Extremist Politicians Seek to Silence the Voice of the People with Passage of Undemocratic SJR 2

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) denounces the passage of SJR 2 by the Ohio House of Representatives. House Democrats stood with the people and unanimously voted against the undemocratic, unfair, and unpopular resolution that will shred Ohio’s Constitution.

“Ohioans came to the Statehouse to use their voices and make it crystal clear to this legislative body that SJR 2 is unpopular, undemocratic, unfair, and unnecessary. My Republican colleagues ignored their own constituents to pass this attack on direct democracy that subverts the will of voters, reinstates a costly August special election, and undermines over a century of precedent in which Ohioans have held the right to bring their concerns to the ballot box through citizen-led initiatives. This is not what democracy looks like, and Ohioans will not forget what has happened here today. I voted against every form of this legislation when it came through committee, and I urge Ohioans to vote ‘no’ on this issue when it comes to the ballot in August.” said Rep. Galonski.

The constitutional restriction would destroy more than 111 years of direct democracy that Ohioans have used to achieve their goals when unresponsive politicians would not listen. If passed, Ohioans would lose their freedom to determine the future of the state as 40% of voters could block initiatives the majority of Ohioans want. The resolution’s supermajority vote requirement for future constitutional amendments would tilt the scales of democracy away from voters and toward well-funded, out-of-state, dark-monied special interests.