Almost five dozen spokeswoman groups in areas from reproductive rights to higher ED to vote signed a letter against the Ohio House principles for this general assembly, including a ban on public gathering near the home chamber at certain moments.
Open letter – signed by 59 groups, including Common Cause Ohio, Honesty of Ohio education, Equality Ohio, Moms Dement Ohio of Ohio of Ohio of Ohio of Ohio of Ohio of Ohio of Ohio of Churches and the National Council of Jewish women/Cleveland – he claims that the fresh rules implemented in the state “grossly attack the rights of the first amendment to the first amendment to the Congregation and being listened to in Of the People’s Chamber. “
“Legislators should not hide from the ingredients that, they say, read,” we read in a letter. “The House Package is a thinly veiled attempt to suppress opposition voices at people’s home.”
At the beginning of each general congregation, the fresh rules are approved with the cursing of fresh leadership, and this year it was no different. When the rules were first approved, the Republicans stated that they would escalate the efficiency in legislative business, while Democrats He questioned transparency Going forward with the fresh rules.
New rules, adopted by the legislator on January 22 Removed the provision that required the Commission for the Regulations of the Chamber and reference to the session of the calendar for the session “no later than 24 hours before the start of this session” and changed the requirements for dates for corrections or resolution, reducing the date for the date to the account one hour before the start of the home session .
“Removing a 24-hour notification deprives the Ohioans for the right to accumulate and terminate in the government that we choose and pay,” according to supporters of the open letter.
The rules also constitute, as in the past, the speaker “or officer chairman has a general direction and control over the room and predict the safety of the hall.”
“In the case of actual or anticipated interference or disordered behavior in galleries, lobby, rooms or corridors adjacent to the hall, the speaker or officer, the chairman may order that these places will be cleaned.”
The rules also “signs, banners, plates and other similar demonstration devices” from the chamber or neighboring galleries, lobby, rooms or corridors.
According to the fresh rules, the area outside the home chamber will be inaccessible to everyone without permission to the floor for 30 minutes before the session and after the session. Floor privileges are extended to representatives and home staff, as well as media with certificates.
“The corridor in front of the Ohio House chamber has always been a critical space for freedom of speech and direct involvement in selected officials,” he said a letter from a group of sparkling. “This area is necessary for public opinion to be involved in the right, which will ultimately affect them.”
These corridors (and people from outside the Senate chaired by the Marshal of the House Matt Huffman, R-Lima, have seen special actions in the last few years, when the legislator worked to protect himself to pass Replace Governor Mike Dewine House Bill 68, a measure that banned sex care for minors in Ohio.
Recently, tranquil (and then not so solid) protests They were used during the hearing of the Commission on the controversial Act of the Senate 1, the Act on Higher Education in order to prohibit strikes of lecturers and employees as well as “prejudices” in classes. The Act also received a significant return in the previous general assembly, when it was so Senate Bill 83But I couldn’t go to the finish before the end of the two -year legislator.
Speaker spokesman Huffman said that members of the Ohio house “are involved in promoting safety and ordering in home and outside.”
“Society members are still welcome to watch a personal session in the gallery”, press secretary Olivia Wile said The Capital Journal, adding that what she called safety changes made by Huffman is allowed in the household rules “in order to maintain a safe environment in home chamber and around it. “
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