Budget bill 119

Budget Bill 119

Prioritize the Needs of the Poor and Vulnerable

On May 1, 2007 the Ohio House of Representatives unanimously passed HB 119 by a vote of 97-0. On June 13, 2007 the Senate unanimously passed their version of the bill by a vote of 33-0. It has been a long, long time since a budget bill passed unanimously in both the House and Senate.

On June 27, 2007 both the House and Senate agreed to changes worked out in conference committee. On June 29, 2007 the Governor signed this bill into law after vetoing 38 items.

The Catholic Conference is generally supportive of the signed version.

As passed, HB119 contains necessary support for many of the programs helping the poor and vulnerable. These include:

Children health care programs such as SCHIP and Healthy Start for pregnant women;
Eldercare programs such as PASSPORT and nursing homes;
Hunger programs such as school feeding programs and food banks;
Child care programs such as daycare centers, early care initiatives, and adoption subsidies;
Poverty reduction programs such as the Ohio Benefit Bank and Ohio Works First;

HB 119 also contains necessary funding for many helpful educational programs such as Auxiliary Services, Administrative Cost Reimbursement, Ed Choice and Student Choice.

We remained concerned, however, over several issues that were not included in HB 119. These include:

Restoring Medicaid for working parents from 90% FPL to 100% FPL. Parent coverage also helps children because the health of parents plays an important role in the well being of their children. Over 25,000 working parents lost health coverage when this eligibility was cut from 100% to 90% in the 2006-2007 budget. Sub Bill 119 takes out the Governor’s restoration of this eligibility level to 100% FPL.

Restoring funding for the Disabilities Medical Assistance Program (DMA). The DMA program provides primary care and prescription drug coverage to seriously ill, indigent people without dependent children who do not qualify for Medicaid.

Raising the current per pupil cap within the Administrative Cost Reimbursement to chartered nonpublic schools to the needed $325, rather than the Senate increase of only $300 per pupil.

The vetoing of funding for the Abstinence Only program.

The vetoing of the newly proposed special education voucher program.

June 29, 2007 Budget Update

Catholic Conference of Ohio's Legislative Advocacy Day Pictures and Overview. April 25, 2007.

CATHOLIC CONFERENCE TALKING POINTS
(Copying and Distribution Permitted and Encouraged)

Budget Talking Points: Overview

Page on: Support For Basic Human Needs

Page on: Support For Affordable & Accessible Health Care

Page on: Support For Educational Choice for Parents

Page on: Support For Pregnancy Prevention, Parenting Programs & Life Research Programs

Page Summarizing Overall Legislative Issues of Concern

BACKGROUND MATERIAL LINKS