Ohio Issue Watch 2023

Politics & Elections
81

Given that it’s now part of the state’s Constitution, I don’t see how they can block it.

Ignore it, on the other hard, might be possible, but how would it be “ignored”?
Do they do something like:

  1. Arrest a doctor that performs an abortion for manslaughter;
  2. Have it tried in a “red” part of the state, where a conviction is likely (presumably - they either have to find 12 jurors who didn’t support the measure, or one juror and a judge who would require that the doctor be held in custody between a mistrial and the next trial);
  3. Wait until it eventually makes its way to the state Supreme Court, which would almost certainly rule the arrest illegal;
  4. Go back to step 1 with another doctor?
82

Pass anti-abortion laws anyway.

83

But presumably each and every new law will immediately be challenged and should be ruled as unconstitutional.

I think they will try to get a new amendment on the ballot.

This isn’t the end. It is really just the beginning of a revolving door of ballot campaigns to repeal or replace Issue 1.

So says Senate President Matt Huffman.

84

But the only things the GOP works of

OK, Republican leadership (including Fox News) only believes these two things. What difference does it make what the mishmash of people believe? The leadership only cares about this if it helps them maintain power. The mishmash will change their beliefs as Fox tells them to. If mandating abortions would help them keep power, Fox News would be pushing the idea within a day and the mishmash will be parroting it within a week.

85

Any challenge to the Ohio abortion amendment will be heard by the Ohio Supreme Court. Justices are elected on a partisan basis, and the current court is four Republicans and three Democrats. I have every faith that the Court will use any whatever tortured logic is necessary to find the legislature’s anti-abortion measures to be in compliance with the amendment.

86

Not necessarily, they can pass laws about who can perform abortions (remember the admitting rights deal) or that clinics have to have wide corridors or full time staff of various types. All of this was done in various states while abortions were legal if you recall.

87

Let’s not forget that a sitting judge on the state’s Supreme Court is the Governor’s son.

88

Tell me about it. The ethical pretzels he’s had to twist himself into, to avoid recusal in cases involving the state government which his own dear ol’ Dad heads, are something to behold.

89

I think we are officially a PawPaw Republic.

90

I read that a congressional district in the Ohio primary tomorrow is contested. There’s one Michael Rulli, Rick Tsai amd some Republican candidate endorsed by Trump whose name I can’t pronounce off-hand. I’ll bet I misspelled the candidates yet it doesn’t come from any lack of personal interest in the race.

91

Here’s the outcome: Michael Rulli wins 6th Congressional District seat: AP

92

He narrowly beat the Trump endorsed candidate

93

I’m confused; wasn’t that a primary?

94

Yes, but the district is strongly Republican – it has a PVI of R+16.

95

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks.