COMPLIMENTARY

2010
VOTER GUIDE
Election Day—Tuesday November 2, 2010
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS CHALLENGE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
ELECTION BOARD OVER 500 VOTERS BEING DENIED THEIR
RIGHT TO VOTE
by Donita Judge, Esq. the Ohio voter registration tion applications to the election, is qualified to be valid voter registration ap-
During a meeting on Oc- deadline of October 4, Cuyahoga County Board of registered to vote in that plications. Ohio voters
tober 14, 2010, with state 2010. Elections; the second election. have the right to expect
and national nonpartisan Ohio‘s refusal to register wrong is Cuyahoga County The National Voter Regis- that if they submit timely
groups, Cuyahoga County applicants who timely reg- Board of Elections refusal tration Act of 1993 voter registration applica-
Board of Elections Direc- ister at public assistance to register the applicants (NVRA), a federal law, also tions, they will be added to
tor Jane Platten disclosed agencies subjects the ap- whose applications are prevents election officials the voter rolls in time for
that approximately 300 plicants to illegal wrongs deemed timely according from keeping these voter the most immediate elec-
voter registration applica- by two separate state agen- to Ohio law. registration applicants off tion. Ohio election offi-
tions were submitted by cies. The first wrong is According to Director the voting rolls in Federal cial‘s refusal to register
Cuyahoga County Employ- Cuyahoga County Employ- Platten, although the voter elections. these applicants is a viola-
ment and Family Services ment and Family Services registration applications Cuyahoga County offi- tion of Federal law and
to the Cuyahoga County failure to timely submit the were completed by appli- cials are required under Ohio law. This is unreason-
Board of Elections after completed voter registra- cants before the voter reg- law to register these appli- able and is not the intent of
istration deadline, Ohio cants and any other appli- the NVRA or Ohio law. Di-
law prevented these appli- cant whose applications rector Platten still has an
cants from being regis- were submitted by public obligation and opportunity
tered. Director Platten, assistance agencies under before this important elec-
however, is misinterpreting the same circum-stances. tion to register the valid ap-
the law. These applicants This will guarantee that plicants and right the two
are eligible to be added to Cuyahoga County resi- wrongs.
the rolls for the upcoming dents are provided the ********
November 2, 2010 election. same opportunities to reg- The groups represented
A person who completes a ister as voters in other at this important meeting
valid voter registration ap- Ohio counties, including, with Director Platten were
plication at a designated Franklin, Hamilton and from the NAACP Cleveland
voter registration agency, Montgomery counties. Branch, NAACP National
in this case, the Cuyahoga Ohio election officials Voter Fund, National Black
County Employment and have a duty and responsi- Justice Coalition, Greater
Family Services, no later bility to register applica- Cleveland Voter Coalition
• In August, 1920, 35 states had ratified the 19th amendment to amend than 30 days before an tions who submit timely and Advancement Project.
the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, but 36
states were needed for the amendment to be adopted. Th e legisla-
ture
of the 36th state, Tennessee, was tied. State representative Harry
Burns (being admonished by his mother) voted for the amendment
and, with that single vote, women’s voting rights became the law of
the land.

• In November 2009, one vote decided a seat on the Moscow Ohio

Village Council.

• In Shelby County, Ohio’s 2009 general election, a school tax issue for
the Sidney City School District was tied (and would have failed), but
passed by one vote following an audit of the election results.

• In the 1988 Massachusetts primary election, Governor’s Council

candidate Herbert Connolly arrived at his polling place too late to
cast his ballot. He lost the election by one vote, his own.

