Ohio State Issues: A No-fer
On November 8 (or earlier, in my case) Ohioans head to the polls to decide five state issues and various local issues.
Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has put together an Issues Report (PDF) with the five state issues. There are arguments for and against each issue. I did my analysis only reading the issues, then I checked the arguments on both sides.
In the quotes below, all emphases are mine.State Issue 1: No
State Issue 1, a constitutional amendment, is all about a definition and a funding of that definition:Declare that local government public infrastructure, and financial assistance for research and development and development of sites and facilities in Ohio for and in support of industry, commerce and distribution (all referred to together as “development purposes”) are public purposes.
Some may recall the Third Frontier program I mentioned in August. This sounds very much like it. Great ideas will be rewarded through the voluntary market. This will lead to coerced funding of risky propositions. I think we need to reject this again, for reasons previously mentioned.
State Issues 2, 3, and 4 are being marketed together as a package for "Reform in Ohio".
State Issue 2: No
Issue 2 is a constitutional amendment to allow everyone to vote by mail, up to 35 days prior to Election Day. Provide that any person qualified to vote in an election is entitled during the thirty-five days prior to the election to receive and to cast a ballot by mail or in person at the county board of elections or additional location designated by the board. No reason for casting such a ballot shall be required. When a ballot is mailed to an elector, the county board of elections shall also provide a pre-addressed, postage pre-paid envelope for returning the ballot to that county board of elections.
I vote absentee, a lot, and I will do so again this year. It is insanely easy:
State Issue 3 is Campaign Finance Reform for the state of Ohio. It establishes limits on political contributions in seven different areas. It establishes two more legal categories for the regulation of fundraising. There is enough legalese to keep the average person from aspiring to higher office. The Supreme Court has ruled in the past that campaign donations are a form of speech. Federal Campaign Finance Reform is unconstitutional per the First Amendment, even if five Supreme Court Justices thought otherwise. Ohio CFR could encounter a challenge under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, particularly the clause: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
People with good ideas deserve the money they can raise. Putting the vise on people's collections will exacerbate dependence on multiple political action committees and burden county boards of elections. Federal CFR raised the confusion and anxiety in elections, and this can only do the same. I think we need to reject Issue 3.State Issue 4: No
Issue 4 is a constitutional amendment to replace the state's redistricting process. Provide that the new commission would be composed of five members, two of whom would be chosen by sitting judges, and the remaining members appointed by the first two or chosen by lot. The terms of the members of the commission shall be until the later of the adoption of the redistricting plans required to be adopted under the Article or the conclusion of all litigation in any court regarding such plans or the commission’s responsibilities, actions or operations
Under the current Article XI of the Ohio Constitution, districting is performed by elected officials. Under this new amendment, we have five people picked by judges or lots. If they do something wrong, we can't vote them out. Check out the last paragraph in this initiative:Provide that the general assembly must appropriate sufficient funds for the commission to perform its duties. The commission may expend funds as it, in its discretion, deems necessary.
I don't care if this commission is the Twelve Apostles come back to earth. That's not a good idea. I think we need to reject Issue 4.State Issue 5: No
State Issue 5 is a constitutional amendment that removes electoral oversight from the elected Secretary of State to a State Board of Elections appointed by the governor, the political party the governor is not in, and the Ohio Supreme Court. What does this board do? Hire an administrative director with power to install and remove county board officials. How does less electoral accountability and more power inspire public confidence in our elected officials? I think we need to reject Issue 5.
So there we have it. An 0-fer, or a no-fer. Each one a power grab and either an ignorance or disregard for decision making by the people at large. Read it (PDF) for yourself and see if you can come up with another conclusion.
Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has put together an Issues Report (PDF) with the five state issues. There are arguments for and against each issue. I did my analysis only reading the issues, then I checked the arguments on both sides.
In the quotes below, all emphases are mine.State Issue 1: No
State Issue 1, a constitutional amendment, is all about a definition and a funding of that definition:Declare that local government public infrastructure, and financial assistance for research and development and development of sites and facilities in Ohio for and in support of industry, commerce and distribution (all referred to together as “development purposes”) are public purposes.
Some may recall the Third Frontier program I mentioned in August. This sounds very much like it. Great ideas will be rewarded through the voluntary market. This will lead to coerced funding of risky propositions. I think we need to reject this again, for reasons previously mentioned.
State Issues 2, 3, and 4 are being marketed together as a package for "Reform in Ohio".
State Issue 2: No
Issue 2 is a constitutional amendment to allow everyone to vote by mail, up to 35 days prior to Election Day. Provide that any person qualified to vote in an election is entitled during the thirty-five days prior to the election to receive and to cast a ballot by mail or in person at the county board of elections or additional location designated by the board. No reason for casting such a ballot shall be required. When a ballot is mailed to an elector, the county board of elections shall also provide a pre-addressed, postage pre-paid envelope for returning the ballot to that county board of elections.
I vote absentee, a lot, and I will do so again this year. It is insanely easy:
- Find your county board of elections.
- Show up with approved identification.
- Fill out a 3" x 8" card.
- Vote.
- Get sticker.
State Issue 3 is Campaign Finance Reform for the state of Ohio. It establishes limits on political contributions in seven different areas. It establishes two more legal categories for the regulation of fundraising. There is enough legalese to keep the average person from aspiring to higher office. The Supreme Court has ruled in the past that campaign donations are a form of speech. Federal Campaign Finance Reform is unconstitutional per the First Amendment, even if five Supreme Court Justices thought otherwise. Ohio CFR could encounter a challenge under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, particularly the clause: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
People with good ideas deserve the money they can raise. Putting the vise on people's collections will exacerbate dependence on multiple political action committees and burden county boards of elections. Federal CFR raised the confusion and anxiety in elections, and this can only do the same. I think we need to reject Issue 3.State Issue 4: No
Issue 4 is a constitutional amendment to replace the state's redistricting process. Provide that the new commission would be composed of five members, two of whom would be chosen by sitting judges, and the remaining members appointed by the first two or chosen by lot. The terms of the members of the commission shall be until the later of the adoption of the redistricting plans required to be adopted under the Article or the conclusion of all litigation in any court regarding such plans or the commission’s responsibilities, actions or operations
Under the current Article XI of the Ohio Constitution, districting is performed by elected officials. Under this new amendment, we have five people picked by judges or lots. If they do something wrong, we can't vote them out. Check out the last paragraph in this initiative:Provide that the general assembly must appropriate sufficient funds for the commission to perform its duties. The commission may expend funds as it, in its discretion, deems necessary.
I don't care if this commission is the Twelve Apostles come back to earth. That's not a good idea. I think we need to reject Issue 4.State Issue 5: No
State Issue 5 is a constitutional amendment that removes electoral oversight from the elected Secretary of State to a State Board of Elections appointed by the governor, the political party the governor is not in, and the Ohio Supreme Court. What does this board do? Hire an administrative director with power to install and remove county board officials. How does less electoral accountability and more power inspire public confidence in our elected officials? I think we need to reject Issue 5.
So there we have it. An 0-fer, or a no-fer. Each one a power grab and either an ignorance or disregard for decision making by the people at large. Read it (PDF) for yourself and see if you can come up with another conclusion.