DAYTON, Ohio (October 2017) – It seems Ohio, with its current rules on statewide ballot initiatives, is one of the easiest states in America to get something placed on its ballot. It seems if you have 3 million bucks to spend, you can basically hire a group of solicitors and ‘buy’ your way onto an Ohio ballot. That’s an issue for another day (hopefully our legislators are reading this); but suffice it to say, here we are again this fall with another statewide ballot initiative – Issue 2.
So now we have this new initiative on the ballot this November 7th to change the laws of our Ohio Revised Code, but don’t you think changing the Ohio Revised Code should have a higher threshold or standard of truth and clarity? Issue 2 doesn’t. On the surface it looks like Issue 2 could be good; but far be it from outsiders proposing something good for Ohioans. This group out of California failed miserably in 2016 with their Proposition 61 because they thought Californians would vote on just about anything – right or wrong. Congrats … they didn’t. Strike one against Issue 2.
Issue 2 proponents say it will lower the cost of prescription drugs in Ohio by millions of dollars. Well, the simple answer is … nope. Not only will it not be guaranteed to do so, it has been reported by the State of Ohio Office of Budget Management that the savings just aren’t there (as reported recently by the Dayton Daily News on October 12, 2017). Most feel it will even do worse damage by cost shifting to the other two-thirds of Ohioans paying through our private insurance carriers. Strike two against Issue 2.
And then the unadulterated arrogance of these outside petitioners to write in their own proposed ballot language that “individual petitioners responsible for proposing the law have a direct and personal stake in defending the law; require the state (that’s you and me as taxpayers) to pay petitioners’ reasonable attorney fees and other expenses.” So let me see … if the taxpayers sue them; or they sue the state or if anybody names them in a lawsuit, they get an Ohio taxpayers’ check to defend their actions. Are you kidding me? What gall! Oh, and if you’re still counting, that’s strike three … they’re out!
Still unsure? Read the ballot language, please.
So let’s see … we don’t think Issue 2 will save us a dime and could cost many of us more … AND … another outside group wants our blank check? FORGET IT! This in no way belongs in Ohio’s Revised Code. When is stupid stuff like this gonna stop?
After much study and review, the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as many healthcare advocacy groups, business and veterans’ organizations, decided not to support Issue 2.
A ‘no’ vote by the voters on Issue 2 is our only reasonable choice. Send these self-appointed ‘Saviors of Ohio’ packing back to California.
To download a PDF of this article as it appeared in the Dayton Daily News, click here.
Phillip L. Parker, CAE, CCE
President & CEO
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
8 N. Main Street | Suite 100 | Dayton, Ohio 45402-1904 | (937) 226-1444
