Rules for citizen-sponsored constitutional amendments
Both houses of the State Legislature could pass resolutions this week to raise the threshold for citizen-sponsored constitutional amendments to 60% of the vote. This is happening as citizens are preparing to ask voters to approve constitutional amendments on reproductive rights, the minimum wage, and gerrymandering. This newsletter will reach you too late for you to submit formal testimony in this week’s hearings, but you can review the proposal in last week’s alert and call your representative and senator with your views. You can find and contact them by putting your address in the box “who represents me” on the Ohio Legislature’s homepage.
How Your Parish Can Help Climate Solutions
On Tuesday, April 25, eminent climate scientist Katherine Hayhow will present an online forum from 3 to 4 p.m. for the Episcopal Parish Network on why climate change matters to us as individuals and to society. Register here. Her bestselling book, Saving US, combines research on the factors shaping people’s views on the climate crisis with ways to inspire compassion, hope, and agency. It also includes wonderful vignettes about conversations with people all across the spectrum. Hayhow is a devoted Christian and Chief Scientist for the Nature Conservancy.
During this conversation, moderated by Susie Faria of the Office of Government Relations for the Episcopal Church and JoAnn Hanson, President of the Church Investment Group, Katharine will share her thoughts on how to create support from the ground up for action around climate change. She will share how the work is progressing and, how she sees the climate transition gaining headway. Following the wide-ranging conversation, there will be an opportunity for questions. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from, and be inspired by, an important climate advocate!
Farm Bill up for renewal; learn more April 21 or 25
This year Congress must update and renew the Farm Bill, which has enormous impact on rural economies, food security (including SNAP and school meals), and environmental sustainability. The ECLA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) is holding listening sessions this month on Zoom. The next two are on April 21 at 3 p.m. and April 25 at 8 p.m. Find out more and register here.
The Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) has a podcast on the domestic impact of the Farm Bill. The Christian hunger advocacy coalition Bread for the World has prepared useful overview pieces on both “Nutrition: Building a Healthy, Equitable, and Sustainable Food System via the Farm Bill” and “Fact sheet: Farm Bill International.”
Represent your hunger ministry at Statehouse luncheon on state budget’s role in food security
The Diocese of Southern Ohio is sponsoring a table for seven at the Hunger Network’s May 11 lunch meeting (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) with legislators who are finalizing the biennial state budget. This includes line items for Ohio’s foodbanks, school meals, and senior citizens as food prices continue high. Email me if you’d like one of those seats to represent the frontline hunger ministries in your community. The speakers include legislative leaders and Bishop Gregory Palmer of the West Ohio Conference of the Methodist Church.
K-12 funding in state budget: Next steps and key issues
The Ohio House Finance Committee is holding hearings all this week to finalize the House version of the new biennial budget which the chamber is likely to vote on by the end of April. The bill then moves to the Senate Finance Committee, which includes Sen. Andy Bremmer (R-Delaware), Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Sen. Bremmer serves on the vestry of St. Peter’s, Delaware. If you’d like to help, email me and I’ll add you to our growing team of diocesan public school advocates.
An ecumenical group of public school advocates met by Zoom last week with Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati), ranking member on the House Finance subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education. He described several dynamics that will interact as legislators continue to debate K-12 funding.
- The Fair School Funding Formula which the General Assembly adopted in 2021 has not yet been fully phased in. The current formula uses 2018 cost figures to set the base cost for the state share, while the property tax (local) share is based on 2022 figures. Using 2022 figures for the base cost would add over $600 million to state funding for K-12 schools.
- The Backpack Bill (HB 11) would expand eligibility to 400% of the poverty level for students to receive vouchers for private or home school. This is a priority for Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima). Democrats are advocating for transparency rules to accompany this major expansion of voucher expense, and for using 2022 figures to set the base cost for state funding for K-12 public schools.
- HB 1, the House’s original flat tax/tax-cut bill, has earned a lot of negative publicity for its likely impact in raising local property tax on homeowners and farms and cutting funding for schools, libraries, and other vital services. For this reason, the legislative leadership is likely to put the flat tax proposal into the budget bill, but not the local revenue fund cuts.
As the budget moves to the Senate, Rep. Isaacsohn noted that advocates for public school funding can help in the following ways:
- Principals, teachers, parents, and students should write their representatives and senators. These voices have rarely been heard so far, except through professional organizations representing school boards, teachers, etc.
- Business owners and HR professionals should testify about the crucial impact of state funding on quality-of-life factors that help or hinder their efforts to attract and retain good employees in Ohio. These include excellent public schools, affordable child care, and public safety.
- Point out the role of excellent public schools and universities in preparing a qualified workforce for incoming jobs like the Intel and Honda plants.
Advocacy briefings are compiled by Ariel Miller, a longtime community advocate and member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming. Connect with her at arielmillerwriter@gmail.com
