![]() ![]() “Simply, minority will override the majority of voters, allowing a minority to make decisions for everyone else,” said Joyce Kepke. This special election, lobbied for by special interests, and funded by taxpayers, is an attack on our constitutional rights and an attack on our democracy.” The 10-day cure period for signatures would also be eliminated. “The constitutional amendment would also require 5% of signatures from all 88 counties for an issue to be placed on the ballot, compared to the current 44 county requirement. “Currently, ballot initiatives require 50% plus one to pass,” Durham said. “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.’” “The passing of Issue 1 would restrict our freedom and take away our rights,” said resident Lindsay Jo Durham. Councilman Joel O’Dorisio was absent.īoth Dennis’ and Robinette’s resolutions received first readings during the meeting.Ĭouncil also heard from residents on Issue 1. Robinette and Bill Herald voted against it, meaning it did not reach the necessary threshold to receive the second reading that night. Voting for it were Dennis, Rachel Phipps, Nick Rubando and Mark Hollenbaugh. When the proposal was voted on, it received four “yes” votes, and two “no” votes. In light of that, he asked that his resolution be given its second reading Thursday night, so that it could receive its third reading and be voted on at the Aug. Later in the meeting, when it came time for the reading of legislation, Dennis noted that council’s next scheduled meeting is not until Aug. Robinette’s resolution concluded with council “opposes telling its citizens how to vote on Issue 1.” Council “supports the right of its citizens to decide for themselves how to vote on Issue 1” and council “does not advocate for partisan positions or talking points on state and national issues that are not directly related to its local governance functions.” “It is arguably against state and federal law for the Council of Bowling Green, Ohio, to tell its citizens how to vote on Issue 1,” the resolution said. Raising the threshold to amend the Ohio Constitution will protect citizens from out-of-state special interests who have invested millions of dollars to manipulate the Ohio Constitution, Robinette’s resolution station. The resolution also said that Issue 1 would bring Ohio’s constitution closer to the U.S Constitution, which requires two-thirds of both houses of Congress and three-fourths of the states to amend the Constitution.Īlso, Issue 1 preserves citizens’ rights to propose constitutional amendments. It said that Issue 1 would offer Ohio citizens an opportunity to enable the state to join 34 other states whose threshold for amending their State Constitution is greater than a simple majority of voters. ![]() Robinette’s resolution is entitled “Resolution Urging Bowling Green Citizens to Decide for Themselves How to Vote on Ohio Issue 1.” Issue 1 would severely undermine that principle and strip Ohioans of a right they’ve had for more than 110 years.” The principle of government by the majority is foundational to our democracy. In a statement distributed on Wednesday, Dennis wrote in part that Issue One “is not and should not be a partisan issue. It goes on to say that Bowling Green Council opposes Issue 1, that council opposes the Ohio Legislature’s use of taxpayer funds to hold an August special election for this purpose and that council believes Bowling Green citizens should vote no on Issue 1 in order “to uphold the sacred principle of government by the majority.” His resolution also stated that the August special election “will cost Ohio taxpayers millions of dollars and is being held during a time when few Ohioans are likely to vote.” It reads, in part, that Issue One would raise the threshold for passage of a constitutional amendment to 60%, thus giving 40% of the voters the ability to block the will of the majority. The resolutions were introduced by councilmen Jeff Dennis and Greg Robinette, respectively.ĭennis’ resolution was entitled “Resolution Urging Bowling Green Residents to Vote ‘No’ on Issue 1 on or Before August 8, 2023.” The issue is the subject of a special election to be held Aug. If passed, the amendment would raise the threshold for passing future Ohio constitutional changes from a simple majority to 60%. The controversial Ohio Issue 1 provoked dueling resolutions which were introduced at Thursday’s Bowling Green Council meeting. Bowling Green Council met Thursday night. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |