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MsTinkerbelly · 04-04-2012, 07:54 AM

Ohio’s Attorney General certifies ballot language to replace anti-gay marriage amendment
By Scottie Thomaston

Ohio’s Attorney General Mike DeWine has finally certified the ballot language for an amendment to the state constitution to repeal and replace their anti-gay amendment that currently bans gay and lesbian couples from being able to get married. The new language will state that marriage is “a union of two consenting adults.” The proposed language also clarifies that no religious institution will be required to perform or recognize marriages.

The certification comes after DeWine’s refusal last month to authorize the proposed ballot language. He suggested a few reasons for denying certification at the time:

After reviewing the submission, I conclude that I am unable to certify the summary as a fair and truthful statement of the proposed constitutional amendment for three reasons. First, the summary is longer than the text of the amendment… Second, the summary states that the amendment retains the rights contained in “Section 11 of Article XV for political subdivisions to not recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals.” However, the text of the amendment does not indicate that political subdivisions would retain these rights. Third, the summary states that the amendment retains “the portions of Title 31 that codifies this Amendment.” However, the text of the amendment does not contain any reference to Title 31.

In today’s statement, DeWine calls the new language fair and truthful:

The group re-submitted its paperwork on March 26 and DeWine today certified the proposal and a “fair and truthful” summary of the proposed amendment, he said in a news release.

“Without passing on the advisability of the approval or rejection of the measure to be referred, I hereby certify that the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the proposed constitutional amendment,” he said in a letter to the petitioners.

Yesterday, it was reported that Cleveland’s NAACP President George Forbes has joined the Freedom to Marry campaign – the group pushing the marriage initiative in Ohio. Forbes noted that he worked to clarify the religious language exempting churches from having to perform services, and said:

“The time is now to grant two loving people the Freedom to Marry,” he said in a written statement.

“Not since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has there been a more important step to achieving equality for all Americans.”

As for the next steps in the amendment process:

DeWine said in a news release that once the summary language and initial signatures are certified the Ohio Ballot Board must determine if the amendment contains a single or multiple issues. The petitioners must then collect signatures in 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties, equal to 5 percent of the total vote cast in the county for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election.

Total signatures collected statewide must also equal 10 percent of the vote cast for the office of governor in the last gubernatorial election.

If successful it will add to the growing list of pro-marriage initiatives on statewide ballots in the upcoming election.

04-04-2012, 07:54 AM	#4
MsTinkerbelly Timed Out - TOS Drama How Do You Identify?: ... Preferred Pronoun?: ... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ... Posts: 6,573 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,737 Thanked 22,908 Times in 5,019 Posts Rep Power: 0	Prop 8 Blog--follow up on post 949 Ohio’s Attorney General certifies ballot language to replace anti-gay marriage amendment By Scottie Thomaston Ohio’s Attorney General Mike DeWine has finally certified the ballot language for an amendment to the state constitution to repeal and replace their anti-gay amendment that currently bans gay and lesbian couples from being able to get married. The new language will state that marriage is “a union of two consenting adults.” The proposed language also clarifies that no religious institution will be required to perform or recognize marriages. The certification comes after DeWine’s refusal last month to authorize the proposed ballot language. He suggested a few reasons for denying certification at the time: After reviewing the submission, I conclude that I am unable to certify the summary as a fair and truthful statement of the proposed constitutional amendment for three reasons. First, the summary is longer than the text of the amendment… Second, the summary states that the amendment retains the rights contained in “Section 11 of Article XV for political subdivisions to not recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals.” However, the text of the amendment does not indicate that political subdivisions would retain these rights. Third, the summary states that the amendment retains “the portions of Title 31 that codifies this Amendment.” However, the text of the amendment does not contain any reference to Title 31. In today’s statement, DeWine calls the new language fair and truthful: The group re-submitted its paperwork on March 26 and DeWine today certified the proposal and a “fair and truthful” summary of the proposed amendment, he said in a news release. “Without passing on the advisability of the approval or rejection of the measure to be referred, I hereby certify that the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the proposed constitutional amendment,” he said in a letter to the petitioners. Yesterday, it was reported that Cleveland’s NAACP President George Forbes has joined the Freedom to Marry campaign – the group pushing the marriage initiative in Ohio. Forbes noted that he worked to clarify the religious language exempting churches from having to perform services, and said: “The time is now to grant two loving people the Freedom to Marry,” he said in a written statement. “Not since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has there been a more important step to achieving equality for all Americans.” As for the next steps in the amendment process: DeWine said in a news release that once the summary language and initial signatures are certified the Ohio Ballot Board must determine if the amendment contains a single or multiple issues. The petitioners must then collect signatures in 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties, equal to 5 percent of the total vote cast in the county for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election. Total signatures collected statewide must also equal 10 percent of the vote cast for the office of governor in the last gubernatorial election. If successful it will add to the growing list of pro-marriage initiatives on statewide ballots in the upcoming election.