7/31/2023 0 Comments 1 dispatcher![]() We’re not talking Albany, Boston, or Sacramento.Īs previously noted, this is what scholars G. Ohio’s highest court has never been ranked better than middle of the pack - and that’s on a good day - among the nation’s 50 state supreme courts. That a 4-3 majority of Supreme Court acted as it did - taking a back seat to its supposed equals, Ohio’s legislative and executive branches - is an old pattern. Why will Issue 1 be on the August ballot?Īnd what’s really going is a bid by the legislature to cripple a power that the voters of Ohio have enjoyed for more than 100 years by raising, not elevating, the signature requirements. In those contexts, “elevates” is a weasel word to - at best - understate what’s going on. When BP boosts gasoline prices, or the electric company jacks up monthly charges, the oil company didn’t “elevate” its prices and AEP, AES Ohio or FirstEnergy didn’t “elevate” its electric rates. ![]() That’s not how ordinary Ohioans speak no matter what dictionary the Supreme Court consulted. Suddes: Panicked Ohio Republicans willing to strangle democracy to stymie abortion rights Suddes: Republican lawmakers betting Ohioans won't vote in August Part of that wording is, after a slight tweaking at the court’s behest, “Elevating the standards to qualify for an initiated constitutional amendment and to pass a constitutional amendment.” massaged the Issue 1 wording that Ohio voters will see on their ballots. To make sure of that, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, an Upper Arlington Republican, and his fellow Ohio Ballot Board Republicans. In plain English, I ssue 1 is designed to make it harder for Ohioans to keep abortion legal in Ohio and, further down the road make it harder for Ohioans to end the brazen gerrymandering of General Assembly and congressional districts.įor the incumbent General Assembly, politics is a game of tricky words. So legislative Republicans proposed State Issue 1, which would require a statewide “yes” vote of at least 60% of those voting on a measure to amend Ohio’s constitution. Now however, the General Assembly’s Republican majority fears that voters might amend the Ohio Constitution to guarantee the legality of abortion in this state. More: Ohio Ballot Board approves new ballot language for August constitution issue Twisting the meaning of 'elevating the standards' Our view: A 'yes' vote on Issue 1 would drive dagger in Ohio's 'heart' ![]() Since then, voter-proposed amendments have become part of the Ohio Constitution if they attract the support of 50% plus 1 of those voting on them in a statewide election. 8 statewide ballot, would make it much harder for Ohio voters, by ballot petition, to propose amendments to the Ohio Constitution, something Ohioans have been able to do since 1912. That’s why it wasn’t a surprise last week that the court let stand some phony wording on State Issue 1, the General Assembly’s anti-voter scam. Ohio Supreme Court is no stranger to double-talk. Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University.
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