OABA Opposes State Issue 2 to Protect Ohioans’ Involvement in Redistricting Process

The Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA) Board of Directors recently voted to oppose State Issue 2, and we’re encouraging our members to join us in this opposition on Election Day.

Issue 2 is a Constitutional amendment that, if passed, would change the way that Ohio draws legislative and congressional districts, and ultimately would remove the right of Ohio voters to have a voice in this process.

“OABA opposes Issue 2 because it creates – through Ohio’s constitution – a new, unelected, bureaucratic commission that is not accountable to Ohioans, not subject to fiscal oversight and not a true bipartisan approach to redistricting,” said OABA President and CEO Chris Henney. “There are better solutions.”

Issue 2 would establish a 12-member commission to draw legislative and congressional districts. The commission can demand funding to operate, and if they wish, to pay staff, lawyers, consultants, etc. Under the proposal, new districts would be created for the 2014 election and then under each census.

Commission Member Selection Process:

• The Ohio Supreme Court selects by lot eight court of appeals judges (four from each party) to select potential commission members.
• The panel selects finalists that include 14 candidates from each political party and 14 unaffiliated candidates.
• Party leaders in the House of Representatives reserve the right to eliminate up to three of the candidates from each of the groups.
• Nine of the commission members are selected by lot from the finalists. The final three are selected by the commission based on factors ranging from diversity, impartiality, skills/abilities, etc.

Other Notable Provisions:

• No member of the commission can be removed by the Ohio General Assembly or executive branch.
• The Ohio General Assembly is compelled to provide all necessary monies, as determined by the commission, to fund all of its activities, outside consultants, staff or other needs.
• If approved, the amendment is permanent in the Ohio Constitution, and almost impossible to change.

Protect Your Vote Ohio, a ballot issue political action committee developed to oppose State Issue 2, shared five things you should know about Issue 2:

1. Unelected
Issue 2 changes the Ohio Constitution to create a permanent taxpayer-funded bureaucratic commission that is accountable to no one. It removes the right of Ohio voters to have a voice in determining state legislative and Congressional district lines through their elected representatives.

2. Unaccountable
Commission members are not accountable to Ohio taxpayers or their elected representatives and Issue 2 provides no means for them to be removed. Issue 2 gives no authority to government watchdogs such as the Ohio Inspector General or the Ohio Ethics Commission to investigate unethical and illegal behavior by commission members or their staff.

3. No Fiscal Controls
Issue 2 creates a large government bureaucracy, overseen by unelected czars who set their own pay and budget. It allows commission members to spend as much as they demand on permanent staff, consultants, lawyers and operating costs – with no accountability to taxpayers or their elected representatives.

4. Poorly Written
Issue 2 is so poorly written that it does not allow for the removal of commission members for any reason – even if they commit a crime. However, it allows commission appointees to be chosen in secret, shielding the selection process from public scrutiny and subjecting it to political influence. Issue 2’s unlimited and untested new bureaucracy would be locked into the Ohio Constitution. If this untested plan does not work, it would be extremely difficult for Ohioans to change, amend or repeal.

5. Remains Highly Political
Issue 2 does not take politics out of the redistricting process. It lacks a requirement that commission decisions be made with a bipartisan, supermajority vote, allowing for bitter partisan fights, political gridlock and one-party control. Issue 2 has raised strong objections from the Ohio State Bar Association and Ohio appeals court judges for politicizing the state’s impartial judiciary. Under Issue 2’s plan, Ohio appellate court judges will be lobbied by special interests and political parties to pick certain commission members. Commission members, who would become very powerful political players, will also be subject to strong influence from special interests.

Other Ohio organizations opposing Issue 2 include the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, Ohio Right to Life and leading members of the Ohio Court of Appeals Judges Association.

Click here to see what others are saying about Issue 2. Click here to read the amendment language.