Another major Ohio business organization has come out in support of Ohio State Issue 1 which attempts to alter the process of how initiative petitions can propose constitutional amendments.
Issue 1, if approved by voters, would mandate a 60 percent approval percentage for any future constitutional amendments, call for signatures from all 88 counties, and do away with the opportunity to “cure” petitions by collecting additional signatures if necessary.
Voters will decide whether to approve State Issue 1 during a statewide special election on August 8th.
On Thursday, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio, a construction industry trade organization, sent out a public statement in favor of the constitutional amendment on the August ballot.
“The content of Ohio’s foundational document- our state constitution- should enjoy broad public support. We lessen public support when we allow our state constitution to include special interest amendments with slim majority support. We recommend a yes vote on Issue 1,” the Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio said.
The Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio joins alongside four other major Ohio business organizations in vocalizing support for the Issue.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Ohio Restaurant Association, and the Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association sent out a public statement last month saying that Ohio should safeguard the state constitution and that they agree with State Issue 1’s requirement that initiative petitions gather signatures from at least 5 percent of electors from all of the state’s 88 counties.
“If a constitutional issue is significant enough to impact all 11.8 million Ohioans, then it should have to garner and demonstrate broad statewide backing for consideration. Eliminating the cure period for the signature gathering will ensure that we hold ballot measures to the same standards that we apply to candidates for public office,” the four businesses said in a joint statement.
State Representative Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) applauded the business organizations for their support of the amendment.
“Ohio’s business leaders know that a stable Constitution with reasonable protections against outside special interest meddling is good for Ohio,” Stewart said.
State Representative Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester) said that Issue 1 will save the state constitution.
“You can save the Ohio Constitution by voting yes on Issue 1. Builders and Contractors agree. Special interests have no business meddling with our constitution. Ohio is the heart of it all and it’s crucial that we keep it that way,” Gross said.
The legislation comes at a time when pro-abortion activists are working to pass a proposed constitutional amendment in November that would legalize abortion throughout the state.
A second proposed amendment that would eventually raise the state’s minimum wage will likely appear on a 2024 ballot.
– – –
Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
