OEC Reacts to Ruling on the HB 6 Referendum Federal Lawsuit

Emily Bacha, Vice President of Public Affairs, October 23, 2019

Today, U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus denied the motion for preliminary injunction filed by Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts (OACB) which argued state law unconstitutionally restricted the referendum of House Bill 6. The law required the attorney general to certify summary language for the petition, consuming 38 of 90 days OACB had to gather signatures.

An evidentiary hearing and oral arguments were held yesterday, and this evening Judge Sargus denied the motion for preliminary injunction and certified the matter to the Ohio Supreme Court to determine questions of Ohio law.

The following statement can be attributed in full or in part to Heather Taylor-Miesle, Executive Director of the Ohio Environmental Council:

“In the fight to repeal House Bill 6 (HB 6), Ohioans have experienced outrageous, unprecedented attacks on our democratic right to engage in a referendum process.

“The OEC strongly supports continuing the fight for Ohioans’ access to the ballot. The roadblocks to the referendum process are unconstitutional and designed to set citizens up to fail. We must all work to ensure a strong democracy as it is our best avenue toward ensuring a healthy climate for all who call Ohio home. We look forward to a ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court that protects the rights of Ohioans to hold our leaders accountable.”