Ohio’s public officials should make Ohio competitive in the global marketplace by recognizing the interdependence of health and human services, education and economic development.
Ohio public officials should fund and support quality, seamless services and education for all children to ensure safe, healthy, successful learners and ensure adults accessible lifelong learning opportunities.
Ohio’s public officials should ensure access to physical and behavioral health care services for all Ohioans. Prevention, treatment and supportive services for comprehensive health care, long-term care, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse and addiction should be available. Services should be provided in a wide variety of cost effective community settings based on consumer need and choice.
Ohio’s public officials should adopt a responsible human services budget that has as its primary priority to meet basic human needs (food, shelter, clothing and medical care) and provide a safety net for the most vulnerable Ohioans. A responsible human services budget should ensure opportunity for low-income Ohioans to achieve self-sufficiency through education, training, work, and supportive services.
Ohio’s public officials should adopt a fair, progressive, diversified system of taxation that eliminates Ohio’s structural deficit and provides stable revenues sufficient to fund services and invest in Ohio’s future. Spending caps that discourage government from making informed spending choices based on the needs of its citizens are inconsistent with this principle.
