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Bill would enable voters to kick elected officials out of office
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Two state lawmakers from opposites sides of the political spectrum have introduced legislation to enable voters to kick elected officials out of office.
State Reps. Bob Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, and John Becker of Clermont County, R-65th, are the lone co-sponsors of House Joint Resolution 10, which proposes a constitutional amendment to enable Ohioans to recall the governor and other statewide and local officeholders.
“What we’re really looking for is to make sure that individuals that are elected to office are held accountable for what they promise, what they’re doing,” Hagan said. “And in the end, if they fail that test, then we think that there should be that extra tool to recall them.”
The state constitution already allows for the impeachment or removal of state officeholders “upon complaint ... for any misconduct involving moral turpitude or for other cause provided by law.”
But there are no provisions outlining a process to enable voters to recall state elected officials.
The resolution offered by Hagan and Becker would require voters to file petitions containing signatures equal to or greater than 15 percent of the turnout in the most recent even-year general election.
Voters would then be asked whether an officeholder should be recalled and, if so, which candidate should serve in their place.
The sponsors of the resolution aren’t generally on the same page on political issues.
Becker resides on the conservative side of the political aisle and has introduced bills to loosen gun-ownership restrictions, allow the death penalty for certain sex offenders and prohibit insurance coverage of abortions.
Hagan resides on the liberal side of the political aisle and has introduced bills to provide universal health care coverage to all residents, restrict disposal of waste from oil and gas production and legalize the use of medical marijuana.
But the two have found agreement on the recall resolution.
“Rep. Hagan and I are pretty... diametrically opposed on ideology,” Becker said. “And that’s OK. There’s a lot of things we do agree on.”
Hagan has offered comparable legislation in the past with no success at passage. The Republican-controlled chamber is not expected to move on the latest resolution proposal.