Politicians Want to Reduce the Power of Citizens

Tell your Ohio House Member to Vote NO on SB 47

The 101-year old Constitutional right of citizens in Ohio to directly create laws (via citizen initiatives) and undue laws (via citizen referendums) is being threatened.

The Ohio General Assembly is considering a bill that would make it harder for citizens to petition our own government. The bill would shorten the amount of time citizen's groups have to collect signatures to place a grassroots issue on the ballot for voters to decide…on any issue coming from any group for any reason.

Send a letter to your Ohio House member by going to http://act.aflcio.org/c/227/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=5899

Tell your Ohio House Member to Vote NO on SB 47.

Is the problem in our state that we have TOO MUCH grassroots democracy? Or is it that we don't need to rely as much on grassroots petitions because We the People without money have GREATER INFLUENCE THAN EVER BEFORE over public officials? 

Of course not.

So exactly what "problem" is this "solution" addressing?

At a time when…

• Wealthy people and corporations have greater access to public officials,
• Lobbyists virtually camp out in our public buildings,
• The appearance, if not reality, exists that large political campaign contributors buys political influence, and
• Average citizens without money increasingly feel their voices are not heard by those we elect,

…do we really need a law introduced by politicians to REDUCE the ability of citizens in any way to petition our own government?

Of course not.

Send a letter to your Ohio House member by going to http://act.aflcio.org/c/227/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=5899

Tell your Ohio House Member to Vote NO on SB 47.

At some point, if the growing grassroots movement across Ohio calling on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to end corporate personhood and money as speech continues to spread, there will be a grassroots statewide initiative calling on Congress for the same. This effort will be move difficult if SB 47 passes. 

Please act now. Spread the word

Thank you. 

p.s. There are likely to be public hearings on SB 47 next week or soon thereafter. So contacting your state representative ASAP is very important