This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Brecksville Ballot Issue- Citizens Petition: Corporations are not people & money does not equal speech

Brecksville Ballot issue #25 - in support of constitutional amendment to declare that "corporations are not people" and "money is not speech". Please vote yes on this important issue

On Oct 25th, Brecksville Citizens for Transparent Politics appeard on NPR's Sound of Ideas to discuss Ballot Issue #25.  The Mayor's representative was also there.  I've included the link below:

Discussion of our ballot issue on NPR's ""Sound of Ideas this morning". There are 2 segments. The show starts with our ballot issue and then briefly talks about a different ballot issue. The show then returns to our issue about 32 minutes into the tape.

http://www.ideastream.org/soi/ entry/49812

We are asking for your "YES" vote on our issue.  The Mayor seems to be worried that unions are not included in our ordinance.  The fact is that our ordinance includes:  Corporations, unions, PACS & Super-PACS.  The language of ballot issue #25 doesn't fully explain what we're trying to accomplish.  This movement seeks to restore to congress and the states the right to REGULATE political contributions.  We do not seek to eliminate the speech of corporate entities.  The main thrust of our ordinance is to have a public hearing to examine the effects of political contributions by corporations etc..on our city.  In 2011 our City had revenue of $25,000,000.  How appealing is that pot of money to special interests?  We have contracts, zoning issues, water & sewer issues etc.  These are the questions our public hearing would address.  It never hurts for public officials to know that we're paying attention.  

Find out what's happening in Brecksvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While the Mayor continues to say that this is not the proper forum for our ballot issue, the Secretary of State and the Ohio Supreme Court disagree.  Brecksville Citizens for Transparent Politics won this issue at every level at which this was litigated.  We feel this is exactly the place to begin a grass roots movement to save our democracy from the smothering effects of unlimited cash flooding our system and buying our government.  Neighbor to neighbor, community to community,  we will build the momentum for this issue.  At some point, our elected officials will hear our amplified voice.  We have to start somewhere.  We have to preserve our one person one vote democratic process.  We cannot stand for the wholesale disenfranchisment of our individual voices.

The anti issue #25 advertisement in the Oct 24th Gazzette is full of lies.  Issue #25 does not intend to silence unions or corporations.  Issue #25 seeks reasonable regulations of contributions by corporations, unions, PACS & Super-PACS. Issue #25 does not "conflate the authority of local government beyond it's chartered boundaries."  Again, the Ohio Sureme Court has decided this issue by a vote of 5 - 0 saying that our city does have the authority to deal with issue #25 because it calls for a public hearing on the effects of political contributions by corporations, unions, PACS & Super-PACS.  City Council never took a public vote opposing issue #25.  City council was hoodwinked into allocating over $15,000 to keep our proposed ordinance off the ballot.  Since we won, they haven't taken a public vote.  

Find out what's happening in Brecksvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Per the Brecksville Magazine November 2012 "Both Hruby and Petsche stressed this is not a partisan issue, and the mayor said he respects the members of BCFTP and that they feel strongly about their cause.  "These are our own residents and we're not pitted against each other.  We just have a difference of opinion on the process."  To reiterate again, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that the process required in the Issue #25 ordinance, a "town hall meeting every 2 years to be held after the general election" is a proper forum for the residents of the City of Brecksville.

The Mayor continues to say that this public meeting is not within the charter of the city.  I don't understand why he continues to make this statement when the Ohio Supreme Court has said this is perfectly within the city's authority.  This town hall meeting can be a great asset to our city.  Bringing citizens together to discuss a very important issue, giving residents a chance to air their views and hopefully involving our schools in the civic process of democracy.  We can set an example for the rest of Ohio.  We can energize other communities to take a stand against the wholesale purchasing of our democracy.    

PLEASE VOTE YES ON ISSUE #25

 

movetoamend.org/brecksville                                                                          FB:  move to amend - brecksville                                    brecksville@movetoamend.org

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Brecksville