Latest news with #JointResolution
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers call for 2026 ballot measure to overturn same-sex marriage ban
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Lawmakers are igniting plans for Ohioans to vote in 2026 on whether to repeal the state's dormant same-sex marriage ban, out of concern it could be reenacted if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns marriage equality. Reps. Anita Somani (D-Dublin) and Eric Synenberg (D-Beachwood) announced on Tuesday that they are reintroducing the 'Marriage Equality Act,' a House Joint Resolution to codify same-sex and interracial marriage. If passed by the Statehouse, the act would place a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot, providing Ohioans the chance to enshrine marriage equality into Ohio's constitution. Lt. Gov. Tressel discusses DEI, state's workforce preparedness, and possible gubernatorial run LGBTQ+ advocates argue the effort is needed given the Supreme Court has signaled it might reassess Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 case legalizing same-sex marriage. In a concurring opinion to the June 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote justices 'should reconsider all of this court's substantive due process precedents, including … Obergefell.' Dwayne Steward, Equality Ohio executive director, shares those concerns and told NBC4 in March that the organization is 'having conversations across the state around how we protect marriage equality' in the wake of resolutions introduced in a handful of states urging the Supreme Court to roll back Obergefell. Legislators also attempted last year to align Ohio law with the protections set by Obergefell, but the proposal didn't advance past a single committee hearing. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the 'Marriage Equality Act' in the video player above. 'We cannot assume that federal protections currently under law will last forever, and that is why we are taking this step now to ensure that Ohio's constitution reflects what we already know to be true: Love is love, families matter and every Ohioans deserves equal protection and dignity under the law,' Synenberg said on Tuesday. Should Obergefell be overturned, Ohio would reckon with a revived law passed by the Statehouse in 2004 that states 'a marriage may only be entered into by one man and one woman.' A constitutional amendment that voters passed later in 2004 which reads, 'only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state,' would also be resurrected. A federal law signed in 2022, the Respect for Marriage Act, requires a state to recognize same-sex marriages from other states, while also allowing states to decide for themselves whether to issue licenses to same-sex couples. So, if Obergefell falls and Ohio's bans have yet to be repealed, the act would only require the state to recognize marriages from other states where it is legal. Senate makes changes to Ohio's budget proposal The 'Marriage Equality Act' would ensure Ohio's same-sex couples can continue utilizing legal privileges associated with marriage, like sharing insurance, accessing military benefits, and tax deductions associated with filing taxes jointly. As an OBGYN, Somani said she's 'seen firsthand how having a legally recognized marriage is incredibly important during life's most difficult and vulnerable moments.' 'We see this when someone is dying of cancer and their partner is not allowed to be there in hospice or end-of-life care,' Somani said. 'That is devastating to not have that recognition when you spent your whole life with someone. I have so many friends and family members who are so scared they are gonna lose their legal marriage rights, and I think we need to be fighting.' A ballot measure in Ohio codifying marriage equality would not be unprecedented. Also concerned after the fall of Roe in 2022, voters in California, Colorado and Hawaii passed initiatives in last November's election to repeal dormant same-sex marriage bans and proactively protect marriage equality. Ohio's version would follow in the footsteps of 2023's Issue 1, another ballot measure that passed with 56% of the vote and established the right to abortion. Somani and Synenberg made Tuesday's announcement during a press conference marking Pride Month with other Statehouse Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates. Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), Ohio's first openly gay Statehouse lawmaker, touted her new bill to mark 'Love Makes a Family Week,' after Republican legislators introduced plans to designate a month celebrating 'natural families.' Lawmakers clash over Ohio bill to ban therapy for minors without parent consent Antonio also recently reintroduced proposals to ban anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. While Antonio told NBC4 in March the timing of a measure codifying same-sex marriage needs to be right and that such a proposal would only be written 'honestly and presented objectively' when Statehouse representation changes, she said on Tuesday now is the time to 'stand together to make sure that no one is sent out to the margins.' 'I am proud to be the first member of the LGBTQ community to be elected to this legislature back in 2010,' Antonio said during the press conference. 'There is no closet big enough to send us all back to, we're not going and we don't have to. We should not. Members of the LGBTQ community survived persecution, survived erasure a long time ago. We are not going back to those days.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visits Ohio in support of congressional term limits
