Ohio Issue 1: Make politicians accountable again
We all want to live in a state where our politicians actually listen to their constituents. However, thanks to our current unconstitutional district maps that guarantee politicians will win re-election, our state politicians don’t have to listen to Ohioans. Despite 83.5% of Ohio voters, including 79.5% of gun owners, supporting expanded background checks for gun purchases, our state politicians decided to allow permit-less concealed carry and forbid cities from passing stricter gun legislation than state law.
Politicians without accountability make our state more dangerous for everyone. Ohioans have stood up to politicians in the past like last August, where we prevented them from making it more difficult to change the Ohio Constitution. This fall, we have another opportunity to stand up to politicians by voting yes on Issue 1.
Issue 1 would give power back to the people by citizens, not politicians, drawing fair maps. Only then can we see legislation that reflects what Ohio voters actually want. Join me and vote yes on Issue 1.
Mackenzie Doyle, Cincinnati
Ohio AG Yost is abusing our tax dollars
Attorney General Dave Yost was elected to represent all the citizens of Ohio. He does not.
Instead, he is using his office like a private law firm to represent private charter and religious schools. Instead of protecting citizens from the abuse of using their tax dollars to fund the operation, maintenance and expansion of private/religious schools, Yost has seemingly volunteered to be their lawyer for free to do just the opposite.
Currently he is trying to force the City of Columbus to use public school buses to transport students back and forth to their private/religious schools.
Perhaps Yost should put up a sign over his office: “Free legal services for anyone who wants to use public tax dollars to operate their private or religious businesses.”
Martyn Brodnik, Bexley
Moreno: For the people, or himself?
Ohioans over the years have made their preferences known on certain issues, referendums and constitutional amendments at the ballot box. From reproductive rights to adult-use recreational marijuana to labor unions, the citizens of Ohio have upheld, changed or altered laws where we’ve seen fit.
Now there is a candidate for the United States Senate who seems to go against the grain on nearly every issue where the majority of Ohioans voted a certain way. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno has not publicly supported recently passed Ohio Constitution and ballot initiative issues. In fact, he is often incredulous at the mere mention of the aforementioned issues that a majority of Ohioans favor.
A senator should reflect the people of the state they purport to represent and be a champion for the issues in which a majority of his constituents have cast ballots to support. It doesn’t seem like candidate Moreno is running for the people, but rather for himself.
Michael Engbert, Canal Winchester
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Issue 1 will give power back to the people
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