• After two recounts, John Tran of Rosemead, California lost a 2009

race for City Council by one vote. Tran stated, “Th e judge made this
comment: ‘For all the people out there who don’t believe their vote
counts, I wish they could have been here.’ ”
Page 2 Voters Guide 2010

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

IF WE DON‘T VOTE…
For the last several months we have been bombarded with TV, radio, mail and phone calls urging us to vote
for or against one of the candidates for Governor, Senator, Congress or a position in the state legislature.
The common refrain from many who don’t plan to vote this year is: “I’m saving my vote for Obama in 2012, or
“I don’t know the candidates,” or even “I’m not voting, what has Strickland really done, I still don’t have a job,”
or “It doesn’t matter if I vote. My vote doesn’t count anyway! “It doesn’t matter who gets in. Nothing is going
to change.” We have heard all of this before.
The truth is that many of the same people who are “waiting on 2012” to cast their vote will see the unraveling
and even dismantling of President Obama’s legislative agenda next year, before we even get to 2012, if they stay
home and sit this 2010 election out.
Given all the negative press about county government corruption, government waste, massive job losses,
record foreclosures and growing economic insecurity it’s no wonder that these are the prevailing views of
many African-Americans, young first time voters and progressives. But there are some cold, harsh realities
and real truths of what could happen if the Ohio Governor’s mansion, the Ohio General Assembly and the US
Congress were to return to the politics that dominated from 1998 through 2006.
A simple side by side of what the candidates have promised in their campaigns will reveal the kind of state
we will live in if African-Americans and progressive voters decide to stay home on November 2nd.
There are candidates running for state and legislative offices who have promised to cut the Ohio budget by
almost a third of all spending. Faced already with an $8 billion dollar deficit due to the struggling economy, a
29% cut would eviscerate the social safety net and could deny millions of Ohio families from benefits that their
taxes have paid into for years—just when they needed them the most.
The people hardest hit will be Ohioans who find themselves without a job, who have lost their health care; who
have been foreclosed on their homes or who lack adequate housing. Also affected will be people dependent on home heating assistance and other programs designed
to get people through hard times.
There are also candidates who want to dismantle Gov. Strickland’s Education Reform package that will return Ohio to the days when unequal education funding was
the law of the land. Many congressional candidates are running on platforms to oppose the implementation of President Obama’s Historic Health Care Reform Package
which would deny coverage to thousands of college students and young people who have for the first time just this past September been able to have the coverage on
their parents’ health care plans extended until the age of 26.
There are candidates who think that policies that are pro-wall street, pro-business, and anti-labor will create new jobs. But that would be the equivalent of taking Ohio
back to the policies of the last 16 years which saw the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs. Had these policies worked before would Ohio be in the terrible economic
condition that it is in today?
For the first time in decades Ohio has finally adopted a new policy to fund Ohio’s public schools after decades of unconstitutional and outright discriminatory policies
that left many African-Americans, urban and low income students out in the cold when it comes to adequate funding. Ohio has also secured hundreds of millions of
competitive federal dollars to build upon this funding policy.
The Obama Administration has worked to bring over $6 billion dollars into the state in the last
2 years to assist Ohio’s increasingly needy families during this time of economic crisis--more
funding for Ohio in a two year period than at any other time in the history of the state. Even with
the additional funding, the level of minority set asides has been disappointing. And African-
Americans have not fared as well as many expected during the last two or four years. But in this
economic climate of record business failures, massive layoffs and record home foreclosures, it’s
important to realize that it could have been much much worse had African-Americans not voted
in record numbers in 2006 and 2008.
Despite all of these issues this election is about the future and not the past. The individuals who
are elected Governor, Secretary of State, and State Auditor will have the power to redraw the
congressional district lines that will virtually determine who will be the next members of
Congress and the state house. Both sides want to control the process which is why both
parties are pouring unprecedented amounts of campaign money into these three races.
There are an almost unbearable amount of television and radio advertising on the air about the
candidates, most of it very negative and uninspiring. But when it comes down to it the decision
will rest with each individual voter—not just on election day but after Election Day.
After November 2nd we need to demand that the next Governor, Lt. Governor, Senator,
Secretary of State and State Auditor take the bold and necessary steps to take control of the
expected $7-8 billion state budget deficit without throwing millions of our people into poverty.
After November 2nd we need to demand a real program for creating both public and private
sector jobs and economic development for the chronic employed and for new workers
entering Ohio’s job market.
After November 2nd we need to finally move beyond the endless focus on the scandals of
Cuyahoga County government and demand that the new County government not get absorbed
in retribution or political minutia but instead dedicate their inaugural terms to creating a
new county government that works for all the people and not their own personal or narrow
political interest.
We need new voices in government and the media. The stakes are too high. The consequences
are too dire and the time is too short to hope this will all be worked out on its own. In the words
of Dr. King, “If we don’t work it out, it will never be worked out.” We can help turn our situation
around if we can use the most potent weapon we have. Let’s seize this opportunity to make
history again. VOTE on NOVEMBER 2nd.

