Everything you need to know about it
In January, Ohio Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) introduced the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment (House Resolution 1).
Ohio’s Constitution has been targeted by outside influences – activists and special interests who want to impose their agenda on the Ohio Constitution.
This important measure would raise the threshold for passing state constitutional amendments through ballot initiatives.
Summary
The proposal. Under the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment, a supermajority vote would required for ballot initiative state constitutional amendments. A broad consensus majority of at least 60% promotes compromise.
Legislative action. The amendment was passed by the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate. The Ohio House Speaker was criticized for not allowing the measure to go to the vote despite support from his own party.
Reasoning. The Ohio Constitution contains over 67,000 words and covers everything from casinos to bond consolidation to health care. The Secretary of State says special interests can easily change the Ohio Constitution and have spent more than $50 million on media advertising, political consultants, and more.
Supporters. Ohio Secretary of State Frank La Rose and Ohio Republican Party Central Committee endorsed the reform, and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague voiced his support for a ballot initiative known as “Issue 1”.
Opponents. Several left-leaning groups are against it including Pro-Choice Ohio and Democrat Socialists of America-Cleveland.
The proposal
Under the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment, it would take 60% of voters to enact constitutional amendments in Ohio, not a simple majority.
A supermajority vote is required for federal constitutional amendments.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank La Rose (R-Akron) believes that requiring a broad consensus majority of at least 60% promotes compromise.
House Joint Resolution 1 would require 60 percent approval of statewide constitutional amendments, not a simple majority. The Ohio House of Representatives had until May 10th to approve it.
History
As in many states, the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment requires a supermajority for ballot initiative-driven amendments. A group tied to the Zuckerbergs and George Soros raised $9.8 million to defeat the amendment in 2018.
Direct ballot initiative driven constitutional amendments are only allowed in 16 states. Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Illinois require 60% approval.
Legislative action
Committee hearings
In the House, a Constitutional Resolutions Committee hearing was held on April 21 on the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment.
According to the proponents, the amendment was needed to curb outside special interests.
During the hearing on April 18, Nilani Jawahar, legislative liaison for the Center for Christian Virtue, argued that a simple majority shouldn’t be enough to change the Ohio Constitution.
Senate vote
In April, the Ohio Senate advanced SJR 2, the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment, by a vote of 27-6.
House vote
In early May, Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens was criticized for not allowing the measure to go to a vote despite support from his own party.
In spite of Stephens, most Republican legislators signed a petition to bring the measure to the floor. All 32 House Democrats opposed the resolution.
On May 11, the measure was passed by the Ohio House of Representatives.
Reasoning
There are over 67,000 words in the Ohio Constitution, covering everything from casinos to bond consolidation to health care. The state constitution should be a framework, not a tool for special interests, warned Secretary of State Frank La Rose.
In late April, Rep. Gary Stewart criticized opponents of the proposal, who had argued that raising the threshold for passing an amendment would make new amendments virtually impossible. Not so, said Stewart since 2008, 14 of the 21 proposed constitutional amendments had passed with a 60% or better vote margin.
Secretary of State La Rose said that special interests can easily change the Ohio Constitution and had a record of spending more than $50 million on media advertising, political consultants, and more.
La Rose said a petition-based constitutional amendment should require a broad consensus majority of at least 60% to pass. Stephens said he is “not for changing the rules willy-nilly at a whim.”
Supporters
To support the amendment and hold opponents accountable, an organization called Save Our Constitution PAC was formed.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank La Rose (R-Akron) strongly supported the reform.
The Ohio Republican Party Central Committee officially endorsed the measure at its May 5 meeting.
Ohio Right to Life was a strong supporter of the bill, and they had worked to circulate the petition to get a floor vote.
On a related topic, State Treasurer Robert Sprague voiced his support for a ballot initiative known as “Issue 1”, which would prevent deep-pocketed out-of-state interests from changing the state constitution. Sprague said passing Issue 1 would ensure a greater consensus of support among the public.
Opponents
On May 9, the Ohio AFL-CIO weighed in, saying that they had the support of Rep. Jay Edwards on the side of the union on the Ohio Constitution Protection amendment vote.
Several left-leaning groups are against it.
- Black Lives Matter Cleveland
- Black Lives Matter Dayton
- Pro-Choice Ohio
- Black Out and Proud
- The Cleveland Bi+ Network
- Columbus New Liberals
- Democrat Socialists of America-Cleveland
- Ensuring Parole for Incarcerated Citizens
- New Voices for Reproductive Justice
- Ohio Federation of Teachers
Others, such as musician John Legend (who lives in California), are actively campaigning against the amendment.
Similar measures in other states
In February, the Missouri House of Representatives passed a bill that would require a supermajority of votes to pass constitutional amendments. The bill would also require petition signatures from all 88 Ohio counties.