Letters: Matt Huffman, Republicans not afraid of anything despite scandals

Why are lawmakers involved?

I read in the Oct. 18 article, "Lawmakers running out of time to pass ban," that Senate President Matt Huffman wants to codify the definition of what “life of the mother” means.

More:Do 10-year-olds meet 'life of mother' abortion exemptions? Ohio lawmakers, doctors divided

Are you kidding me?

Does this imply that, if the expectation of the mother dying in or before childbirth is 80%, then she qualifies for medical intervention, but if the likelihood of disaster is less than 49%, she is out of luck?

These recent proclamations typically include wording that, instead of working proactively with the obstetrician, the woman is required to wait until said life-threatening complication has actually begun before the doctor is allowed to intervene.

I don’t care what you think about abortion; we need to tell lawmakers to get their big noses out of the formerly sacred doctor-patient relationship.

Ian J. Wilson M.D., Westerville

'Disillusioned Republicans, Independents, Democrats' stand up

State Senate President Matt Huffman fears that there are not enough scheduled session days remaining in the current General Assembly legislative session to pass a total abortion ban (Oct. 18 article, "Lawmakers running out of time to pass ban").

Do not believe him. It ignores how the majority Republican legislature can and will act as he admits himself by finally saying, “If we don’t get it done now … We will all be back here anyway,” thanks to their continued gerrymandering of Ohio legislative districts.

More:'This is a tiny amount of time': Will Ohio ban abortion at conception this year?

Bills can be drafted without legislative sessions. All that is necessary is for one house to pass an acceptable bill and the other to concur in it and forward it to the governor for signature.

Moreover, in the lame-duck session after the November elections, the passage of bills seems to fly with the speed of light on their own or tacked on to legislation that must be enacted before the close of the legislative session - even if the bill may violate Ohio’s constitutional requirement that no bill can contain more than one subject.

GOP lawmakers who control, and will continue to control, the General Assembly - as well as apparently the governor -do not seem to be afraid of anything despite a bribery scandal or having passed legislation against the majority of Ohioans who support sensible gun safety, fair redistricting, and reasonable abortion access, among many other issues.

But voters can still send them a message and achieve other results this November.

Timeline:Selling out in the Statehouse

Disillusioned Republicans, Independents, Democrats, and all others who may wish to opt out of any participation in their civic duty to vote have power even in gerrymandered districts.

More:Election 2022: Ohio House, Senate and Congress districts have changed. What district are you in?

Everyone fed up with the GOP power grabs and narrow interest legislation only need to vote Democratic in every statewide election race including governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer of state, secretary of state, attorney general, auditor of state, and the Supreme Court.

This will have some impact on any member of or candidate for the House of Representatives who has to run again in two years.

And there is at least practical effect, as this would change the membership of the Ohio Redistricting Commission with members more likely to follow the Ohio Constitution and decisions of the Ohio Supreme Court to comply with our constitution.

Toba Feldman, Columbus

Let's stop having nation most corrupt

In America, no matter our political party, race or zip code, we believe government should be fair and honest.

The FBI calls Ohio’s state legislature the most corrupt in the nation.

Here are three cases that should concern you:

(1) The Redistricting Commission (five Republicans and two Democrats) was to create fair voting districts based on the 2020 census. The group’s shameful maps were declared unconstitutional SIX times by the Ohio Supreme court. This led to a $21 million “second” primary.

(2) In July 2020, former Ohio Speaker Larry Householder and allies were charged in a kickback scheme, taking $60 million from FirstEnergy for personal enrichment, political gain, and to pass legislation worth an estimated $1.3 billion to the company. Two allies have pleaded guilty to racketeering. Householder awaits trial.

(3) Remember ECOT? Major Republican donor William Lager opened a virtual charter school with money taken from funds earmarked for public schools. The charter school failed 12,000 students and cheated Ohioans out of $117 million.

For decades, Ohio has had one-party rule caused by gerrymandering, and suffers higher costs and flawed reputation.  Vote for candidates who respect the laws, the courts and the will of the people.

Kathleen A. Tate, Howard

'The lesser of two extremes,' please

Ohio voters are trying to decide which candidate, J.D. Vance or Tim Ryan, represents “the lesser of two extremes.”

In their recent debate, Vance chided Ryan for supporting spending Vance claimed is driving up consumer prices and for not acknowledging that a 10-year-old Ohio girl forced to leave the state for an abortion was raped by an undocumented immigrant.

The truth is consumer prices have risen substantially worldwide largely because of the pandemic.

Moreover, Republicans repeatedly have been absent despite Americans constantly urging leaders in the two political parties to come to the table and agree on immigration policy.

More:I am pushing 'back against crazy extremists bent on smashing our republic.' You should too

By contrast, a vote for Vance represents the kind of extremes Americans are resolute to loathe which Republicans, nonetheless, have tried to pass off as "the new normal." Included are Republicans’ attacks on America’s core values.

Once elected, Republicans promise to inflict even greater harm than they already have on America’s democracy and the rights of Americans. They have no qualms about furthering their attacks on the rights of voters, the right for votes to count even if the Republican in the race loses, and the right of every woman in America to make her own childbearing decisions.

Republicans’ extremes clearly should give voters in Ohio and everywhere in America great pause. 

John E. Reinier Sr., Columbus

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Why does Ohio have the nation's most corrupt Statehouse?