Greg Moore is the Executive Director of the NAACP National Voter Fund and the Ohio Voter
Fund, its statewide affiliate headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
2010 Voters Guide Page 3

The Benefits Of Health Care Reform For Minorities In Ohio

With all the confusion around the passage of the new health care law, many of the benefits have been lost in the mix. Until President Obama
signed the Affordable Care Act, racial and ethnic minorities were often left out in the cold when it came to accessing affordable, effective,
and high quality health care. The Affordable Care Act narrows the disparities in the health care system for minority groups by guarantee-
ing access to health services.

What Minorities In Ohio Stand To Gain With The New Health Care Reform Law…
…Better Disease Prevention
The Affordable Care Act Will Expand Preventive Care For Minorities. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation: “Peo-
ple of color experience higher rates of many chronic conditions, as well as higher death rates from many of these conditions compared to
whites, and the costs associated with these diseases are high. The health reform law contains provisions to improve the overall health of
the population through improved access to proven preventive services, including the establishment of a national prevention trust fund. The
law also calls on the Secretary of Health to develop the first ever national prevention strategy.” [Kaiser Family Foundation, September 2010]

• The New Health Care Law Delivers Free Comprehensive Disease Prevention Services For All Ohioans. The new health care
reform law offers free preventive health services for many common diseases including monitoring cholesterol, blood pressure and
obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism and common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). [U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force, August 2010]

The Affordable Care Act Improves The Documentation Of Health Disparities Among Minorities. According to a report from the
Kaiser Family Foundation, the Affordable Care Act includes “provisions [that] focus on improving data collection on race, ethnicity, primary
language, geographic area, and disability.” Additionally, “the new law would requires [sic] that, to the extent practical, all federally-funded
population surveys to collect enough data to allow for reliable reporting of racial and ethnic subgroups. These provisions would greatly
improve the ability to document disparities, especially
among some of the smaller populations who are typically
either excluded from the reporting of survey findings, or
grouped as ‘Other.’” [Kaiser Family Foundation, September
2010]

