OMA Board Opposes State Issue 1

The OMA board of directors this week voted to oppose State Issue 1, a Constitutional Amendment that appears on the November 6, 2018 General Election ballot entitled “To Reduce Penalties for Crimes of Obtaining, Possessing, and Using Illegal Drugs.”

In a statement, OMA president Eric Burkland said: “Ohio’s manufacturers care deeply about the safety of their employees. Issue 1 has the potential to undermine workplace safety due to new relaxed criminal drug sentencing laws. If Issue 1 passes, Ohio will have some of the country’s most lenient criminal drug laws. With drugs already posing a significant challenge in the workplace, manufacturers need laws that protect, not endanger, workers and their workplaces and productivity.

“Additionally, the amendment would make it more difficult for judges to connect offenders to rehabilitation services.

“In Ohio, criminal sentencing reform should be accomplished in statute via the state’s legislative processes. Issue 1 would inappropriately enshrine criminal sentencing in Ohio’s Constitution. The Ohio General Assembly could not pass laws to change Issue 1. Only another constitutional amendment and statewide election could modify Issue 1.

“For these reasons, the OMA Board of Directors opposes State Issue 1.”

Concerned manufacturers can learn more about defeating Issue 1 at this website or by contacting OMA’s Ryan Augsburger. 9/25/2018