Letters: Kick politicians out of Ohio's redistricting process. Term limits for Congress overdue.
Congressional term limits and balanced federal budget can't come too soon
I was so happy to see the Jan. 20 article, "2 Ohioans propose changes to government," about the national effort to amend the U.S. Constitution with term limits for members of Congress and a balanced federal budget.
More: Term limits, a balanced budget: Ohio Republicans want to amend the U.S. Constitution
For years, I and many others had hoped that this would be done as it is well overdue. Let's hope that this gets done sooner rather than later.
Connie Louden, Columbus
Let's take partisan politics out of redistricting process
In the Jan. 13 article, "Ohio Supreme Court strikes down state legislative maps," Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor suggested that "...Ohioans may opt to pursue further constitutional amendment to replace the current commission with a truly independent, nonpartisan commission that more effectively distances the redistricting process from partisan politics."
I heartily concur with the chief. The Republican members of the redistricting commission have left no doubt about their lack of regard for the state constitution and the expressed wishes of Ohio's people. They do not deserve another chance.
I look forward to canvassing for the next redistricting referendum. Let's cut the politicians out of the process for good.
Kurt T. Taube, Dublin
More: How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch
Ending gerrymandering a non-partisan move that will benefit all voters
The Ohio Supreme Court has said recently that the redistricting maps for Ohio legislative districts and congressional seats were not acceptable.
At this juncture, it would be good to remind ourselves and our elected representatives that ending gerrymandering is not a partisan issue. All voters of Ohio will gain from fair, not gerrymandered, maps.
More: Letters: Ohioans want fair voting districts
This is not a drive to remove Republicans from their seats and install Democrats in their place. The amendments in the Ohio Constitution will, in the future, apply to whichever party is in the majority.
How do we know this?
More: The Ohio Supreme Court rejected GOP-drafted legislative maps. Here's what you need to know
Because both major political parties drafted the amendment. Both major parties supported its adoption. Voters in all 88 counties voted for it and 75% of the Ohio electorate recognized it as a basic voting right. The amendments requiring fair and honest redistricting maps are now embedded in the Ohio Constitution.
More: Opinion: Congress must pass voting rights bill to prevent Republican gerrymandering
And we know this because the people of Ohio who have been advocating for this change have been working diligently through Republican and Democratic administrations since the 1970s.
Now is the time for our elected representatives to show that they can be fair, honest and true to the wishes of Ohio’s voters. Now is the time for them to act responsibly. Now is the time to end short-sightedness and think of the future. Now is the time to end gerrymandering for good.
Laura J. Moorman, Westerville
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Kick politicians out of Ohio's redistricting process.
