The document discusses the ongoing challenges of deficit reduction and its impact on safety net programs, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable populations amidst budget cuts. It outlines the differences and similarities between Ohio's budget process and federal budgeting, highlighting significant congressional figures involved. Key messages advocate for a balanced approach to deficit reduction, urging legislators to maintain support for essential programs while avoiding policies that increase poverty and inequality.

1. “Deficit Reduction” isn’t going away. How do we hold safety net programs harmless?Featuring:Emily Campbell, Public Policy Fellow, Center for Community Solutions Wendy Patton, Senior Associate, Policy Matters Ohio (PMO)Cathy Levine, Executive Director, UHCAN Ohio, Co-Chair of Ohio Consumers for Health CoverageNora Nees, Director of Child and Senior Nutrition, Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF)

2. Emily Campbell The Center for Community Solutionsecampbell@CommunitySolutions.com

3. The budget process at the state and federal levels are both similar and differentDIFFERENCESOhio must balance its budget, the feds can run a deficitOhio budgets for two years, the feds budget every yearOhio’s fiscal year runs July 1 – June 30, the federal fiscal year runs Oct 1– Sept 30Ohio’s budget and appropriations are in one bill, the feds do them separatelyOhio must meet it’s “deadline”, the feds can pass continuing resolutionsSIMILARITIESProcess begins with the introduction of executive budget in FebruaryDepartments testify near the beginning of the processCommittee activity is importantThere are multiple bills that comprise the budgetThe budgets are evaluated by a non-partisan legislative body (CRS for Fed, LSC for Ohio)Have a statutory “deadline”

4. Most of the federal budget goes toward defense, social security, and major health programsSource: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

5. Ohio has a powerful congressional delegationRepublican Study CommissionCHAIR: Jim Jordan (R-04)Joint Select Committee on Deficit ReductionRob Portman (R)Speaker of the HouseJohn Boehner (R-08)House Agriculture CommitteeMarcia Fudge (D-11)Jean Schmidt (R-02): CHAIR, Nutrition & Horticulture SubcommitteeSenate Agriculture CommitteeSherrod Brown (D): Nutrition SubcommitteeCHAIR, Jobs, Rural Economic Growth & Energy Innovation SubcommitteeHouse Appropriations CommitteeMarcy Kaptur (D-09): Agriculture Subcommittee, Transportation & HUD SubcommitteeSenate Appropriations CommitteeSherrod Brown (D): Health, Education, Labor & Pensions SubcommitteeHouse Budget CommitteeTim Ryan (D-17)Marcy Kaptur (D-09): CHAIR, Nutrition & HorticultureHouse Education & Workforce CommitteeDennis Kucinich (D-10): Health, Education, Labor & Pensions SubcommitteeSenate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs CommitteeSherrod Brown (D): Housing, Transportation, and Community Development SubcommitteeHouse Oversight & Government Reform CommitteeMichael Turner (R-03) Dennis Kucinich (D-10) Jim Jordan (D-04): CHAIR, Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight & Government Reform SubcommitteeSenate Budget CommitteeRob Portman (R)House Ways & Means CommitteePat Tiberi (R-12) CHAIR, Subcommittee on Select RevenueHouse Energy & Commerce CommitteeBob Latta (R-05): Health Subcommittee

6. Constituents and their representatives often have more influence than they realize.If your Member/Senator has not already arrived at a firm decision on an issue, how much influence might the following advocacy strategies directed to the Washington Office have on his/her decision?Source: Congressional Management Foundation

7. A few principles can provide a unified voice from Ohio’s advocates.Protect vulnerable populationsNo global spending capsTake a balanced approach

8. Federal Debt Ceiling Discussions and Ohio:Danger for Ohio’s critical services/Pressing need for a balanced approachWendy Patton, Policy Matters Ohiowpatton@policymattersohio.org

9. Joint Committee must find $1.2 trillion in additional deficit reduction. Threats: Massive cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and key economic security programs; Additional cuts in such key areas such as education, environmental protection, research, and veterans programs;Tax breaks for the wealthiest, special-interest tax breaks for the largest corporations protected at the expense of ordinary Americans; Increase in poverty and inequality, leaving millions of ordinary Americans struggling to make ends meet.

