Ohio citizens are voting on this now.
Aug 4, 2023
In today’s episode, Ken Harbaugh talks with Amanda Weinstein about the Ohio GOP’s extreme anti-abortion agenda, and its significance for the rest of the country. Against All Enemies is a YouTube/podcast series and upcoming documentary film about threats to American democracy.
Wednesday, Ohio House lawmakers voted 62-37 to advance a resolution asking voters to raise the passage threshold for constitutional amendments. The vote caps off nearly six months of legislative wrangling largely meant to hobble an abortion rights amendment.
Lawmakers are entering questionable legal territory, however, as they set the vote in August through the resolution itself. Legislation approved last December places strict limits on such special elections, and a measure aimed at loosening those restrictions faltered in the House.
Supporters contend there’s legal precedent for setting an election through a resolution, without taking any other action. Some legal experts dismiss that argument out of hand. Organizers opposing the supermajority amendment say they’re weighing their legal options. …
Money for the “yes” on Issue 1 side
The primary group pushing Issue 1, Protect Our Constitution, raised $4.8 million and $4 million of it came from one Illinois businessman: Richard Uihlein the owner of ULine, a company that makes shipping containers.
Around 14% of Protect Our Constitution’s money came from inside Ohio, including a donation from Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who own the Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew. The group also got $150,000 from Save Jobs Ohio, an effort funded by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
When it comes to spending, the group has only spent about a third of the money it’s raised.
Money for the “no” side
The major group opposing Issue 1, One Person, One Vote, raised $14.8 million. Most of that was also outside money too but it was more diversified than the money that flowed into the yes campaign. $2.6 million came from a dark money progressive group called the Sixteen Thirty Fund. Another $1.875 million from a liberal social justice organization in Californa known as the Tides Foundation. The National Education Association also gave $1 million to the “vote no” campaign.
When it comes to outside money, more of the opposition group’s money came from inside Ohio. A total of 22% of the money received by One Person, One Vote came from donors inside Ohio, including $1 million from the Ohio Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union.
The group has spent 70% of what they’ve raised, much of it on TV ads. …
Your vote matters. Democracy needs some serious defenders.
