Organizations and Leaders Condemn New House Rules Package
We, the undersigned, request the immediate reversal of the rules imposed by the 136th General Assembly at the Ohio House. Ohioans have a fundamental right to freely assemble and communicate with their elected officials at the Statehouse–a cornerstone of democracy that must not be undermined. We call for the reversal of the following rules without delay:
Barring Ohioans—apart from House members or guests of a member—from occupying the lobby and hallways outside the House chamber.
Eliminating the necessary 24-hour notice before a bill receives a floor vote.
The new rules blatantly attack Ohioans’ First Amendment rights to assemble and be heard at the People’s House.
The hallway outside the Ohio House Chamber has always been a critical space for free speech and direct engagement with elected officials. This area is essential for the public to be involved with the laws that ultimately will impact them. Banning Ohioans from speaking with their representatives–especially meeting requests that are often ignored–is an unacceptable attack on democracy.
All Ohioans deserve the opportunity to testify and express our concerns or support for legislation. The removal of the 24-hour notice deprives Ohioans of their right to assemble and have a say in the government we elect and pay for. Ohioans do not want more space between them and their elected officials–what are you trying to hide and who are you trying to hide from with these new rules?
Thousands of Ohioans came to the Statehouse last session to have their voices heard on a variety of issues and these voices must be heard when considering how to vote on bills across the spectrum. Legislators should not be hiding from the constituents they claim to be representing. The House Rules package is a thinly veiled attempt at suppressing opposition voices in the People's House.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, the undersigned:
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity
YUSRA Organizing
Ohio Families Unite for Political Action and Change
Ohio Conference AAUP
OPAWL - Building AAPI Feminist Leadership
Common Cause Ohio
Ohio Women’s Alliance Action Fund
LOVEboldly
Abortion Forward
Red Wine and Blue
Honesty for Ohio Education
Impact Appalachia
Equality Ohio
Ohioans Against Extremism
Moms Demand Action on Common Gun Sense Laws
YWCA Columbus
Erase the Space
Defense of Democracy
Clev Hts-Univ Hts CSD
Applied Academic Solutions
Ohio Families Unite Against Police Brutality
It Takes A Village
Faith in Public Life
TransOhio
Public Education Partners
The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio
Ohio School Psychologists Association
ACLU of Ohio
The Ohio Council of Churches
Kaleidoscope Youth Center
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland
Ohio Equal Rights
WomenLead
Greene County Democratic Party
Positively Blue
Fighting the Radical Right Ohio
Columbus Education Justice Coalition
GLSEN Northeast Ohio
Rank The Vote Ohio
Medina County Indivisible
Medina County Democratic Party
Faculty Alliance of Miami University (FAM AAUP-AFT)
Portage NAACP
DFC
Right to Read Ohio
Sikh Coalition
Called to Love at Church of the Master, UMC
Showing Up For Racial Justice Central Ohio
Simply Living
Ohio National Organization for Women
Abortion Fund of Ohio
Heights Coalition for Public Education