AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD
Governor Ted Strickland speaks at Noon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Join our demonstration & send a message to state leadership about our concerns with this budget.
We need to ask why we don’t have Progressive Tax Reform!

JOIN US AS WE:

- DEMONSTRATE AGAINST THE RECENT BUDGET
- ASK WHY THE POOR, THE NEEDY AND OTHERS MUST SUFFER
- ASK WHY WE MUST CONTINUE TO WAIT

July 24, 2009
11am to 12:30pm

Crowne Plaza Hotel
777 St. Clair Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114

As the state of Ohio faces billions of dollars in deficits, Governor Strickland and the Ohio State Legislature have refused pleas to increase tax revenue that would save critical health, human services, education and basic needs.

Therefore, in response to the actions of the governor and legislature, Advocates for Budget Legislation Equality (ABLE) will be holding:

A New Orleans Funeral March and Funeral for the death of critical needs in Ohio if progressive revenue increases are not enacted.

When:  Thursday, June 25
Time:  11:00 am
Where:  Meet at Tom Johnson Statue at Public Square in Cleveland
And march to the state office building at 615 west superior where the funeral will be held.

Come!  Join Us!  Together We Can Make Our Voices Heard!

The funeral will be led by Rev. Tony Minor
For more information call 216-651-2606

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Below you will find helpful resources for use during the FY 2010 - 2011 biennial budget process.

Documents Updated 8/17/2009

Budget Summary Documents

Budget Cut Summary

A summary of some of the results of the FY2010-11 budget, as enacted.

Report Card 2009

A report card showing how well the Ohio General Assembly addressed health and human service issues.

Legislative Action Guide

ABLE Action Guide

This guide has helpful information on what to put in letters to your legislator, what to say when you call, how to setup meetings, etc…

Story Form

Story Form
Story Form

Please send story forms to us at 3500 Lorain Ave. Cleveland, OH 44113 or e-mail them to .

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The Ohio FORUM is a nonprofit organization of community activists with a wide range of issue areas and journalists working to communicate ideas to the public and stimulate policy debate by tapping into the power of the media.

Over the years, editors have come to recognize the Ohio FORUM for well-written, well-researched, and thought-provoking commentary on topics including school reform, prescription drug costs, nuclear power, unemployment compensation.

On average, media packets reach 1.45 million households through print and 2.45 million listeners and viewers through the broadcast media. Commentary from the Ohio FORUM regularly appear in Cleveland Plain Dealer (circ. 400,593), Cincinnati Enquirer (circ. 206,012), Columbus’ Minority Communicator (circ. 90,000), Youngstown Vindicator (circ. 85,000), Cleveland Free Times (circ. 85,000), Zanesville Times Recorder(circ. 25,000), Dayton Communicator (circ. 20,000, Toledo Journal (circ. 19,500), Medina Gazette (circ. 16,800), Athens Messenger (circ. 12,500). Forum materials also receive significant local use/coverage by broadcast media throughout the state.

For more information on Ohio Forum please visit: http://www.mediaforum.org/states/index.cfm?State=oh
For more information on American Forum please visit: http://www.mediaforum.org/

• Child care vouchers assist low-income families by ensuring children are properly cared for and parents succeed in their transition to work.  Families whose incomes fall below 165% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines can receive payment for all of part of their monthly child care expenses. Eligibility requirements to receive child care vouchers changed.  Previously, families living at 185% of the poverty line and lower were eligible.  Now, only families at 165% of poverty or lower are eligible for vouchers.

• Approximately 84,000 ofOhio�s children are served by subsidized child care programs each month. (Source: Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services).

• More than 25,000 individuals are served through PASSPORT (at home elderly care) (source: Ohio Department of Aging

• In Ohio , 12,493 seniors with average incomes of about $600 a month receive food boxes. The contents typically include cheese, fruit juice, cereal, pasta, and canned goods. (source: Columbus Dispatch)

• The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food banks, Ohio�s largest charitable response to hunger have partnered with ODJFS to provide emergency food distribution programs to more than 12 food banks.  OASHF represents 12 food banks which distribute food to more than 3,300 member charities.  In 2006, OASHF distributed more than 92 million pounds of food and grocery items through the Ohio Food Bank network. More than 1.2 million Ohioans receive food assistance through this network.

• Medicaid provides healthcare coverage for low-income children, pregnant mothers, working families, seniors, and people with disabilities.  In 2005, the total number of Ohioans enrolled in Medicaid was 2,038,717. (source: Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services)

• Medicaid was reduced from 100% to 90% of the Federal Poverty Level, which removed 25,000 parents from the Medicaid program. (eligibility for a family of three was reduced from $16,000 annual income to $14,500)

• In 1995 the General Assembly eliminated GA Med altogether and capped enrollment for Disability Medical Assistance.  Currently enrollment for Disability Medical Assistance is closed.  Low income, uninsured Ohioans without dependents are left out of any assistance to help meet their basic healthcare needs.