…Increased Access To Medicaid

The Affordable Care Act Will Expand Access To Med-
icaid. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Founda-
tion: “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
includes a significant expansion of Medicaid. Under the law,
all individuals, regardless of age, sex or parental status, will
be eligible for Medicaid if they meet the income threshold.
Individuals with incomes below 133% FPL (the current
poverty level is $10,830 for an individual and $22,050 for a
family of four) will be eligible to receive Medicaid services.
Of the 65 million nonelderly individuals with incomes below
133% FPL, over 22 million are uninsured, and nearly 6 in 10
are people of color.” [Kaiser Family Foundation, September
2010, citation removed for clarity, parentheses original]
• 664,800 Ohioans Will Be Eligible For Medicaid In
2014. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in
2008, 664,800 Ohioans lived below 133% of the federal
poverty line. In 2014, the new law will expand access to
113,100 Ohioans who lived between 100-133% below
the federal poverty line. [State Health Facts, accessed
10/8/10; Kaiser Family Foundation September 2010]
o 133% Of The Federal Poverty Line Is Less Than
$30,000 For A Family Of Four. According to the
Department of Health and Human Services, the FPL
(or Federal Poverty Line) for an individual is $10,830
and $22,050 for a family of four. Therefore, 133% of
FPL is $14,404 for an individual and $29,327 for a
family of four. [ASPE.hhs.gov, 2009 Poverty Guide-
lines, accessed 10/12/10]
…Tax Credits For Small Businesses
59,859 Minority-Owned Small Businesses in Ohio
Could Benefit From Health Care Tax Credits. Accord-
ing to the latest data from the Small Business Administra-
tion there are approximately 59,859 small
The Affordable Care Act keeps our current private health insurance system but with
comprehensive improvements:
More accountability for insurance companies
Help for Americans to pay for their coverage
Insurance will be more affordable right away by providing
small businesses with a tax credit to provide coverage,
and in 2014, by providing help to all Americans buying
insurance — representing the largest middle class tax
cut for health care in history.
These reforms could help as many as 32 million
Americans who have no health care today receive
coverage. Once the Affordable Care Act is fully
implemented, Americans will have access to affordable
health coverage.
“Health Care Bill of Rights,” which includes protecting your choice of doctors.
Free Preventive Care for people insured by new plans.
Denying Coverage of Children Based on Pre-Existing Conditions Prohibited.
Insurance Company Decisions May Be Appealed, including coverage and claim
determinations.
Coverage for Young Adults Extended. Most young adults will be allowed to stay on their
parents’ plan until they turn 26 years old. In Ohio, for many plans this limit is 28.
Insurance Companies Can’t Cancel Coverage based on errors or other technical mistakes.
Lifetime Limits on Insurance Coverage Eliminated including hospital stays.
Annual Limits on Insurance Coverage Restricted.
Vote as if your health depends on it! Register to vote and find
your polling place. www.rockthevote.com
Join us to make health care reform a reality in Ohio.
www.ohioconsumersforhealth.org
Share this information with your friends and family.
Find these & other facts at: www.healthcare.gov and
http://kff.org
 REPUBLICANS
Governor - www.governor.ohio.gov
Candidate for Governor– The Governor is the head of the executive branch of Ohio's government and the com- Candidate for Lieutenant
mander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The Governor has a duty to enforce state
John Kasich laws; the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Ohio Legislature; the power Governor–Mary Taylor
to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason
and impeachment.
The Governor has the duty to submit a state budget to the General Assembly containing
a complete financial plan for each two-year fiscal period. The Governor and Lieutenant
Governor are elected to a four-year term.
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor is the second highest elected official in Ohio. The Lieutenant
Governor's primary responsibility is to preside over the Ohio State Senate. The
Lieutenant Governor is the deputy commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces
of the state.
The Lieutenant Governor is required to complete the duties assigned by the Governor.
The Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor if the Governor resigns, dies in office or is
removed by impeachment. The Governor and the Lieutenant Governor are elected
together on a joint ticket.

Candidate for United States Senator—Rob Portman

Each state is represented by two senators who are elected for staggered six-year terms.
The Senate is the upper house of our federal legislature. Together the Senate and House
of Representatives comprise the U.S. Congress.
In addition to the legislative responsibilities of Congress the Senate has several exclusive
powers including consenting to international treaties as a condition of their ratification,
consenting and confirming the appointments of Cabinet secretaries, Supreme Court WHY IT’S IM
Justices, federal judges, and several other federal appointed offices. VOTE YOUR FU
BAL
Many of the statewid
November 2, 2010 w
Candidate for Treasurer—Josh Mandel impact on the politica
Treasurer of State - www.ohiotreasurer.org the next ten years. U
The Treasurer of State is the custodian of state funds. The Treasurer is responsible for collecting, or municipal election
protecting, and investing state funds while assuring that the necessary financial resources are available holders and the party
to operate state functions. islature will be in a p
The Treasurer manages the state’s various investment portfolios and is the custodian for several state political map of Ohio
retirement funds for teachers and other public employees. until the year 2022!

Candidate for Secretary of State—Jon Husted Ohio Apportio

Secretary of State - www.sos.state.oh.us The Ohio Apportionme
The Secretary of State is Ohio’s chief elections officer, oversees the elections process, appoints the 10 years following th
members of the local county boards of election, approves articles of incorporation for Ohio The five-member boar
corporations, and is responsible for various other administrative duties regarding businesses for each of the 99 Oh
operating in Ohio. Senate districts to
The Secretary of State is one of the five members of the Ohio Apportionment Board which changes. The memb
redraws state legislative districts each ten years after the US census. ment Board are the G
of State, the Auditor o
bers, one Republican
appointed by state le
Candidate for Auditor—Dave Yost political party that con
Auditor of State - www.auditor.state.oh.us apportionment board
The Auditor of State is responsible for auditing all the public offices in Ohio, including cities, counties, districts favorable to t
villages, townships, schools, state universities, and public libraries as well as state
agencies, boards and commissions.
The Auditor of State is one of the five members of the Ohio Apportionment Board which redraws state
legislative districts each ten years after the US census.

Candidate for Attorney General—Mike DeWine

Attorney General – www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov
The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement and legal officer for the state and all its depart-
ments. The Attorney General is responsible for the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation
(BCI). The departments of the Attorney General support local law enforcement agencies.
The Attorney General is responsible for directly enforcing Ohio’s environmental laws and is the
state’s legal representative or attorney representing the state where appropriate in courts of law.
 2010
D E MVoters
O CGuide
R AT S Page 5

Governor - www.governor.ohio.gov Candidate for Lieutenant

Candidate for Governor–
Ted Strickland (Incumbent)
The Governor is the head of the executive branch of Ohio's government and the Governor–
commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The Governor has a duty to enforce
state laws; the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Ohio Legislature; the Yvette McGee Brown
power to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of
treason and impeachment.
The Governor has the duty to submit a state budget to the General Assembly containing
a complete financial plan for each two-year fiscal period. The Governor and Lieutenant
Governor are elected to a four-year term.
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor is the second highest elected official in Ohio. The Lieutenant
Governor's primary responsibility is to preside over the Ohio State Senate. The
Lieutenant Governor is the deputy commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces
of the state.
The Lieutenant Governor is required to complete the duties assigned by the Governor.
The Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor if the Governor resigns, dies in office or is
removed by impeachment. The Governor and the Lieutenant Governor are elected
together on a joint ticket.

Candidate for United States Senator—Lee Fisher

Each state is represented by two senators who are elected for staggered six-year terms.
The Senate is the upper house of our federal legislature. Together the Senate and House
of Representatives comprise the U.S. Congress.
In addition to the legislative responsibilities of Congress the Senate has several exclusive
powers including consenting to international treaties as a condition of their ratification,
PORTANT TO consenting and confirming the appointments of Cabinet secretaries, Supreme Court
ULL STATEWIDE Justices, federal judges, and several other federal appointed offices.
LLOT
de leaders elected on
will have a profound
al direction of Ohio for Candidate for Treasurer—Kevin Boyce (Incumbent)
Unlike other mid-term Treasurer of State - www.ohiotreasurer.org
ns 3 Statewide Office The Treasurer of State is the custodian of state funds. The Treasurer is responsible for collecting,
y in control of the leg- protecting, and investing state funds while assuring that the necessary financial resources are available
position to redraw the to operate state functions.
o that will be in place The Treasurer manages the state’s various investment portfolios and is the custodian for several state
retirement funds for teachers and other public employees.

