Supporters of legislation that tries to alter the process of how initiative petitions can propose constitutional amendments have told Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) that they have the support of at least 59 House Republicans who want a floor vote on the resolution.
A three-fifths majority of the 99-member House will pass the resolution to put before voters House Joint Resolution (HJR) 1 requiring 60 percent voter approval for future constitutional amendments.
However, according to the house clerk, Republicans will need only 59 votes, not the statehouse consensus of 60, to place HJR 1 on the August ballot.
According to the clerk, in his interpretation of the Ohio Constitution, with two currently open House seats, Republicans need 59 votes to pass a proposed constitutional amendment. With 97 currently serving members of the House, the needed majority of 60 percent would be met with 59 votes in favor.
Two House seats are currently vacant due to the passing of State Representative Kris Jordan (R-Ostrander) and the resignation of State Representative Brian Baldridge (R- Winchester) to take a job as state agriculture director.
State Representative Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville) said they have 60 votes regardless of the necessary amount is 59.
“We have 60 votes in the House. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Just need it brought to the floor,” Ferguson (pictured above, right) said.
The only remaining obstacle to the resolution’s passage is a vote on the House floor. The Ohio Senate has already approved a bill that would enable the issue to be put before voters at a special election in August and Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 2, a piece of companion legislation.
Earlier this week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said that he would sign a bill Senate Bill (SB) 92 allowing an August special election to decide whether to alter the process of how initiative petitions can propose constitutional amendments if both chambers of the state legislature pass it.
Lawmakers do not need DeWine’s signature for a passed proposed constitutional amendment to go before voters. However, SB 92 would require DeWine to sign off on the bill.
Last week, Stephens told reporters that “if I bring it (HJR 1) to the floor I’m going to vote for it.” However, since last week’s comment, he has not made any further remarks or forward progression on the resolution.
The legislation comes 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.
Republicans said that the state Constitution is a sacred document that special interest groups should be able to amend so easily.
“Our Founding Fathers ensured that the United States Constitution would be protected against outside influence and special interests by requiring a super-majority vote for amendments. We can and should protect the Ohio Constitution in a similar way,” State Representative Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) (pictured above, left) said.
“The Ohio Constitution is supposed to serve as a framework of our state government, not as a tool for special interests. Requiring a broad consensus majority of at least 60 percent for passing a petition-based constitutional amendment provides a good government solution to promote compromise and to have a historically proven record of passage,” Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said.
According to State Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), these resolutions will not protect the state constitution from special interests but will rather add to the problem.
“Having to get all 88 counties is going to make more money involved. People who want to change the constitution are going to spend more and more money and now they will spend more money to get more signatures to get all of the counties,” Demora said.
According to LaRose, lawmakers need to pass the legislation in both the House and Senate by May 10th to place it on an August ballot.
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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]
Photo”Brian Stewart” by Brian Stewart. Background Photo “Ohio House Chamber” by Minh Nguyen. CC BY-SA 4.0.
