http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/index/ en jason@able.organizeohio.org Copyright 2009 2009-07-15T16:45:25-05:00 http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/july_24th_demonstration/ http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/july_24th_demonstration/#When:16:45:25Z Media from the event   OHIO’S BUDGET WILL CONDEMN THOUSANDS TO CONTINUED NEGLECT AND STRUGGLE THE SAFETY NET IS NO LONGER CAPABLE OF SAVING MANY OHIOANS FROM HARM! Click the image for a PDF copy of the flier. 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 July 24 Demonstration 2009-07-15T16:45:25-05:00 http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/funeral_march_june_25/ http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/funeral_march_june_25/#When:14:55:03Z ABLE Action Information 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 Funeral March June 25 2009-06-23T14:55:03-05:00 http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/lobby_day/ http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/lobby_day/#When:15:02:48Z Click here to see: videos Click here to see: pictures and videos April 23rd Lobby Day 2009-04-17T15:02:48-05:00 http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/budget_news/ http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/budget_news/#When:18:05:19Z Click here to search all articles. Budget News 2009-04-08T18:05:19-05:00 http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/resources/ http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/resources/#When:18:24:35Z 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 . Resources 2009-03-27T18:24:35-05:00 http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/contact_us/ http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/contact_us/#When:02:05:43Z Address: 3500 Lorain Ave. Cleveland, OH 44113 Phone: 216-651-2606 Fax: 216-651-2633 Larry Bresler Carmen Gray - ABLE Organizer Jason Denzin - ABLE Statewide Organizer Contact Us 2009-03-10T02:05:43-05:00 http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/the_ohio_forum1/ http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/the_ohio_forum1/#When:00:13:01Z 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/ Ohio Forum 2008-07-23T00:13:01-05:00 http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/important_facts_you_should_know/ http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/important_facts_you_should_know/#When:00:11:35Z 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. Important Facts 2008-07-23T00:11:35-05:00 http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/how_does_the_budget_process_work/ http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/how_does_the_budget_process_work/#When:00:05:59Z Every two years, the state budget is re-created. Right now decisions are being made in Columbus for the next biennium budget, meaning the budget will be planned for the next two fiscal years. So fiscal year 2009 will end June 30, 2009, and fiscal year 2010 will begin on July 1 of 2009. The process of creating a new biennium state budget has many steps. Here are the basics: The process starts in July of even-numbered years. The Office of Budget and Management (a state office known as OBM) begins by corresponding with state agencies in order to see how much each agency requests for their own budget. OBM works with the Governor and the Governor’s staff to create an Executive Budget. The Governor presents the Executive Budget first to the Ohio House of Representatives and it is introduced by the Speaker of the House in the form of a bill. This happens early in January or February of every odd-numbered year. The Ohio House of Representatives is made up of elected State Representatives. The House of Representatives reviews the budget. Specifically the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives and its subcommittees hold hearings on the budget. During those hearings the public can express their views and opinions. The committee members discuss the Executive Budget and they can draft changes to it in the form of amendments. Then they present their changes to the rest of the House. The full House then votes on the budget bill. Other legislators have an opportunity to propose amendments before the final vote called floor amendments (because they are made from the “floor” of the House).  Each amendment must be passed separately.  It is possible to pass the budget and only some (or none or all) of the amendments proposed to it. Once the House version of the budget is approved, with any added amendments, it is passed on to the Senate.  In the Senate, made up of elected State Senators, the budget review follows basically the same steps. Neither the House nor the Senate has to make changes to the Executive Budget, but based on the process of public testimony and feedback from various members of the public (like a Rally in front of the Statehouse), they make changes. Once the budget passes through the House and the Senate, the whole budget bill (along with all the approved amendments) goes to Conference Committee (where representatives from both the House and the Senate debate the bill and try to come to an agreement). The Conference Committee then prepares a report to present to the House and Senate. If both the House and the Senate agree to the Conference Committee report, the bill then needs to be reviewed by executive agencies and the Governor. Once the Governor signs the budget bill, it becomes a law immediately. The Governor does have the power to veto (disapprove) the budget if he chooses to. Right now, Ohio is facing deficits in its budget. The solution to achieve a balanced budget is either to decrease spending or raise revenue. In Governor Strickland’s Executive Budget, there are some revenue-enhancements, and many cuts to spending. Revenue-enhancements usually happen in the form of taxes. Many people that do not want to see cuts in spending encourage raising taxes in a fair or progressive way as the solution to get necessary funding for services and programs. Budget Process 2008-07-23T00:05:59-05:00 http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/able_priorities/ http://www.organizeohio.org/cms/index.php/site/able_priorities/#When:23:52:36Z Documents Updated 5/13/2009 ABLE Budget Platform Revenue Health Care Food and Hunger Child Care Child Care: Definitions of Full and Part Time Senior Care Kinship Care Free Clinics Priorities 2008-07-22T23:52:36-05:00