Info on the potential abortion referendum, local reporter explains

Darrell Rowland is a long time, well connected used to be a writer at the Columbus Dispatch. He knows his stuff.


First tweet of this thread..

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"...you'll hear about the first step in what could be the most divisive & expensive political battle in Ohio history:
A November vote on whether abortion rights should be in Ohio Constitution
Supporters already have conducted polling & hired "messaging firm"
So this will NOT remove all abortion restrictions in Ohio


They're pushing for something that will pass, & many Ohioans want limited restrictions
Post-viability ban still OK, unless life/health of woman endangered
As one put it: We needed to lay groundwork with Ohio values and Ohio voters
So it's based on what Michigan passed, but tweaked for Ohio's political reality
Still, one backer was railing against the cruelty of "forced birth"


Getting a lot of (poll-tested?) emphasis: Not letting government make the rules
Government has burden to show that any restrictions based on health/safety.
And officials can't just assert these things, they have to back them up
Seems like seeds of much more litigation here...
Meanwhile, issue opponents are gearing up for a huge battle.
Right to Life Prez Mike Gonidakis says, "We are going to fight with everything we have and we are going to win"
He said they're "creating the largest grassroots advocacy organization in our state’s history. And we...

"are prepared to spend every dollar we have, both with friends in DC & here in Ohio & other states. Ohio is the battleground state for abortion in 2023"
Backers need 413,446 valid sigs of registered voters by mid-summer...they shooting for 900K
Needed 1K today, got 7K in 2 days"


end of thread