For Immediate Release Contact: Andrea Fejes

April 29, 2011 614-221-4570, andrea@oneohionow.org

House Substitute Budget Bill Makes Life Harder for Working Families

One Ohio Now issued the following statement on the House substitute budget bill:

It’s disappointing that the House will NOT make Governor Kasich’s budget any better.

Rather than dealing with the budget crisis in a balanced way that includes revenues instead of
relying only on service cuts, they are making matters worse for Ohio’s working families. For
example, repealing the estate tax will dig an even deeper hole for a state where resources
already fall $8 billion short of needs.

Andrea Fejes, One Ohio Now Coordinator said, “It is clear that the leadership of Ohio is balancing the
budget on the backs of Ohio’s children, seniors, sick and our hard working middle class. That’s the wrong
approach.”

This budget proposal is extreme and inflexible in the face of rising needs. The Governor and Legislature
instead should adopt a middle ground instead that doesn’t hinder Ohio’s economic vitality by reducing
services essential for creating jobs and building prosperity.

A balanced approach that includes revenues instead of a cuts-only strategy is better for families
struggling in these tough economic times. There are revenue options available that would ensure
accountability, equity and balance -- like reviewing and reducing unproductive tax loopholes,
strengthening major corporate taxes and making the personal income tax more equitable and adequate
to meet Ohio's needs.

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One Ohio Now is a coalition of over 45 member organizations, including health and human services,
transportation, educators, school board members and labor, united for a balanced approach to meeting
Ohio’s needs.

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