Today in their respective Committees, members voted to pass both House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR 1) and Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR 2) out of committee, sending them to their full chambers. The Ohio Senate also voted SJR 2 out during their session this afternoon.
HJR 1 and SJR 2 would make it more difficult for constitutional amendments to pass on the ballot. In addition, they are attempts to silence the power of Ohioans during a special election that typically garners 10% or less of Ohio voters.
We are particularly disappointed that during the House Constitutional Resolutions Committee, the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund’s Managing Director of Democracy Policy, Chris Tavenor, did not have the opportunity to testify on behalf of the many Ohioans who believe a healthy environment requires a healthy democracy. Dozens of other advocates were also silenced; only six people were given the opportunity to testify before the committee approved HJR 1 and ended discussion over the objections of minority legislators.
The House is expected to consider HJR 1 next week. Joint Resolutions require 60% of each chamber in order to be sent to the voters for consideration at the ballot.
The following state can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Chris Tavenor, managing director of democracy policy, at the OEC Action Fund.
"Direct democracy and the right to a ballot initiative is a value held dear by Ohioans. If HJR 1 and SJR 2 pass at the ballot in August, we will have a de facto ban on direct democracy in Ohio.
“The OEC Action Fund and the thousands of environmental voices we represent are deeply disappointed by the legislature's underhanded tactics to put these proposals before voters during an August special election. It's simply bad policy to try fixing a system that isn't broken. We will do everything we can to mobilize Ohioans to vote no."
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