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President's Budget Ignores Ohio's Priorities

In the last year, Ohio's bipartisan leaders have made commitments to expanding children's health care coverage and providing more afterschool programs for working families. Even in light of the current state budget deficits, Governor Strickland has pledged that funding for programs children need will remain untouched.

"Our state's leaders know that investing in children and families is prudent, especially in tough economic times," said Amy N. Swanson, executive director of Voices for Ohio's Children. "In contrast, in his FY 2009 Federal Budget, President Bush ignored Ohio's priorities and turned his back on Ohio's children."

The President's budget proposal would require Ohio and other states to either scale back children's health insurance programs or commit more state resources to the efforts. The President's Budget proposes an increase of $19.7 billion for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that states need an increase of approximately $24 billion over the next five years simply to continue their current programs. "Moreover," said Swanson, "the President's plan would maintain income eligibility requirements that limit the coverage expansions approved by Ohio's leaders and shut out thousands of uninsured children in hard-working Ohio families."

The President's Budget also proposes to cut $300 million from 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the chief federal funding stream for afterschool programs. The proposal also freezes funding for child care assistance for low-income families for the seventh consecutive year and provides total funding for K-12 education that does not even keep pace with inflation.

"Afterschool and child care programs keep kids safe and help parents get to work," said Swanson. "Reducing funding for these programs tells us that the President would rather give tax cuts to the wealthy than help ordinary Ohioians keep their jobs."

Voices for Ohio's Children is a non-partisan voice of Ohio's nearly 3 million children. With more than 100 collaborative partners, we advance changes in public policy that improve the health, safety, education, family stability and childcare of all Ohio children and their families.

Amy N. Swanson
330-472-4350
aswanson@vfc-oh.org