Move to Amend filed an Amicus brief in the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of filed last week in support of Plaintiffs-Appellants in Beiersdorfer v. La Rose, et al. (No. 20-3557). The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of Ohio’s ballot access scheme for ballot initiatives. Plaintiffs from seven Ohio counties, representing Rights of Nature and corporate control ballot measures, sued the Ohio Secretary of State and Boards of Election officials in trial court for repeatedly keeping binding citizen-proposed laws and charters off the ballot despite satisfying procedural requirements, such as the requisite number of signatures.  

Move to Amend supporters in Ohio and across the nation have used democratic citizen-driven ballot initiatives in several hundred instances as educational and organizing tools to call on Congress to pass a 28th U.S. Constitutional Amendment to abolish corporate constitutional rights and political money in elections as equivalent to First Amendment-protected free speech. This includes 12 Ohio communities -- which have also included a provision mandating annual or biennial municipal public hearings examining the local impact of money in elections and corporate rule.

Read the full Amicus brief here.

On Wednesday October 21, Nick Komives, Toledo council member opened the fourth Annual event.

48 Zoomers were connect by virtual live zoom.  We had 12 presenters and five council members present: Adams, Melden, McPherson, Komives  and Gadus.  Mayor Kapszukiewicz also joined and stayed for the 1 ½ hour duration.  Each presentation averaged only five minutes and were concise, informed and articulate.

View the program at http://toledo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=983

By: Jordan Vandenberge
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/in-depth/painesville-issue-1-grassroots-group-pushing-to-send-message-against-corporate-campaign-contributions

PAINESVILLE, Ohio — The Center for Responsive Politics preliminarily projects the total cost of the 2020 election cycle to be $10.8 billion, roughly a 50% increase in spending compared to the 2016 election when adjusted for inflation. If the projections hold true, political spending this election cycle would equal about a third of Ohio's annual budget ($32.4 billion). As large sums of money and political influence have largely become synonymous with one another, a small but passionate group in Painesville is trying to put a stop to it.

On their ballots this November, Painesville voters will decide Issue 1, a proposed ordinance by petition that would declare the need for a constitutional amendment that would clamp down on political contributions by corporations, unions and Super PACs. The ordinance would also declare that money is not the equivalent of speech.

Our election system is broken because of the destructive influences of money in politics and the misguided notion that corporations may claim constitutional rights. With these rights they are able to spend tremendous amounts of “dark” money through organizations and PACS to support the candidates who will serve their needs. And their primary need is profit. While profits are essential in a capitalist system the needs of “we the people” should be primary since we are also a democracy.

Move to Amend Ohio Network Quarterly Education Program

July 18, 2020

Presenters

Debbie Silverstein, Statewide Director of Ohio’s Single Payer Action Network (SPAN), presented a plan to ensure healthcare for all Ohioans. Once enacted, the comprehensive plan will provide far better care for far less costs while providing jobs and training during the transition.  

Markie Miller, Organizer of Toledo for Safe Water, described the improbable journey of a small group of local people to established the first Rights of Nature initiative in the U.S. Backed by the people of Toledo, attracting global attention, and startling corporations resisting the rights of both Nature and of The People, these intrepid citizens continue to fight for Lake Erie.

Video of program at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSakLo_trBo&feature=youtu.be

Move to Amend Ohio Network Quarterly Education Program

September 26, 2020

Presenters:

William Phillis - Executive Director - Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding 

Joe Logan, President, Ohio Farmers Union

Video of program at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9NC14n5nLY

https://www.miamivalleytoday.com/2020/06/08/davidson-working-across-aisle

June 8, 2020

To the Editor:

I like to see members of Congress working across the aisle to protect our constitutional rights.

https://www.miamivalleytoday.com/2020/05/13/moving-forward-requires-constitutional-remedy/

May 13, 2020

By Deb Hogshead

“We should take the time to analyze our political and economic structures while wearing someone else’s shoes.”

That’s what Justin Coby wrote in an earlier guest column describing social disparities that exist here in Miami County and have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic as even more neighbors face food, shelter and health care insecurities.