10. Federal spending in Ohio’s state safety net budgetsAgingAlcohol and Drug AddictionSource: Policy Matters Ohio based on Ohio LSC Budget in Detail (with 2011 actual exp.)

11. Federal spending in Ohio’s state safety net budgetsDevelopmental DisabilitiesDepartment of HealthSource: Policy Matters Ohio based on Ohio LSC Budget in Detail (with 2011 actual exp.)

12. Federal spending in Ohio’s state safety net budgetsJob & Family ServicesDepartment of Mental HealthSource: Policy Matters Ohio based on Ohio LSC Budget in Detail (with 2011 actual exp.)

13. Three key messages to our legislators:Support a balanced approach to deficit reduction and shared sacrifice. Reducing the deficit without revenue savings would require massive cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and other key programs that provide economic security for millions of Americans while protecting tax cuts for millionaires and special interest tax breaks for powerful corporations and others with high-priced lobbyists.Deficit reduction should not increase poverty or worsen income inequality – a key tenet of the bipartisan Bowles-Simpson deficit reduction commission.

15. Medicare and Medicaid Under the Debt Ceiling Agreement Cathy LevineExecutive Director of UHCAN-Ohioand Co-Chair of Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage(614)-456-0060uhcanohio.org

16. Debt Ceiling CompromiseFirst stage: Caps immediately placed on discretionary spending, saving $917 billion over 10 years. Medicare and Medicaid are entitlements, and aren’t cut in this phase

17. Second stage: Bipartisan Joint Committee cuts $1.2 – 1.5 trillion in spending over 10 years, backed up with automatic cuts effective January 1, 2013 if Congress doesn’t reach agreement. Medicaid exempted from the automatic cuts. Second Stage – What’s at Stake?So Medicaid is protected if the automatic cuts go into effect; what about Medicare?

18. Across-the-board cuts to Medicare are limited to 2% (about $10 billion) of the program’s costs and can only come from cuts to providers and insurers.Second Stage – What’s Really At StakeThere will be tremendous pressure on Congress to come up with a deal, to avoid automatic cuts, 50% of which would come from the defense budget.Possible Medicare Cuts:Raise Medicare eligibility age (in the original “grand bargain” proposal)

19. Raise Medicare cost-sharing (in the original “grand bargain”)Possible Medicaid CutsShift more costs to the states

20. Repeal of Maintenance of Effort requirement in the ACA (was earlier proposed in the State Flexibility Act)

21. “Blended Medicaid Match Rate,” (Reducing the 100% federal match for newly eligible Medicaid recipients to a weighted rate for all Medicaid beneficiaries) This could lead to erosion of support for the Medicaid expansion in the Affordable Care Act.What needs to be done to cut Medicaid and Medicare costs?Payment reform – pay for outcomes, not volume of services, e.g. reduce payments to hospitals for hospital-acquired harm.

22. Utilization of Affordable Care Act tools, such as “Health Homes” to coordinate care and improve outcomes.

23. But, MUST RAISE REVENUES OR THESE COST CUTS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT!Resources: The Insider (Community Catalyst); Say Ahhh! (Georgetown University Center for Children and Families); Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

24. Affordable Care Act At RiskACA Expansions of 2014 are jeopardized by:Block-granting Medicaid or eliminating MOE

25. Medicare entitlement changes Nora NeesDirector of Child & Senior NutritionOhio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks(614) 221-4336, ext230www.oashf.org

