One Ohio Now Statehouse Rally

Highlights the Truth about Kasich’s Budget

For Immediate Release April 5, 2011

Contact: Andrea Fejes 614- 221-4570
andrea@oneohionow.org

COLUMBUS, OH –At a rally today on the Statehouse lawn, over 1000 people gathered to send the
message that the Governor’s budget shortchanges Ohio’s families and passes the tough choices to local
communities.

Participants in the rally called for a balanced approach to the current state budget crisis that includes
revenue to overcome the impacts of the worst national recession in a lifetime and continued state tax
cuts.

One Ohio Now (www.OneOhioNow.org) is a coalition of over 40 member organizations ranging from
those involved in health and human services and education to public transportation and labor.

Relying solely on spending cuts will damage the state’s economy, said the growing coalition of
organizations concerned about the state's future prosperity.

Like other states, Ohio suffered an unprecedented collapse in state revenues at the same time that
public needs have increased dramatically. Ohio has mostly depended on making cuts to services to
address the revenue breakdown in the past.

Governor Kasich’s proposed budget continues this trend. The governor said in his State of the State
address “we can’t cut our way to a balanced budget.”

However, his budget relies on massive cuts, privatizing and selling state assets, and one-time revenues
to balance the budget.

The proposed budget cripples local governments, cuts funding to public education, reduces support for
higher education and slashes important health and human services including kinship care that keeps
children out of foster care, Federally Qualified Health Centers and support for those with developmental
disabilities.

Rachel Murphy, a senior at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School in Columbus said, “I was lucky
enough to have Advancement Placement classes available to me which allowed me to earn college
credit which may help me get through college in three instead of four years. I am afraid these cuts will
not give others the same chance. That’s just not fair to them.”

And while the governor might not have included revenue increases in his plan, his cuts to local
governments only forces the state’s revenue crisis to communities likely compelling them to either raise
revenues or make drastic cuts to vital services like public safety, libraries, and parks and recreation – all
things that make our communities a great place to live and work.

Debbie Hajzak, a librarian with Cleveland Public Library said, “We have already cut hours and this unfair
budget will cut them again. A library is no good if it’s not open. Families without internet connection
need the library for homework help and job searching. ”

Many states have taken a balanced approach that included revenue instead of trying to solve a problem
this big only with cuts in necessary services.

Charlene Allen, a leader with Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative said “With families struggling
and unemployment way too high, we can’t afford to see education, transportation, healthcare, natural
resources and other necessities slashed. To make the most of prosperity when it returns we need a
balanced approach today.”

Ohio has faced recessions before and every governor over the past 40 years, whether a Democrat or
Republican, has responded with a plan that includes revenue. A balanced approach has helped before
and we need it again. The combination of massive declines in revenue from the recession and
substantial cuts in state taxes have dug a hole for Ohio that we can’t cut our way out of.

One Ohio Now’s approach will meet today’s growing needs and build a foundation for tomorrow’s
prosperity.

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One Ohio Now is a coalition of over 40 member organizations ranging from those involved in health and
human services and transportation to education and labor who are advocating for a balanced approach
to addressing the state’s budget.

Advocates for Budget Legislation Equality•AFSCME Council 8•America Votes – Ohio•Center for Working Class Studies –
Youngstown State University•Children’s Defense Fund – Ohio•Cleveland Jobs with Justice•Cleveland Tenants
Organization•Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO)•Columbus Jobs with Justice•Communications Workers
of America •Community Partners for Affordable Accessible Health Care•Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People •The
Empowerment Center of Greater Cleveland•Environmental Health Watch•Georgetown Federation of Teachers •The Hunger
Network in Ohio •Legal Aid of Southwest Ohio•LiveCLEVELAND!•Lutheran Metro Ministries•Mahoning Valley Organizing
Collaborative (MVOC)•Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless •Ohio AFL-CIO• Ohio Association of School Business Officials
(OASBO) •Ohio CDC Association•Ohio Center for Progressive Leadership•Ohio Civil Service Employees Association
(OCSEA)•Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding •Ohio Conference on Fair Trade•Ohio Education
Association (OEA)•Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT)•Ohio Poverty Law Center• Ohio PTA•Ohio Public Transit Association
(OPTA)•Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA)•Ohio Voice•Ohio Youth Voices•Planned Parenthood Affiliates of
Ohio•PolicyBridge•Policy Matters Ohio•ProgressOhio•SEIU 1199•Toledo Jobs with Justice•UFCW Local 1059•UHCAN