Ohio’s Black Caucus rips Senate Republicans for cutting funding that benefits minority communities

COLUMBUS — Members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus chastised Senate Republicans today for removing provisions from the state budget that benefit minority communities.

“To us, it’s amazing and sad that in 2009 we are standing here, fighting for the rights of African Americans in this state,” said Rep. Sandra Williams, a Democrat from the Cleveland area and caucus president. “We are always first in every budget cycle to be cut when it comes to the resources we need to survive.”

She added, “It is a shame that African-American businesses have to have special laws on the books to get the state of Ohio to do business with them. It is a shame that African-American children have to have special programs in order to seek the resources they need to compete with other people in this state.”

The Ohio Senate last week passed its version of the state budget, slashing about $1 billion in spending, plus a number of earmarks for specific projects.

But members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus today said the Republican-led cuts disproportionately affect minority communities — one example was a program aimed at preventing at-risk black students from dropping out of school.