Antonio Denounces Senate Resolutions

Today, Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) issued the following statements after the Ohio Senate voted along party lines on resolutions opposing the passage of State Issues 1 and 2.

“On the first day of early voting in Ohio, the Republican supermajority continues to put their thumb on the scale of democracy and refuse to let voters make their own decisions,” said Antonio. “This legislature is out of step with the majority of Ohioans.

“This is not the first time I have risen to protect women’s reproductive freedom, but each time I say out loud ‘I can’t believe I have to do this again.’ This time, the institution of the Ohio Senate has voted to not let women choose the right to control their own medical decisions. I urge all Ohioans to vote YES on Issue 1 on November 7.”

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.