26. What Can We Do About It?Partnerships

27. Media

28. Showing upAll politics is local and your voice is powerful!

29. September & OctoberSeptember is Hunger Action Month!National raising awareness and mobilization

30. Paper Plate Project Local Hunger SummitsMonday, September 26th: Pike, Ross, Scioto Counties

31. Tuesday, September 27th: Darke and Miami Counties

32. Wednesday, September 28th: Adams, Brown & Highland Counties

33. Thursday, September 29th: Gallia, Jackson, Vinton Counties

34. Friday, September 30th: Shelby, Logan Counties

35. Wednesday, October 19th: Hancock County

36. Friday, October 21st: Medina County

37. Date TBD:

38. Clark, Champaign & Logan

39. Licking County

40. Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry & Washington Counties

41. Friday, October 28th: Statewide Summit at Mid-Ohio FoodbankWant to learn more or participate?Contact Danielle Gray at (614) 221-4336, ext. 239 or dgray@oashf.orgMessagePerfect StormRecent recession was unique and effects are still being felt.On the Rise:Need

42. Unemployment

43. Gas Prices

44. Food PricesGoing Down:Available Food

45. Federal Commodities

46. Manufacturing DonationsFurther Impact:Cuts to Federal Nutrition Programs

47. State and Local Budget Cuts

48. Limits on Charitable GivingMessagePositive PartnershipsInvestments support job growth , a productive workforce, decreased health care costs and increased educational achievement.

49. Long history of leveraging all resources and partnerships with individuals, businesses, private and foundational giving.

50. We need strong federal partners to do their part. Learn MoreIf you are not on our list, you’ll be added to our e-news list.

51. Review and use our resources: http://www.advocatesforohio.org/resources

52. HHS news and Information:

53. Like us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/advocatesforohio

54. Follow us on Twitter @Advocates4OHAsk Your Members of Congress to: Support a deficit-reduction plan that protects programs that help children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities in need.

55. Oppose shifting costs to state and local government in Ohio. One-third of our state budget comes from the federal government.

56. Support fair, diverse, and stable revenues sufficient to fund these services and invest in Ohio’s future.

57. Communicate these concerns to Senator Portman and other members of the Super CommitteeTalking Points: http://advocatesforohio.org/perch/resources/TalkingPointsDebt-Reduction.pdf

58. Take Action: Discuss the importance of health, human service, and early care & education programs in the federal budget with your Members of Congress.ACTION ALERT: Contact your Representative, Senator Portman and Senator Brown. http://go.advocatesforohio.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7943

59. For contact info of Ohio offices, click here: http://advocatesforohio.org/perch/resources/ContactingMembersofCongress.pdf

60. Show up and/or speak out at a local public meeting. http://www.advocatesforohio.org/post?s=2011-08-08-members-of-congress-schedule-public-meetingsStay Involved: Mark Your CalendarsThis Friday, August 26th at 11:00 AM: The White House Office of Public Engagement has scheduled a special call this Friday to talk with people from Ohio about the federal budget deficit/debt deal.

61. Wed, Aug 31, 3-3:30 pm: AOF Field Update Conference call with two staff members of the Coalition on Human Needs and check-ins from supporters across the state on public meetings

62. Next Webinar: Thurs, Sept 8, 1-2:15 pm: The U.S. Census Bureau will release its annual data about poverty, income, and health insurance in the U.S. on September 13th and 20th. Get ready to share the data with your community and your elected officials in a compelling way.Speakers will include:Debbie Weinstein (Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs)

63. ArlocSherman (Expert, Center on Budget on Budget and Policy Priorities)Register Here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dF9JcjhLRFBMYmdmSGFzSFFDcGRjcEE6MQ

64. Questions?Contact Us Advocates for Ohio’s Futurewww.advocatesforohio.org510 East Mound Street, Suite 200Columbus, OH 43215Fax: (614) 228-5150Will PetrikOutreach Directorwpetrik@advocatesforohio.org614-602-2464Scott BrittonCoordinatorsbritton@advocatesforohio.org614-602-2463