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped by the Ohio Statehouse Tuesday to lend his support to imposing congressional term limits. The effort would require a constitutional amendment, and Ohio's resolution calls for a convention of the states to draft it. The approach has never been tried before and presents several unknowns — brushed aside by the Florida governor and Ohio lawmakers. Ohio's proposal isn't even the only convention for which DeSantis is beating the drum. He was in Idaho about six weeks ago calling for a balanced budget amendment. Desantis' visit comes amid a growing feud with Republicans in the Florida legislature. The governor and state legislative leaders both want to cut taxes, but the governor wants to focus on property tax cuts while House Speaker Daniel Perez is eyeing the state sales tax. Florida is one of nine states with no income tax. Perez criticized DeSantis for hopping on a private plane 'paid for taxpayers by the way' when he could be hammering out a budget deal with Florida lawmakers. 'If he were to spend more time here in this Capitol having conversations with myself and other members of the House he'd understand my position — why we are in that position,' Perez said. 'And if he's able to convince us otherwise and have us move in another direction, maybe his direction, he has every opportunity to do so.' Fear and grievance in the Mahoning Valley He added the Florida House is ready for 'tough conversations' while the governor is not. 'There's no difference between him and any seventh grader in Miami-Dade County right now who tweets,' Perez said. The last time DeSantis stopped by Ohio he was campaigning for then-U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance while not-so-subtly laying track for his own 2024 presidential campaign. On Tuesday, he insisted his visit 'has nothing to do with running for anything.' Freshman state Rep. Heidi Workman, R-Rootstown, is sponsoring the Ohio House Joint Resolution calling for a constitutional convention. 'Voters are tired of Washington politicians spending decades in office disconnected from the people they're elected to serve,' Workman said. 'They want change, and they're looking for that change right now.' DeSantis served three terms in Congress before running for governor, and said that experience left a mark. 'The incentives to do really good policy are just skewed away from that,' he said. 'People get up there and basically, they're told, 'You got to pay your dues.'' Workman pointed to polling — notably, conducted by the pro-term limits organization U.S. Term Limits — indicating 78% of Ohioans want to set a ceiling on congressional service. 'This is not a partisan issue — it is a people issue,' Workman argued. 'Across Ohio and across the country, the demand for congressional term limits is strong and bipartisan.' Twelve states that have so far advanced a joint resolution calling for a convention. Every single one of them is controlled by Republicans. The problem with hosting a constitutional convention is that there's little to restrain what the convention's members decide to do. Article V of the U.S. Constitution is explicit on how you call a convention, but silent on what happens once delegates start debating. Harsh penalties and gag orders: Lawmakers discuss plans for long-shot constitutional convention To fill that void, two Ohio Republicans floated potential felony charges and a gag order to keep debates on track, as they considered a different constitutional convention proposal last year. DeSantis dismissed concerns about a 'runway' convention, putting his faith in the ratification process that would follow. 'It is the same no matter if Congress or the state proposes (an amendment),' DeSantis said. 'It requires three-quarters of the states of this country, 38 states, to ratify an amendment to the Constitution. I don't think 38 states are going to ratify the work of a, quote, runaway convention.' He added there's nothing stopping Ohio from allowing the governor to recall delegates or place other requirements on their activity. Still, with DeSantis himself backing convention efforts for term limits and a balanced budget, it's not hard to imagine a convention exceeding its initial mandate. Asked about those different interests DeSantis argued both ideas could clear the required 34-state threshold before backtracking and suggesting Congress would likely step in to draft it's own amendment if states got close. 'I do anticipate, in both instances, that you would likely force Congress to act prior to getting the 34 states — I just think practically that will happen,' DeSantis said. 'But I'm also not somebody that believes somehow the states aren't capable of proposing an amendment.' Florida Phoenix reporter Christine Sexton contributed to this story. Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois declares May 7th as Illinois Bacon Day
