ICYMI: Ohio Republicans Propose Wasting Over $15 Million in Taxpayer Dollars Instead of Drawing Fair Maps
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brooke Lillard
lillard@redistrictingaction.org
ICYMI: Ohio Republicans Propose Wasting Over $15 Million in Taxpayer Dollars Instead of Drawing Fair Maps
Washington, D.C. – Rather than adopting bipartisan, fair state legislative and congressional maps that abide by the state constitution and Supreme Court orders, Ohio Republicans are falling back on a proposed solution – to the problem they created – that could cost Ohioans more than $15 million.
Instead of living up to the constitutional redistricting reforms by passing fair maps, Republican Senate President Matt Huffman has proposed conducting two primary elections instead of one. The Columbus Dispatch has described this proposal to be “a costly, cumbersome solution.” The bipartisan Ohio Association of Election Officials has pointed out that holding two primaries would have the staggering price tag of more than $15 million – for which Ohio taxpayers would foot the bill.
In a February 10 letter, election officials stated the following: “The cost to taxpayers would be enormous. In 2011 the legislature contemplated and ultimately rejected conducting two primaries. At that time it was estimated that this action would cost taxpayers $15 million. Given the complexities of elections in 2022, this number is certainly higher.”
This type of expensive workaround is only being considered because Republican legislators have so far failed to draw the fair, bipartisan maps Ohioans twice demanded at the ballot box, as required by the constitution, and as ordered three times by the state Supreme Court. For six months, Ohioans from across the state have organized around redistricting to demand a fair process and maps that live up to the promise of the 2015 and 2018 reform measures. Ohioans want to see their elected leaders work together to get the job done, just as folks from across the state do each and every day.
Republicans have forced Ohio into confusion by not doing their jobs. For example, Republicans have been wasting Ohioans' time, failing to even put forward any public or viable map proposals during the legislature’s 30-day window to do so for congressional maps. They are now continuing to drag their feet by failing to convene the Commission for discussion about either the state legislative or congressional maps.
They are hoping to trick Ohioans into thinking Republicans are not to blame for the mess Republicans alone have created. But Ohioans are making it clear they won’t be fooled. Here’s a sample of what we are seeing:
“Even though the deciding vote came from Republican Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, GOP politicians whined of a ‘liberal’ court, not standing up against gerrymandering, but somehow trying to enforce Democratic gerrymandering. . . . [A]nybody paying attention knows that at no point did either Democrats or anti-gerrymandering advocates offer a map that would give Democrats a majority in either chamber of the General Assembly or U.S. Congressional districts. …
…“The infantile GOP response to the court can be summed up thusly: How dare you hold us accountable for trying to cheat. By not letting us cheat, you’re gerrymandering yourselves!”
“[Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio] says he was ‘incredulous’ to hear Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) suggest the state split the primary in two.
"‘As if he didn't have anything to do with that, as if the arrogance and the delay by Republicans isn't costing taxpayers millions of millions of dollars,’ says Brown, who notes the expense that can incur with an additional primary and the bill already accumulating in court costs.”
WVXU: O'Connor is not to blame for Ohio's map-making mess. Republicans are [02/08/22]
“Instead [the Republican commissioners] have made a hash of it and tried to throw the blame on one of the four Republicans on the court, Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor...
…“Bob Paduchik, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, has accused O'Connor of ‘being responsible for this mess.’
“Actually, if you are looking for the responsible parties you need look no further than the commission's five Republicans — Gov. Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, State Auditor Keith Faber, Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp and Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman.”...
…“The five Republicans on the redistricting commission want you to believe it is impossible to draw maps that conform to the 54-46 partisan split in the Ohio vote over the past decade. It’s just not true.”
“Huffman's possible solution includes leaving statewide and local elections on May 3rd and creating another primary date for those running for statehouse and congressional seats. The idea didn't go over well with election officials already reeling from delayed 2020 primaries and the trials of conducting elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Put simply: ‘That would be an outcome that we would hope to avoid at all costs,’ said Aaron Ockerman, executive director of the Ohio Association of Election Officials.”...
…“In 2011, Ohio lawmakers proposed hosting two primaries the following year – a bargaining chip of sorts in the congressional map fight. At that time, the second primary was estimated to cost $15 million. In the end, legislators averted that option and approved a congressional map. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose didn't have an estimated cost for hosting two primaries in one year.”
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