Legislation Strips Power from Ohio Citizens
I’m outraged that our Ohio legislature stifled citizens’ rights to amend our Constitution by passing both the House Joint Resolution 1 and Senate Joint Resolution 2 on May 10, and resurrected the special election to put those resolutions up for voter approval in August.
These combined resolutions severely limit citizen-led initiative petition procedures to amend Ohio’s Constitution.
The motivation is blatantly clear and publicly stated by state Rep. Brian Stewart of Ashville. The gerrymandered, super-majority Republican legislature wants to stop the reproductive freedom initiative from passing in November.
The initiative is well underway. By requiring 60% voter approval instead of the current 50% plus 1, the legislature is changing the rules in the middle of the game, which is unfair, un-democratic and un-American.
What are our legislators afraid of? The majority of Ohioans voting for reproductive freedom? Allowing pregnant women to receive safe, compassionate, proper care and for their doctors to provide that care? Are they afraid of the democratic principle of majority rule? Are they afraid of losing power?
What is even more outrageous is that the Ohio legislature voted a few months ago not to have special August elections because, according to Ohio Secretary of State LaRose, they were too expensive and have a low voter turnout. The flip-flop, again per LaRose, was to prevent outside special interests from amending our Constitution, which is ironic because an Illinois billionaire donated $1 million to a PAC that supports the resolutions. The August election will cost $20 million of our taxpayer money. It can be spent better elsewhere.
As reported by NewsChannel 5 and the Ohio Capital Journal, the special Aug. 8 election will likely face legal challenges and might not take place. One can only hope.
Anne Houdek
Burton Township
Can Trump be President Again?
“No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-president, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.” (House two-thirds of 435 = 291. Senate two-thirds of 100 = 67).
Can Trump be president again? NO!
David Hancock
Chester Township
Munson Fire Agrees to Follow Sunshine Law
You may be aware, MFD, Inc. (Munson Fire Department, Inc.) is the contractor Munson selected to use the Township’s vehicles, facility and equipment to provide safety services.
They have issued a demand that the Trustees agree to increasing their monthly contract amount starting in July, among other changing demands. MFD, Inc. has also demanded that I not take part in any work relating to fire protection services until the end of the year, based upon undocumented and undisclosed bias.
Munson Township is entitled to have all residents decide for themselves appropriate funding levels for essential services. Questions from both men and women, regardless of their race, should be valued and answered. The Ohio Sunshine Law ensures transparency in government. MFD, Inc. representatives have met individually with the male Trustees, but have postponed, then cancelled meetings with me.
The Township, through the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office, has now made public records requests of MFD, Inc. I have had to resort to making my own public records requests from federal agencies who have documents filed by MFD, Inc. to find information relating to their profit sharing plan and other filings.
Munson Township has scheduled a public meeting for May 31, 2023, at 10 a.m., at Town Hall, so the Trustees can ask questions regarding the documents MFD, Inc. is required to disclose under the Sunshine Law. MFD, Inc. should release those documents and follow the Sunshine Law immediately.
Munson firefighting personnel, led by Chief Vatty, have performed their safety service duties admirably for many years. I am working toward gathering information to propose a levy for fire services on the November ballot. All Munson residents deserve nothing less than an informed opportunity to vote.
Irene McMullen, Trustee
Munson Township
‘We the People’ Threatened
A special election was held in August of last year with only a 7.9% turnout, so the Republicans running our state government decided to cancel future August elections, declaring them too expensive at $20 million for such a very low turnout.
Fast forward to today. They are now trying to reinstate a special election this August because they don’t like petitions being circulated to amend the State Constitution to give women control over their own bodies and reproductive health.
For over 100 years, we the people have been able to amend our State Constitution with 50%+1 vote, just like our legislators. Because they don’t like the petitions’ purpose, they want to increase the vote total to 60%+1 for petitions presented by “we the people.”
They will still be able to pass amendments with 50%+1, but not us. Why? Because they don’t want us interfering with their regressive agenda-control of women’s bodies and reproductive health.
Women do not need male politicians, or anyone else, telling them how to live their lives. If you agree, please sign a petition, and also contact your state legislator and tell him/her to vote NO!
Also tell him/her, do not waste $20 million of our tax dollars to reinstate a special August election just to make it harder for “we the people” to participate in state government.
Rosemary Balazs
Chester Township
NOACA Climate Change Debate: Where Were Geauga Commissioners?
Lake County Liberty Coalition hosted a debate between John Hamercheck, John Plecnik, Lake County Commissioners, and previous Geauga County Commissioner Skip Claypool regarding NOACA’s involvement on Climate Issues at Citipointe Church before a large room of taxpayers/voters from Lake and Geauga County on May 12, 2023.
Noticeably missing were the Geauga County Commissioners. Where were they on such an important issue? I was made aware that they were invited. What was the reason that not even one of them attended?
NOACA is a federally-mandated MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization). Setting aside that this federal mandate violates the 10th Amendment, they exist and NOACA regularly pushes the boundaries on their authority. They have one statutory authority — to do “roads and bridges” planning.
NOACA Is thinking it has the authority to do a regional Climate Action Plan. They do NOT! They are unelected and not accountable to anyone. Unless “We the People” stand up and say “NO” then they will succeed in changing our region, our counties, and our future.
There is a video recording of this event on rumble https://rumble.com/c/OhioPoliticalNews. The debate starts at the 50-minute mark. Please watch it. It is important to our future.
Sharon Madger
Hambden Township
