(C) Ohio Capital Journal
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Families rally at Ohio Statehouse for support in state operating budget • Ohio Capital Journal [1]
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Date: 2025-06-18
Dozens of people took to the steps of the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday, taking with them concerns about the state of support for parents and families in the state budget.
The rally, led by child advocacy group Groundwork Ohio, included not only advocacy groups and faith leaders, but also workers in child care and parents who have had to face their own battles with the costs of everything regarding having children.
Briayana Odeneal is a parent who also works in early childhood education. She spoke at the rally, flanked by her toddler daughter. While she said she loves being a mother, she is always reminded that motherhood “does not come with a manual or any guarantees,” and “for a lot of us, it does not come with financial stability.”
“Not because of a lack of effort, but because the cost of living doesn’t always match the reality of raising a child,” Odeneal said.
Things like Publicly Funded Child Care, the Child Care Choice Voucher Program, and a child tax credit are ways in which the state can boost families and take away some of the struggle, according to those at the rally.
The cost and lack of access to child care, along with the low wages and high turnover of being a child care provider, have long been sore spots in the state and country, and those that attended the rally say more must be done.
“The supports that (working families) get for child care and the (child care choice) voucher program, for home visiting and all of those things, are really critical for them to be able to stay employed and participate in the workforce, as well as then for the children to be ready for kindergarten,” said Gina Ginn, CEO of Columbus Early Learning Centers.
Ginn attended the rally to encourage legislators and emphasize the need for reinforcements for issues ranging from infant and maternal mortality rates to pre-natal care and child care.
“It’s a conversation that we’re still having every budget cycle, and if our elected officials really believe in families and want families to move to Ohio, to stay in Ohio and to thrive in Ohio, we really need the support for working families, so they can build a life here,” Ginn said.
The budget is currently in conference committee, a joint gathering of both chambers of the General Assembly to harmonize the House and Senate drafts of the budget, on the way to a signature and/or line-item vetoes from the governor.
Both the House and Senate proposals left the Publicly Funded Child Care eligibility at 145% of the federal poverty limit, rather than raising it to 160% as advocates had asked for, to allow for more families to use the benefits.
The Child Care Choice Voucher Program remained in the budget through the Senate draft, but funding for the program dropped from $225 million over the biennium as was proposed in the governor’s budget, down to a total of $200 million.
The House and Senate proposals also both removed a provision from Gov. Mike DeWine’s executive proposal that would have created a child tax credit through the use of tobacco tax revenues. The credit could be used for many things related to care for a child, and would give $1,000 per child in tax relief.
While legislative leaders weren’t convinced by the use of what they see as a fading revenue stream in the tobacco tax, organizations and individuals from around the state put their support behind the measure to bring about some financial relief, and economists said the measure could bring the state itself millions of dollars in extra funds.
While the conference committee marks an imminent end to the budget process, Lynanne Gutierrez, president and CEO of Groundwork Ohio, is still optimistic that movements to change the language can make a difference, especially with the finish line marked by DeWine’s approval.
“I have a lot of hope in Gov. DeWine’s really front-stage advocacy on the child tax credit,” Gutierrez said. “He’s continued to really voice that very loudly, being a leader in the space, so I believe that our legislative leaders can make that a priority, too. There’s revenue for it, if they choose to do it.”
Legislators have until the end of June to approve and present DeWine with a final draft.
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