After the will of Ohio voters was voiced loud and clear on abortion access last week, state legislative leaders are vowing to still restrict it.  Ohio voters approved putting reproductive rights in the Ohio Constitution (57-43%), but on Election night, Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens said, “The legislature has multiple paths that we will explore to continue to protect innocent life.”

Earlier this year, the state legislature attempted to grab power from the voters.  In August, Ohioans stood up for democracy and for our right to go directly to voters when the state legislature is unresponsive to the needs and concerns of the majority.

And now the Ohio Supreme Court is under attack! 

The unaccountable Ohio General Assembly has failed to reflect the will of voters for years and now some legislators are proposing that they determine what is constitutional, rather than the courts. 

Now four legislators want to remove jurisdiction from the courts. A Friday press release from State Reps. Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester), Bill Dean (R-Xenia), Melanie Miller (R-Ashland), and Beth Lear (R-Galena) said that, “The Ohio legislature alone will consider what, if any modifications to make to existing laws based on public hearings and input from legal experts on both sides.”  

TAKE ACTION

State legislative leaders have a clear pattern of disregarding and disrespecting the voters, the Ohio Constitution, and the Ohio Supreme Court.

In 2015, Ohioans overwhelmingly approved prohibitions on state legislative gerrymandering. In 2018, nearly 75% voted to put these prohibitions in the Ohio Constitution for congressional districts.  The Ohio Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional gerrymanders two congressional maps and five sets of state legislative maps.

We must remind those who represent us that they are accountable to us. Urge your state representative to respect the will of voters and the checks and balances established in the Ohio Constitution.  TAKE ACTION TODAY!

They can’t get away with this attack on voters and the courts. State representatives are public servants and they are accountable to we, the people, and to the Ohio Constitution.