Letter to the editor: Vote no on Issue 1
A special election is scheduled for Aug. 8, and is for a constitutional change proposed as Issue 1. Funny thing is, it was just last year, these same politicians voted to end August special elections because they were “undemocratic” and “too expensive.”
A no vote on this issue will stop special interests and corrupt politicians from ending majority rule in Ohio and changing the rules of democracy in our state. If passed, Issue 1 will change over 110 years of law by requiring 60% of the vote to pass a state Constitutional Amendment instead of the current simple majority (50% + 1).
What is at stake? Our freedom. We all want the freedom to make decisions that impact our lives. Ballot issues give citizens the freedom to make laws when politicians fail us. Issue 1 restricts our freedom and takes away our rights. It permanently shreds our Constitution, ends majority rule in Ohio, and takes away our right to decide what happens here by undermining the sacred principle of “one person, one vote.”
It would make it even harder for Ohioans to amend the state constitution because of the 60% majority requirement for future ballot proposals. Special interests spent millions lobbying politicians to call this special election when there was already an election in November – and it worked.
So, who opposes this issue? Four Ohio governors: Bob Taft, John Kasich, Dick Celeste and Ted Strickland; five Ohio attorneys general: Betty Montgomery, Jim Petro, Nancy Rogers, Lee Fisher and Richard Cordray; and dozens of other Ohio community organizations, faith groups, and labor organizations.
There are countless more examples of learned, well-informed and intelligent civic urban and rural leaders shouting from their rooftops: Vote no on Issue 1. It truly is a solution looking for a problem.
Chris Tunney, Louisville
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Letter to the editor: Vote no on Issue 1
