Ohio Senate leaders propose special August election for measure raising the bar for citizen-sponsored constitutional amendments
Ohio Republicans are again working to pass a resolution requiring a citizen-sponsored constitutional amendment to win at least 60% of the vote to become law, instead of the current simple majority. At the same time, a citizen coalition is racing to collect signatures on a petition to put a constitutional reproductive rights amendment on the November ballot. Unlike Senate President Matt Huffman, House Speaker Jason Stephens is not prioritizing the 60% resolution, so it did not pass before the deadline to appear on the May primary ballot.
Last week Ohio Senators Theresa Gavarone and Rob McColley introduced the Senate’s version, Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR 2), plus a bill, SB 92, to authorize $20 million to hold a special election August 8 for this measure despite the Legislature’s having recently passed a major change in voting rules, including prohibiting August special elections unless a local government or school district is under a fiscal emergency.
For the 60% proposal to be put before voters in August, both houses of the Legislature would need to authorize the special election and pass the 60% resolution by May 10. If passed in August, this constitutional change would be in force if the reproductive rights amendment qualifies for the November ballot. Last week I reported on a lawsuit asking the Ohio Ballot Board to revise its decision that the reproductive rights proposal is a single issue. If the plaintiffs succeed and the Ballot board splits the measure into two – one protecting abortion and the other protecting health care services like contraception – then supporters would have to collect twice as many signatures to get both onto the ballot.[/vc_column_text][crocal_empty_space][vc_column_text el_id=”#Block2″]
Bipartisan support emerges for HB 120 to repeal HB 6 coal plant subsidies
Ohio Reps. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) and Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) are co-sponsoring HB 120 to repeal the coal plant subsidies imposed on all Ohio ratepayers by HB 6, and require the beneficiary utilities to fully refund the charges to ratepayers. In January, Gov. DeWine told the editorial board of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he supports repeal of the subsidies.
The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association projects that these subsidies will add $1.8 billion to our electric bills by 2030 if not repealed. AEP owns a 43% share in the two coal-fired plants, and WBNS reported that AEP has increased its quarterly dividends up to 83 cents/share, sending $1.7 billion to shareholders.
Passed in 2019, HB 6 is the core of the federal corruption case that led to the conviction this month of former House Speaker Larry Householder for accepting over $60 million in bribes from FirstEnergy to pass HB 6 and undermine the citizen initiative drive to repeal it. HB 120 has been referred to the House Public Utilities Committee. Here are two actions you can take if you support repeal of the subsidies:
- Call or email Rep. Dick Stein, Chair of the House Public Utilities Committee, to ask him to schedule hearings on HB 120: 614-466-9628
- Call or email Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville), Chair of the House Finance Committee, at 614-466-2158 to ask him to include HC0729 in the state budget. This is not a line item, but a policy measure that would immediately repeal and refund the coal plant subsidies once the budget is passed.
Merrin, a powerful Republican in the Ohio House, “said he’s cosponsoring the repeal now because he supports ‘free market forces’ that will reduce customers’ electric bills,” wrote Plain Dealer reporter Jake Zuckerman. Merrin voted for HB 6, he said, to eliminate the energy efficiency mandates that were previously billed to customers. (These charges paid for programs like rebates and LED bulbs which helped customers to reduce their electric use and bills through greater efficiency). The two subsidized OVEC plants date to the 1950’s and often operate at a loss. They generate CO2 emissions that exacerbate climate change. Ohio’s Public Utilities Commission allowed the three OVEC utilities to pass losses on to their own customers for the decade before HB 6 expanded the bailout to impose it on all Ohio ratepayers.[/vc_column_text][crocal_empty_space][vc_column_text el_id=”Block4″]
Governor’s budget includes $162 million to foster evidence-based reading instruction
Governor DeWine cited data that 40% of Ohio third graders are not proficient in reading as the reason he’s asking for new funding to provide “science of literacy” curricula and stipends for teachers to receive training in the approach, which combines phonics with language comprehension. Within just six years after the State of Mississippi passed legislation to provide training to teachers in scientifically-based reading instruction and intervention, Mississippi’s national ranking rose from 49th to 27th for 4th grade proficiency – surpassing Ohio. Kelly Butler, an Episcopalian and CEO of the Barksdale Reading Institute, helped to catalyze Mississippi’s progress and was invited to Columbus earlier this year to speak to Ohio legislators as part of an expert panel.
To track and advocate on this proposal, follow the allocations for Literacy Improvement grants in the biennial budget bill, HB 33. See pp. 100-102 in the Legislative Services Commission analysis of the bill. The analysis of all Department of Education line items starts on p. 84. Both chambers will be negotiating intensely over budget details between now and the June deadline to pass it.
The Governor wants to determine what literacy teaching techniques are emphasized in Ohio’s colleges of education, and to ensure that teachers’ professional development during and after college is based on research on what leads to success for the widest range of students. The funding would include stipends for teachers and instructional coaches to receive training in the science of literacy. For background on this issue, Kelly Butler recommends Emily Hanford’s American Public Media article and podcast “What the Words Say” on why so many children fail to master reading if they are not explicitly taught phonics as a means to decode written words.
Kelly Butler, who also founded Parents for Public Schools, belonged to Redeemer, Cincinnati, when she lived and worked in Ohio.[/vc_column_text][crocal_empty_space][vc_column_text el_id=”Block4″]
Ohio curriculum battles
In addition to weighing in on funding for K-12 public schools (see the March 21 legislative update) please track and contact the relevant committee chairs on the following bills affecting Ohio’s public schools and universities:
- SB 83, introduced in mid-March, would make major changes in public universities by banning mandatory diversity training, programs with Chinese educational institutions, ”bias” in classrooms, labor strikes, boycotts, and divestments. It would require students to take an American history course, and require that tenure decisions include a review of whether the educator showed “bias” or taught with bias. This bill has its second hearing in the Workforce and Higher Education Committeeon Wednesday, March 29.
- SB 17/HB 17 adds instruction on capitalism to Ohio’s financial literacy standards. The Senate has passed the bill and the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee has started work on it.
- HB 63 would require conflict resolution training in public schools. It has been introduced and referred to the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee.
You can track Ohio bills by topic or number, or sign up to be notified of hearings of specific committees by setting up a free “My Ohio Legislature” account here.
Advocacy briefings are compiled by Ariel Miller, a longtime community advocate and member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming. Connect with her at arielmillerwriter@gmail.com