onment Board Candidate for Secretary of State—Mary Ellen O’Shaughnessy

ent Board meets every Secretary of State - www.sos.state.oh.us
he decennial census. The Secretary of State is Ohio’s chief elections officer, oversees the elections process, appoints the
rd redraws boundaries members of the local county boards of election, approves articles of incorporation for Ohio
hio House and 33 Ohio corporations, and is responsible for various other administrative duties regarding businesses
o reflect population operating in Ohio.
ers of the Apportion- The Secretary of State is one of the five members of the Ohio Apportionment Board which
overnor, the Secretary redraws state legislative districts each ten years after the US census.
of State and two mem-
n and one Democrat,
gislative leaders. The
ntrols a majority of the Candidate for Auditor—David Pepper
is in a position to draw Auditor of State - www.auditor.state.oh.us
their party. The Auditor of State is responsible for auditing all the public offices in Ohio, including cities, counties,
villages, townships, schools, state universities, and public libraries as well as state
agencies, boards and commissions.
The Auditor of State is one of the five members of the Ohio Apportionment Board which redraws state
legislative districts each ten years after the US census.

Candidate for Attorney General—Richard Cordray (Incumbent)

Attorney General – www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov
The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement and legal officer for the state and all its depart-
ments. The Attorney General is responsible for the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation
(BCI). The departments of the Attorney General support local law enforcement agencies.
The Attorney General is responsible for directly enforcing Ohio’s environmental laws and is the
state’s legal representative or attorney representing the state where appropriate in courts of law.
Page 6 Voters Guide 2010

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

Tuesday, • No photo ID? You do not need photo ID, but you must show some ID. Use a
current and valid photo ID, military ID, or current utility bill, bank statement, government
check, paycheck, or other government document with your name and address. You can’t use

November
a Notice of Voter Registration form!
• Have a felony? You can vote if you were granted parole or are on probation. Re-register by
Oct. 4, 2010.

2nd • Never got your absentee ballot? Vote a provisional ballot on Election Day.
• At the wrong voting location? Go to your correct precinct or a central polling place to vote a
regular ballot so that your vote will count.

is our day to • At the right location but not on the list? Have a poll worker call to check your status. If your
status can’t be confirmed, get a provisional ballot.
• Moved recently? Go to your county Board of Elections office or the polling place for your
new address to complete a change of residence form and vote
SPEAK UP. a provisional ballot.
• Don’t know your polling location?
call 866-OUR-VOTE.
• Don't wear anything that signals your voting preferences (t-shirts, buttons, hats, etc.).
Some states have little-used laws that prevent "electioneering" in polling places, and there
have been signals that officials will be challenging people wearing partisan materials.
Leave it at home or in your car.

If You Feel Your Rights Have Been Violated!

• Voting by provisional ballot? Call the toll-free number provided to you
between Nov. 17 and Dec. 31 to see if your vote counted.
• Challenged at the polls? Only an elections judge can challenge on Election Day. Ask for a
specific reason and vote a provisional ballot. Give any necessary ID to your county Board of
Elections office within 10 days after Election Day.
• Need help voting? If you have a disability or cannot read, you can get help from anyone but
your employer or union rep.
• Vote a provisional ballot as a last resort!
• Waiting in line when the polls close? You can vote
if you are in line by 7:30 p.m.
If Something Goes Wrong at the Polls,
DON’T LEAVE!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

