The goal of the Office of Advocacy at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) in Greater Cleveland is to support and strengthen the advocacy efforts of LMM programs, engaging others in responding to the needs of people who are forgotten and neglected (or hurting) by changing public policies, attitudes and priorities. We believe that government budgets are moral documents that reflect the priorities of society. As State of Ohio leaders are deliberating on the budget, we are encouraging them to look at the revenue side of the budget, by closing unneeded and outdated business loopholes and, most importantly, to ensure that the needs of the vulnerable and needy are fully addressed in the State of Ohio.

At LMM, we are advocating for the following actions on behalf of citizens of the State of Ohio:

*LMM supports and encourages legislation and budget efforts to ensure appropriate local funding for community care for persons with mental illnesses, disabilities, and those in need of nursing care. While LMM supports the broad policy of moving persons from institutions to community-care systems, we are concerned that the dollars are following the persons into the community. Without adequate local funding, the quality of care of greatly diminished. LMM also supports efforts to not require local mental health boards to utilize local levy funds to match Medicaid instead of funding local programs.

*LMM supports sentencing reform efforts to address overcrowding and believes that persons with minor, non-violent offences are better served through community-based corrections efforts and an appropriately funded local support system of programming such as drug and mental-health treatment, employment development and training, etc.

*LMM opposes new voter laws that modify voting identification requirements and restricts voting participation without substantial evidence of prior voter fraud by Ohio voters. LMM believes that HB 159, the new proposed law, will place an undue financial burden on low-income potential voters and will ultimately disenfranchise voters.