Continue calling, writing state legislators on state budget cuts, finding new revenue

June 23, 2009 (updated June 26, 2009) - Join hundreds who called, wrote and emailed their legislators on or before the June 23 Day of Action. We need you to stand up now and be heard.

Time is running out as lawmakers work to craft the final budget bill. See the legislator look up tool at right to identify your state legislators and their phone numbers. Key talking points are listed below to help you communicate what's at stake. FULL STORY

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

1. PUBLIC SERVICES ARE ALREADY CUT TO THE BONE
Government has shrunk by $2 billion this biennium, four institutions have closed, more than 3,000 state employee jobs have been eliminated, and many more will be cut if something isn’t done.

• Tell legislators and the governor that balancing the budget on the backs of needy Ohioans and public employees is not acceptable.

 2. OHIO NEEDS NEW REVENUE RESOURCES
Tax changes that largely benefit businesses and the wealthy are holding our state hostage. This so-called tax reform has put social programs and services on the chopping block and is reducing the basic benefits of public workers. In total, $2 billion will be lost to the state when all tax reforms are implemented.

• Tell lawmakers we need to raise new revenues to save state services that don’t penalize working families.

• Tell them one way to do that is by rolling back some of the “tax reform” measures of the last five years.

New development in the budget situation...
3. RAIDING RETIREMENT FUND IS NOT THE ANSWER
In a new proposal to shore up the state budget, State of Ohio payments to the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System would decrease from 14 to 8 percent of state employee salary for two years and then be paid back in subsequent years.

• Tell them that you won’t tolerate raiding the retirement benefits of working families to plug the budget hole. Tell them that OCSEA members will already be reducing their retiree contributions over the next two years due to changes in their contract.

• Tell them that OPERS has already made major reforms to retain the funds’ solvency in recent years, including an increase in the employee contribution, changes in the level of benefits, and adjustments in health care.

• Tell them making unprecedented changes to the state’s pension system is a slippery slope. Other states and private companies that have gone down this road more often than not fail to recover the funds depleted.

See Related

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June 23 Day of Action