2010 Voters Guide Page 7

The Ohio Voter Fund (OVF), a

NAACP National Voter Fund Affili-
ate and headquartered in Cleveland,
Ohio was formed in 2005 to promote
voter education and voting rights on
behalf of the citizens of Ohio and
provide research and public policy
analysis on issues important to the
state.
The organization is an outgrowth of
the NAACP National Voter Fund‘s statewide 2004 Voter
The national economy is in recession and Ohio's revenues continue to
Empowerment Campaign – an effort that registered over 100,000 fall below what's required to meet people's rising needs. In response,
voters statewide since 2000; and has recruited and trained over Ohio has over-relied on reducing services that assist communities and
750 grassroots activists over the years to conduct high impact and
community based voter turnout programs across the state of Ohio. vulnerable families. In its next two-year budget, our state faces a
record shortfall of up to $8 billion. Schools, police, hospitals, libraries,
and local services are all endangered. It will take a balanced approach
ProgressOhio was founded in 2006 to create a hub in Ohio for pro- that includes revenues to minimize the impact on Ohioans and ensure
gressive earned media and online mobilizing. ProgressOhio fo-
cuses extensively on collaboration, providing allied organizations
our state emerges strong when prosperity returns.
high-impact communications assistance, research and media out-
reach tools, and state-of-the-art online tools to reach Ohioans Principles:
where they are increasingly going to find information and oppor- Action is needed to move Ohio forward and promote the well-being
tunities to make an impact online. ProgressOhio’s collaborative
work, sharing resources with such an extensive network of allied of our communities and their residents. By investing in our
organizations, enhances the work of the entire progressive com- families, communities, natural resources, and existing assets, we
munity in Ohio and expands the impact of the organization’s all share the potential to guide our state to renewed prosperity. The
donors.
Among other issues ProgressOhio is active in educating Ohio vot- following principles must guide Ohio policymakers as they build
ers about the health care law, unemployment benefits, social se- a budget aimed at a better Ohio for all.
curity, and providing resources for voters at
www.HowToVoteInOhio.com and unemployment information at
www.IAmAWorker.org. • Balanced Approach. In critical areas, resources are falling far
short of ever-increasing needs. Long-term funding and revenue
solutions must be included instead of relying only on cuts to
services and efficiencies. Ohio should invest fully in education,
public safety, social services, and other areas that affect fami-
lies and communities. History tells us that a balanced approach
to meeting a crisis paves a faster and more sustainable path to
recovery. A cuts-only strategy will damage Ohio's economy and
poorly position the state when prosperity returns.

• Productive, stable, revenue solutions that reflect today's

economy, we must reform our eroded revenue system so Ohio
can meet current and future needs. Further, our system must
be adequate and equitable. First, revenue must grow with the
economy to meet the needs of our communities and their
residents. Second, all businesses and individuals must pay their
fair share. Third, our system must be able to sustain the state
through economic ups and downs. Rather than tinkering or
temporary changes, Our state needs a 21" century revenue
system for our 21* century economy.

• Building on sound and sustainable public investments,

we must develop new and strategic investments in the serv-
ices, infrastructure, and natural resources that drive economic
growth. This will not only help us weather the current
economic storm, but will also ensure our long-term prosperity.

• Address the Immediate crisis and plan for the future, we

must address our current challenges. However, quick fixes will
only postpone fundamental decisions. As Ohio's policymakers
consider additional budget cuts and efficiencies, they must also
consider revenue increases for both the short and long term.
We must ensure we position our state for a prosperous and
competitive future.
Page 8 Voters Guide 2010

WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THE 2010

Now It's Time For MID-TERM ELECTIONS?
OUR FUTURE IS AT STAKE!!
You To Vote! If we do not turn out in large numbers, here are a few things that could result:
JOBS

November 2 The recent "Jobs Bill" designed to create hundreds of thousands of high-wage jobs
to employ those unemployed, including summer jobs for our youth, and the 3.5
million jobs that have been created/saved by the stimulus bill will be lost. Public
sector jobs will be dramatically cut.

Get Out The Vote (GOTV) HEALTH CARE

Health care reform will be reversed. 31 million people will lose their healthcare. Youth under 26 can
be thrown off their parents health insurance. Kids now covered could lose their healthcare.

EDUCATION
$1.8 billion funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities' and
community colleges will be challenged. Expansion of Pell Grants will be
rolled back.

HOME OWNERSHIP
Every progressive policy designed to help revitalize our communities and
assist people with mortgage forbearances will be stalled.

MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS

Small business loan development opportunities will disappear.

POLITICAL POWER
Leaders who will fight to make sure redistricting is fair in 2011
and protect our right to elect candidates of our choice will not be
there to speak for us in state capitols across the country.

Protect Your Vote!

If you have problems voting call Election
Protection at...
Our Future is at Stake! Dial 1 (866) OUR-VOTE