DeMora: Frank LaRose part of 'cynical scheme' to preserve Republican power over Ohio| Letters

Protect Ohioans from crooked one-party rule

In an April 12 guest column "Corrupt mastermind's plot shows frailty of our state's constitution," Secretary of State Frank LaRose wrote about a plan by Republican leader —and convicted felon — Larry Householder to extend his corrupt reign as Speaker of the Ohio House by undermining term limits. That’s why he says Ohioans should support a Republican-led effort to make it more difficult for citizens to pass constitutional amendments. He claims that doing so will protect Ohioans from “well-funded, dishonest political campaigns.”

In reality, Ohio Republicans are just afraid of losing, so they’re trying to change the rules.

Frank LaRose: Larry Householder's sinister plot shows 'vulnerability' of Ohio Constitution

In an October 2022 survey of Ohio voters, 59% stated they would support amending the state constitution to protect abortion rights.

Mere months later, Republicans introduced legislation to increase the voter threshold for constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60% and create a costly August special election – just months after they voted to eliminate most August special elections, which was fully supported by Secretary LaRose.

Increasing the threshold for constitutional amendments just months before a reproductive rights amendment is on the November ballot is nothing more than a cynical scheme to preserve Republicans’ ability to impose their extreme views on Ohioans.

So yes, Secretary LaRose, we do need to protect Ohioans from crooked one-party rule, but you and your proposal are part of the problem, NOT the solution.

State Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) represents Ohio’s 25th Senate District, which encompasses areas of Franklin County, including Clintonville, Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, South Linden, Italian Village, Victorian Village, Ohio State University, and Northland.

It is the same Frank LaRose

Frank LaRose’s April 12 column, "Corrupt mastermind's plot shows frailty of our state's constitution," should be a hard stop for Dispatch readers. This is the same Frank LaRose that voted repeatedly to approve voting maps that were four times ruled unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Susan Miller, Columbus

More: How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch

What hogwash

Frank LaRose's April 12 column, “Corrupt mastermind's plot shows the frailty of our state’s constitution," argues that convicted felon Larry Householder’s unsuccessful plot to pass a constitutional amendment extending term limits justifies the present Republican push to raise the vote threshold to amend the state constitution.

What hogwash! Our problem is not our state constitution amendment process, which has worked flawlessly since 1912.

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Our problem is that corrupt Republican politicians, like Householder, control our state. And now LaRose has joined their ranks by supporting this undemocratic 60% proposal.

In a grossly gerrymandered state, the only way a majority (which is over 50%, not 60%) of Ohio citizens can express their opinion is through the present referendum process.

Philip Hawley, Upper Arlington

The majority of our citizens believe in freedom of choice

In the April 13 paper, Gov. Mike DeWine stated "The initiative would make Ohio one of the most liberal states in the union. That's not where the majority of Ohioans are today."

DeWine: Abortion amendment too liberal for Ohio, but lawmakers should look at current law

I respectfully disagree, Governor.

I believe that the majority of our citizens believe in freedom of choice. Women want to make their own reproductive decisions and, if given the opportunity, will vote to support that right.

Katy Bertner, Columbus

The real indoctrination

Page 8A, the entire April 13 Opinion page, should be required reading for every Ohioan (possessing a state issued ID). Thank you for printing and organizing a well-designed page of varying viewpoints.

Professor: Admitting “white privilege” shouldn't be required at Ohio universities

Opinion: Profs using 'shoddy, ideologically-motivated research' in attack on universities

Isn't white privilege a fact, and even accepted as an understood truth in mere Appalachia? Now, how can we convince state legislators that Ohioans have been indoctrinated to use guns to cause violent deaths?

Daniel Finn, Worthington

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Frank LaRose part of 'cynical scheme' to preserve power, stop abortion in Ohio