
17 Carey, Jr., John (10) R 238 McGhee Lane, Wellston 45692 740/384-6604 6-8156
20 Carnes, James (04) R 47403 Puskarich Road, St. Clairsville 43950 740/695-0856 6-8076
27 Coughlin, Kevin (10) R 2324 Iota Ave., Cuyahoga Falls 44223 330/923-1481 6-4823
32 Dann, Marc (12) D 17 Churchill-Hubbard Road, Youngstown 44505 330/759-4155 6-7182
30 DiDonato, Greg (04) D P.O. Box 30, New Philadelphia 44663 740/269-9018 6-6508
11 Fedor, Teresa (10) D 2054 Belvedere Dr., Toledo 43614 419/385-8803 6-5204
25 Fingerhut, Eric (06) D 22675 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland 44118 216/397-0357 6-4583
2 Gardner, Randy (08) R 14900 Mitchell Road, Bowling Green 43402 419/352-1984 6-8060
18 Gardner, Robert (04) R 1154 Hearn Road, Madison 44057 440/428-5542 4-7718
3 Goodman, David (10) R 2736 Bexley Park Rd., Bexley 43209 614/237-5535 6-8064
33 Hagan, Robert (06) D 562 Madera Ave., Youngstown 44504 330/746-8091 6-8285
19 Harris, Bill (10) R 1238 Twp. Road 1506, Ashland 44805 419/281-2955 6-8086
28 Herington, Leigh (04) D 4039 Hardin Road, Ravenna 44266 330/626-1200 6-7041
31 Hottinger, Jay (06) R 894 Jonathan Lane, Newark 43055 740/349-7784 6-5838
6 Jacobson, Jeff (08) R 7480 New York Way, Dayton 45414 937/890-4771 6-4538
12 Jordan, Jim (08) R 1709 State Route 560 S., Urbana 43078 937/484-5811 6-7584
9 Mallory, Mark (06) D 907 Dayton Street, Cincinnati 45214 513/621-4525 6-5980
15 Miller, Ray (10) D 3040 Elbern Ave. Columbus, OH 43209 614/228-2220 6-5131
26 Mumper, Larry (06) R 1195 Chanteloup Drive, Marion 43302 740/389-4329 6-8049
4 Nein, Scott (04) R 119 Dorset Drive, Middletown 45044 513/422-6199 6-8072
21 Prentiss, C.J. (06) D 813 East Blvd., Cleveland 44108 216/451-7104 6-4857
5 Roberts, Tom (10) D 628 Mapleside Drive, Trotwood 45426 937/854-3088 6-6247
7 Schuler, Robert L. (10) R 3648 Jeffrey Ct., Cincinnati 45236 513/792-0702 6-9737
29 Schuring, Kirk (10) R 1817 Devonshire Rd. N.W., Canton 44708 330/478-2900 6-0626
24 Spada, Robert (08) R 10502 Halcyon Drive, Parma Heights 44130 440/888-2051 6-8056
16 Stivers, Steve (12) R 372 W. 2nd Ave., Columbus 43201 614/294-5565 6-5981
1 Wachtmann, Lynn (06) R 550 Euclid Ave., Napoleon 43545 419/599-9863 6-8150
14 White, Doug (04) R 3830 Old Dutch Road, Manchester 45144 937/549-2382 6-8082
*State House Extensions: (614) (2) – 752; (4) – 644; (6) — 466
22 Republicans – 11 Democrats
FINANCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS COMMITTEE
(13) – 466-8086
Chair: HARRIS (R) Vice Chair: CAREY (R)
(R) Amstutz, Carnes, Coughlin, Randy Gardner, Goodman, Hottinger, Jacobson
(D) *Fingerhut, Mallory, Miller, Prentiss
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Remember to Say Thank You
If you are pleased with what is in the budget. For example, the House restored Governor-proposed cuts to many programs.
Ø Medicaid Optional Services—dental, vision, and podiatric—remain in the Medicaid program.
Ø Second Harvest Foodbanks funding was restored to $4.5 million per year.
Ø Adult Protective Services funding was restored—$2.7 million per year.
Ø STARS is funded at $2.1 million per year. The Governor had eliminated the program.
Ø Alcohol and Drug AddictionTreatment Services funded at $36.0 million in each year, reflecting an increase of $4.6 million in FY 2004 and of $1.5 million in FY 2005.
Ø Medically Handicapped Children, funded at FY 2002 level of $6.5 million in each year. This is an increase of $630,000 in FY 2004 and of $477, 000 in FY 2005, above the Governor’s request.
If you are grateful it is not as bad as it could have been. For example, House protected some programs from additional cuts.
Ø Disability Assistance Medical and the Disability Financial Assistance programs are funded totally with General Revenue Funds and represent a total of $122 million per fiscal year of state funds that could be used to balance the budget instead of serving very vulnerable Ohioans.
For listening. House members seriously debated and considered funding many vital programs. It has been, and will continue to be, a tough budget for us all. Some house members helped to create some of the programs that were cut or eliminated. They did what they felt they had to do to be fiscally responsible, responsive to their constituents and/or party. A few representatives presented amendments to their caucus or committee or chamber, time and again. These efforts are appreciated—although they failed, they provided an opportunity for consideration of many funding proposals. They also provide the educated legislators on issues. They understand the importance of the program, but did not fund–
Ø Family Coverage in the Medicaid program for 50,000 parents.
Ø Adult Emergency Assistance
Pragmatically, if the Senate balances the budget and protects/restores some programs, House members’ votes will be needed for the conference committee and final chamber votes.
It’s also polite.