Bullying Ohio's constitution

The Ohio General Assembly looks to us like an endless train derailment more than a deliberative, responsible legislative body. That sinking-in-the-gut feeling grows day after day, week by week and over the years as the Ohio Republican Party builds its power base on a gerrymandered super-majority that delivers just as promised: A broken legislature too weak to be effective in addressing the serious business before it. Swearingen, Stein and Gavarone If you watch committee hearings or view them at the general assembly's page, on bill after bill, friendly witnesses aren't challenged and often lack credentials, and opposing witnesses are often cut off. Earlier this month, it was even more extreme on a proposal to change how Ohio's state constitution can be amended. The GOP leadership shut down a hearing without hearing fully from the opposition and successfully pushed for a vote. Given their super-majority, they're skipping the hard parts of democracy — again, on bill after bill — because they can. It is a dangerous, undemocratic trend that is getting worse. Deliberative bodies are meant to deliberate, debate and, yes, compromise, but with a super-majority, Republicans are flexing their muscles and skipping that important step. Our local representatives personally supported their own districts that all but guarantee them re-election. They did that despite state constitutional law that outlawed the practice of gerrymandering, which is akin to stacking a deck. Our own representatives also are getting behind this proposal to change how the state's constitution can be amended, expanding voter approval from a simple majority to a super-majority of 60%. And, they want it on the ballot in an August special election, knowing full well that is when the fewest number of voters will cast ballots. 'There is no legitimate argument for changing the process now, especially in this rigged way.' A special election will cost Ohio taxpayers $20 million. It's improper to the point of being obscene to support spending that money for their own political objectives. State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, and state representatives D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, Dick Stein, R-Norwalk, and Gary Click, R-Vickery, are joining other Republicans in the statehouse supporting the effort. Both Gavarone and Swearingen released statements. "For me, I view our constitution as a fundamental document of our state that should not be changed on a whim. We should be legislating in the state legislature, not the constitution," he said. But it was Republicans last week who upended the legislative process and cut off legitimate testimony. They voted to have the special election without a proper or robust review of why changing the process is necessary. Swearingen claims he wants to hear from the people, but he's overlooking or refusing to acknowledge the irony of saying he supports one thing but votes in an opposite fashion. He doesn't like "whims," but "hurry up, let's get this passed now." Gavarone, for her part, also suggested the vote was about the state's constitution, but she revealed what it's really about. "I am un-apologetically pro-life," she said. At least she's being straight about the real motive and acknowledging, effectively, that it's OK to change the rules, by any means necessary, when it comes to things she believes even if others — the majority — do not share her view. The process to change the state's constitution has been the same for 111 years. There is no legitimate argument for modifying it now, especially in this rigged way. Republicans who support this are pretending to be champions of the people, when they are really undercutting them.