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Bacon lovers: rejoice! While National Bacon Day is celebrated in December, we in Illinois will celebrate 'the candy of meats' on May 7th, thanks to a Senate Joint Resolution. Legislators approved the resolution, aimed at celebrating Illinois' pork production, which is ranked as 4th in the U.S. The pork industry in the state supports over 30,000 jobs and creates $13.8 billion for the economy. The Illinois Pork Producers Association will go to the state capitol on Wednesday for the inaugural celebration. According to the text of the resolution, 'Illinois Bacon Day…invites all Illinoisans to thank a pig farmer by enjoying some delicious slices of bacon.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Xiong responds to ‘disrespectful' remarks from Michigan House Speaker
Michigan state Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren) speaks at a news conference in opposition of a Republican-led House Joint Resolution to institute new requirements to prove citizenship in order to vote on March 11, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols While speaking with reporters during his weekly press briefing on Wednesday, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) launched into a string of insults leveled at state Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren), after she criticized Hall for canceling a legislative session set for Tuesday, the same day President Donald Trump came to Michigan for a rally attended by Hall to mark the President's first 100 days in office. 'We have this very low IQ representative named Mai Xiong, probably one of the dumbest ones in the Legislature, and I saw this video of her, and she's like 'the House Speaker is not here today. We need to have session. You know? We need to work for the people of Michigan, Macomb County,'' Hall said. 'Well, where was I? While she's doing nothing for her county and for her district. I was in Macomb County, right near her district, delivering a new mission with President Trump for Selfridge Air Force Base. So I hope she thanks me. That would be nice. Wouldn't it be nice if Mai Xiong made a video thanking me because she's not doing anything anyway.' Hours after the press conference concluded, Xiong responded, posting a video which included Hall's remarks and releasing a statement shortly after. 'I am deeply disheartened and disappointed by the recent remarks made by the Speaker of the Michigan House…These words weren't just disrespectful — they were meant to demean, belittle, and devalue,' Xiong said in her statement before criticizing Hall's leadership decisions. 'Let me be clear: What's truly dumb is passing a state House bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico, a body of water thousands of miles away from Michigan and a waste of taxpayer dollars,' Xiong said. 'What's truly dumb is violating the Michigan Constitution by hijacking nine bills passed by the legislature, including one I authored to support our public workers, and blocking them from reaching the governor's desk while pretending to hold veto power he simply doesn't have.' Following a tumultuous lame duck session — where Senate Democrats worked through a record-setting 29 hour session to advance policies before House Republicans took control of the chamber, ending Democrats trifecta in Lansing — nine bills passed during that session have been held in limbo, after former House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) failed to present the votes to the governor. Senate Democrats have since taken legal action against the House to compel Hall to present the bills. While Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel determined that the state Constitution requires House leadership to submit the bills to the governor, she declined to order Hall to do so, as state courts have previously declined to enforce legislative rules. Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) sought to bring the case directly to the Michigan Supreme Court. However, the Court declined to hear the case, instead ordering the Michigan Court of Appeals to 'expedite its consideration and resolution of this case.' Xiong's bill, House Bill 6058, would increase the amount public employers can contribute towards employees' health insurance plans. In her statement, Xiong further criticized Hall for taking credit for securing additional fighter jets at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. 'While the Speaker uses the press and platform of the Speakership to tear others down, let me remind him, and the people of Michigan — who I am,' Xiong said. 'I am a mother of four young children who will one day ask me why the highest elected official in the House called their mom dumb and 'low IQ.' I am a refugee and immigrant who came here seeking freedom. I am a daughter, sister, a wife, a friend. I am the first Hmong American elected — and currently only Asian American woman in the Michigan House of Representatives.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Experts say CYFD reform proposal would likely hurt, not help
