Thread by @acluohio

⏰HJR 1 has sponsor testimony starting at 9am.

This bill is unfair, undemocratic, unpopular, and unnecessary. It must be stopped.

We'll be live-tweeting the hearing. Follow along. 🧵

ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/03/14/lam…

The House Constitutional Resolutions Committee is about to begin.

Watch along via @TheOhioChannel here: ohiochannel.org/live/ohio-hous…

@TheOhioChannel Our process to amend the Ohio Constitution is rigorous, fair, and most importantly democratic.

HJR 1 is a power grab that would cement minority rule in our Constitution, by increasing the threshold for citizen-led initiatives to become law from 50% + 1 to a supermajority of 60%.

@TheOhioChannel To add insult to injury, the committee released new rules that will:

1. RESTRICT testimony to invitation only;
2. Limit the number of witnesses and the time they can present;
3. Limit questions by committee members.

These last-minute rules are designed to silence Ohioans.

@TheOhioChannel Anti-abortion politicians are desperate to stop our effort to protect abortion access in the Ohio Constitution. Let's not be fooled.

OHIOANS👏
SUPPORT.👏
REPRODUCTIVE.👏
FREEDOM.👏

@TheOhioChannel If our state is vulnerable to anything, it's dangerous proposals like HJR 1.

@TheOhioChannel Extreme politicians will stop at nothing to keep the people from having a voice on popular initiatives.

We see this proposal for what it is: an outrageous power-grab by Republican officials putting their finger on the scale to silence Ohioans.

@TheOhioChannel Hundreds of organizations oppose this bill. The people have vetted it - we do not want this in Ohio.

Now the Committee is limiting public testimony.

When a majority of Ohioans speak, politicians should listen.

#NoOnHJR1

@TheOhioChannel In a December letter to fellow Republicans, Brian Stewart listed abortion and redistricting as the top two reasons for setting a higher bar for voters.

This is not pearl-clutching. This is the truth exposed.

ohiocapitaljournal.com/2022/12/15/ohi…

@TheOhioChannel The reason that citizen-led ballot measures are so sacred in Ohio is because our extremely gerrymandered legislature continually passes bills that the vast majority of Ohioans do not support.

The ballot belongs to the people. Period. #DirectDemocracy #NoOnHJR1

@TheOhioChannel 🚨In summary: HJR 1 is a classic example of Republican elected officials putting their finger on the scale to silence Ohioans.

This is an all-out attack on our democratic process.

The motivation behind this power-grab is to prevent Ohioans from voting for reproductive freedom.

@TheOhioChannel We the people hold the power, and our elected officials are trying to take that power away.

We won't let them.

📲Add your name - STOP THIS BILL: action.aclu.org/send-message/d…