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07-06-2009

Voices testifies on state budget

Good morning Chairman Sykes, Ranking Member Amstutz, and members of the House Finance Committee. I am Sandy Erb-Wilson, State Field Director for Voices for Ohio's Children. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today. I have attached an advertisement to my testimony that speaks to a legacy for Ohio’s children. This budget does not support a legacy for our children, it fact it dismantles progress made in the past. This is progress that many of you have supported in the past.

This morning in Ohio, thousands of parents woke up not knowing if they’ll be able to go to work next week. That’s because the current state budget crisis threatens 14,000 quality child care spots as well as the eligibility for working poor families to receive child care subsidies.

Families who need child care aren’t the only Ohioans waiting on leaders to make responsible decisions about the state’s FY 2010-2011 budget. The proposed budget also threatens funding for programs that serve adopted children with special needs; children with disabilities; children at risk of abuse and neglect; and safety net services and health care for pregnant women and children. Hungry families are worried, too, because the budget proposal reduces funding for food banks by $7 million even in the midst of unprecedented demand.

Raising revenue to fill the gap in this budget is essential, and leaders need to finalize a budget plan that puts Ohio children and their families first. Ohio’s children’s are waiting for a better legacy from our leaders. Investing in children helps them grow up healthy and strong and also brings much-needed federal money to Ohio. That’s the right thing to do, for our economy and our kids.

Our fellow Ohioans, our neighbors, your constituents, expect responsible (and sound) budgeting from their leaders. Ohioans also expect this honorable body to carefully consider approaches to maintain the most vital services when citizens need them most. Now is the time for leadership, at a time when the hardest decisions need to be made, regardless of political party lines. As an endorser of the Campaign to Protect Ohio's Future, Voices for Ohio's Children believes that now is the time to raise revenues. While the Campaign doesn't endorse one specific revenue raising option, we do have a list of several that we are hoping our leaders consider. These revenues are needed to protect services to working families, Ohio's most vulnerable populations and very specifically: It's future. In times like these, shared sacrifice is a given-we must all do more with less. However, it is unfathomable to me that the proposals and cuts being debated in both the House and the Senate and via the framework proposed by the Governor are literally gambling with the lives of millions in this state. We need more from Ohio's leaders.

Thank you for your time and I am happy to answer any questions you may have at this time.

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. To learn more about Voices for Ohio’s Children, please visit www.vfc-oh.org.