Smith Denounces Senate Resolutions

Today, state Senator Kent Smith (D-Euclid) issued the following statements after the Ohio Senate voted along party lines on resolutions opposing the passage of State Issues 1 and 2.

"The Republicans know they are on the wrong side of Issue 1 and today's phony resolution was just another attempt to distract voters," said Smith. " If approved by voters, Issue 1 will enshrine reproductive rights into the Ohio Constitution. If Issue 1 fails, then Ohio’s six-week abortion ban will remain in place. If a six-week abortion ban is in place, that means women will be forced to give birth by their state government regardless of the circumstances – including rape."

Issue 1 would enshrine reproductive rights into the Ohio Constitution, by guaranteeing the right to abortion and protecting the right to other reproductive health care such as contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care and the right to continue a pregnancy. Issue 2 would legalize adult-use recreational marijuana. 

Read the language of Issue 1 here and of Issue 2 here.

Note: Under normal circumstances, members of the General Assembly would be prohibited from using their office or state resources to endorse a position on a citizen-led ballot issue. However, now that the Senate has taken up a resolution on the ballot initiative, that initiative becomes an official legislative endeavor of the Senate. It therefore becomes a topic that members may speak to using their office and state resources, as they can defend their votes on the resolution or urge the to public either support or oppose the measures.