Feb. 19—Two national experts helping to reform the state Children, Youth and Families Department warned this week that a legislative proposal designed to improve the agency's operations could make progress even more difficult. The proposed House Joint Resolution, sponsored by Speaker of the House Javier Martínez and state Rep. Eleanor Chavez, both Albuquerque Democrats, would remove the troubled child welfare agency from the governor's direct responsibility and place governance of CYFD in the hands of an appointed five-member commission. "While we understand fully the need for effective leadership and accountability to improve the performance of CYFD on behalf of New Mexico's children and families, we feel strongly that this change will not help and may, in fact, make improvement efforts more difficult," wrote Judith Meltzer, of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for the Study of Social Policy, and Kevin Ryan, with Public Catalyst of Iselin, New Jersey, in a letter dated Feb. 18. The independent experts are being paid by the state to gather data and help ensure CYFD's compliance with the agreement that settled a federal class action lawsuit filed in 2018 on behalf of 14 foster children, including the named plaintiff, a boy referred to as Kevin S. "While we generally do not comment on legislative activities, we believe it's important to share our views on this proposed change, based on both our experiences in multiple states involved in child welfare reform," states their letter to CYFD Secretary Teresa Casados and Tara Ford, a lead attorney who filed the Kevin S. lawsuit. They are referred to as co-neutrals in settlement documents. "In states where we have witnessed reform take root, the governors' direct oversight and support played a significant role in prioritizing child welfare reform within government, eliminating barriers and advancing accountability," the letter states. Other state governmental entities, such as a state health agency and departments of early childhood and education, all play a role in the overall child welfare system, the experts wrote. "Commission-led governance is very likely, in our view, to exacerbate many of the problems we have documented in New Mexico," the letter states. New Jersey and the District of Columbia initially faced problems as extensive as New Mexico and have "now exited from litigation" after creating a cabinet-level agency as part of their settlement agreement reforms, the experts added. Asked for a comment from Martinez, a spokeswoman replied with a statement from Chavez, who she said was the lead sponsor. Chavez in that statement said, "This is the first we have heard that these out-of-state co-neutrals have concerns about this proposal. New Mexicans know that the problems at CYFD are longstanding and predate the Kevin S. settlement." She added, "Since the settlement agreement, CYFD has failed to make any progress and New Mexico's children continue to pay the price." The measure, which is set to go to its first committee hearing Friday morning, would establish an independent commission to appoint an executive director to assume CYFD management and operations. But voters would first have to approve the change in the next general election in November 2026 or in a special election. "The Joint Resolution is one of several solutions that legislators and experts have been working on for months to better protect our children," Chavez said in a statement. "We trust the voters of New Mexico to evaluate the merits of this proposal and believe they deserve a say in improving the outcomes for the state's children." In New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has taken a hands-on role in recent years, calling for restructuring of CYFD and more recently, placing her chief executive officer, Casados, as acting CYFD secretary in 2022. Casados later was named cabinet secretary, and has emphasized prevention of child abuse and neglect, and providing family services as a way to address chronically high child maltreatment rates, protective services staff turnover, and too few nonrelative foster families. But attorneys for the Kevin S. plaintiffs have criticized the agency for failing to adhere to settlement agreement mandates, such as lowering caseloads for protective services caseworkers. An independent arbitrator in early January agreed CYFD had violated certain terms of the agreement. The proposed joint resolution is among at least five bills or resolutions introduced in this 60-day session that are aimed at creating more accountability over the agency, which has had three cabinet secretaries since 2019. Martinez is also a sponsor oF House Bill 5 , which would establish an Office of Child Advocate. That office would be attached to the state Department of Justice and field any complaints, look at systemic issues, and issue reports. Senate Bill 307, which has at least 37 sponsors, would also establish an independent CYFD ombudsman's office but attached to the state's judiciary. That bill, had not been set for a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee as of Wednesday afternoon. So far the two "co-neutrals" haven't weighed in on the idea of New Mexico creating an ombudsman's office.
