Cleveland Hts, OH: Democracy Day Public Hearing

There will be plenty for citizens to address at Cleveland Heights’ eighth annual Democracy Day on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. ET. For the first time, the public hearing will be virtual, livestreamed on YouTube, at http://www.youtube.com/c/cityofclevelandheights/live.
In 2013, with a 77 percent “yes” vote, Cleveland Heights voters passed a citizens’ initiative calling for a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to establish that human beings, not corporate entities, have constitutional rights, and that money is not speech. The initiative also created, by city ordinance, an annual public hearing on these topics (Title 15, Chapter 183 of the Administrative code). Eleven other Ohio cities have passed similar initiatives, the most recent being Painesville, last November, with 78 percent voting “yes”. Note Painesville’s location in deep-red Lake County; this is not a partisan issue, and the supporting organization, Move to Amend, is non-partisan.
The 28th Amendment, which so many Ohioans and others across the country have voted to support, is House Joint Resolution 48. Its 75 co-sponsors include Ohio representatives Marcia Fudge, Marcy Kaptur and Tim Ryan.
Join us! Watch the hearing live on YouTube, at
http://www.youtube.com/c/cityofclevelandheights/live
OHIO: Painesville Issue 1: Grassroots group pushing to send message against corporate campaign contributions
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.
Read moreOHIO: Kent Democracy Day forum is Wednesday

Kent City Council will hold a virtual online version of its Democracy Day forum this year at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
It will be broadcast live on the City of Kent’s YouTube Channel. A link to view this meeting can be found on the City of Kent’s calendar located at www.kentohio.org.
OHIO: Letter to the Editor: Urges participation in Democracy Day
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.
Read moreResisting the Corporatization of Education & Food
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
Corporate Exploitation of the Pandemic Video Presentation
The current health and economic crises are exposing our nation's underlying and long-standing democracy crisis. While public attention focuses on meeting people's basic survival needs, big corporations and the rich are using the pandemic as cover to increase in multiple ways their profits and power.
Read moreOhio Move to Amend
Home | News | Events
Ohio Move to Amend is a state network of advocates and affiliates working together to build the movement across the Buckeye State's 88 counties.
For more information on how to get involved, contact:
Mary Sue Gmeiner, 937-813-8436, ohio@movetoamend.org
Amendment Working Groups |
Democracy Over Corporations
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Oxford Citizens for Peace & JusticeOxford |
We the People Miami CountyTroy |
Local Affiliates |
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Greater Cincinnati Move to AmendCincinnati |
Cleveland Move to Amend
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Central Ohio Move to AmendColumbus |
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Greater Dayton Move to AmendDayton |
Mentor Move to Amend
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Toledo Move to AmendToledo |
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Cleveland East Move to Amend
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Communities in Support
Resolution Language
Call on Congress to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution declaring that:
√ Only human beings, not corporations, are legal persons with Constitutional rights, and
√ Money is not equivalent to speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending does not equate to limiting political speech.
Additional provision inbBallot Initiatives
√ Annual or biennial city-sponsored public hearing on the impact of corporate personhood and money as speech on the community and its citizens.
To inquire about launching a city council resolution of ballot initiative campaign in your community, contact us at ohio@movetoamend.org!
Resolutions Passed |
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Athens Oberlin Cleveland* Barberton Fremont |
Lakewood South Euclid Dayton Canton Oxford |
Lorain Bedford Heights Oakwood Village Tallmadge University Heights Toledo |
Ballot Initiatives Passed |
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Brecksville (52%) Chagrin Falls (66%) Cleveland Heights (77%) Defiance (67%) Kent (64%) |
Mentor (70%) Newburgh Heights (73%) Shaker Heights (82%) South Eucllid (77%) Toledo (64%) |
Endorsing Organizations
Ohio’s Congressional Delegation:
U.S. SENATE
Senator: Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
Senator: Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
3rd District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
4th District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
5th District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
6th District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
7th District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
8th District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
9th District:
Cosponsor: YES DC Office:
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10th District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
11th District:
Cosponsor: YES DC Office: |
12th District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
13th District:
Cosponsor: YES DC Office: |
14th District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
15th District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
16th District:
Cosponsor: NO DC Office: |
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