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To Whom It May Concern:
Repealing bad laws and preventing bad Constitutional Amendments:
Thank goodness that Ohioans have the right to vote down harmful proposed amendments to the Ohio Constitution, currently Issue 3. The U. S. Supreme will trump Issue 3, but it would immediately invalidate necessary Federal and Ohio laws and regulations passed since March 19, 2010 and prevent future ones.
Equally important are referenda which repeal harmful laws. Issue 2 would allow SB 5 to remain law. It unfairly harms public employees. All Ohioans would suffer because the economy would be damaged by loss of jobs. The shift of $ 4 billion in State taxes to schools and municipalities etc. would also increase the local tax burden.
The Issue to repeal HB 194, the voter suppression law, will be on the 2012 Ballot, so that law will not be in effect for the important 2012 election. Secretary of State Jon Husted has not certified that referendum. It would have some effect on the current election.
Signatures are being collected for a referendum on the 2012 ballot to repeal HB 319. It is an unconstitutional Redistricting Law which does not provide competitive nor compact districts. Since the Republicans know that enough signatures can be gathered by December to put the Issue on the 2012 Ballot, they recently passed a law to delay the Congressional primary election until June to give more time for compromise. Two primaries will increase election costs. The black caucus is negotiating with the Republicans for fair redistricting. Negotiations for all the seats will start soon. The ODP is printing 400,000 petition booklets because there is doubt that a compromise can be reached. If a compromise is not reached, the only option for the Republicans is to modify the Redistricting Law to try to get approval in Federal Court so Ohio can elect Representatives to Congress in 2012.
More referenda will be put on ballots if the current law makers pass more laws which harm Ohio citizens, or if harmful amendments to the Ohio Constitutional are proposed. If Democrats ever overreach, Republicans will have the same opportunities.
Sincerely,
Albert A. Gabel
Professor Emeritus
Ohio State University
Repealing bad laws and preventing bad Constitutional Amendments:
Thank goodness that Ohioans have the right to vote down harmful proposed amendments to the Ohio Constitution, currently Issue 3. The U. S. Supreme will trump Issue 3, but it would immediately invalidate necessary Federal and Ohio laws and regulations passed since March 19, 2010 and prevent future ones.
Equally important are referenda which repeal harmful laws. Issue 2 would allow SB 5 to remain law. It unfairly harms public employees. All Ohioans would suffer because the economy would be damaged by loss of jobs. The shift of $ 4 billion in State taxes to schools and municipalities etc. would also increase the local tax burden.
The Issue to repeal HB 194, the voter suppression law, will be on the 2012 Ballot, so that law will not be in effect for the important 2012 election. Secretary of State Jon Husted has not certified that referendum. It would have some effect on the current election.
Signatures are being collected for a referendum on the 2012 ballot to repeal HB 319. It is an unconstitutional Redistricting Law which does not provide competitive nor compact districts. Since the Republicans know that enough signatures can be gathered by December to put the Issue on the 2012 Ballot, they recently passed a law to delay the Congressional primary election until June to give more time for compromise. Two primaries will increase election costs. The black caucus is negotiating with the Republicans for fair redistricting. Negotiations for all the seats will start soon. The ODP is printing 400,000 petition booklets because there is doubt that a compromise can be reached. If a compromise is not reached, the only option for the Republicans is to modify the Redistricting Law to try to get approval in Federal Court so Ohio can elect Representatives to Congress in 2012.
More referenda will be put on ballots if the current law makers pass more laws which harm Ohio citizens, or if harmful amendments to the Ohio Constitutional are proposed. If Democrats ever overreach, Republicans will have the same opportunities.
Sincerely,
Albert A. Gabel
Professor Emeritus
Ohio State University