Ohio Prosperity Project 2010_STATE_BALLOT

Statewide ballot issues provide Ohio voters with important choices on the future of our state. These issues can present the choice as a proposed Constitutional Amendment, a referendum on existing legislation, or a proposed law. Whichever form the question takes, the decisions made by voters will have lasting impact. This year, two Constitutional Amendments will be decided during the Primary election.

Ballot issues are proposed and promoted by groups with lofty-sounding names that do not always give the impression of who is actually behind a particular campaign. A great deal of money, time and effort is involved in creating ballot language, getting it certified by the state, collecting and submitting valid signatures numbering in the hundreds of thousands, grassroots activities, promotions and advertisement. Given this fact, it is worth noting what interests are behind a particular campaign before making your decision on a ballot issue.

Issue 1 and Issue 2 were put forth by the Ohio legislature as joint resolutions, asking the voters to make amendments to the Ohio Constitution. Both proposals have bipartisan support and at this time no organized opposition campaigns.

Issue 1 is supported by a bipartisan coaltion, United for Jobs and Ohio's Future. Read more about how Issue 1 will affect your prosperity here.

Issue 2 is supported by a bipartisan coalition, Stand Up Columbus. This coalition is made up a variety of individuals, corporations, small business owners, elected officials and organizations.

About the state ballot issues

Issue 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would renew the bond initiative for the Ohio Third Frontier Program.

If passed, this amendment would authorize the State of Ohio to distribute $700 million in grants to advance industries, technologies, and entrepreneurs. The passage of Issue 1 will create jobs and continue the expansion of important industries and companies, without raising taxes.

Issue 2 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change the location of the Columbus casino, authorized by a 2009 statewide vote.

If passed, the constitutional amendment would move the location of the casino in Columbus from the Arena District to another Columbus location - a vacant plot of land that once housed a manufacturing plant. This issue would not change anything about the authorization of a casino in Columbus, only the location would be affected.

State ballot issues comparisons

	Argument For	Argument Against
Issue 1	The passage of Issue 1 and renewal of the Third Frontier program will create jobs and boost the struggling economy. It has already proven effective in creating 55,000 jobs and more than 600 new companies, as well attracting investment dollars and generating billions in wages to Ohio's workers. Proponents say that the passage of Issue 1 will not only create jobs, but also continue the expansion of important industries and companies, without raising taxes.	Opponents of Issue 1 argue that this is not the time to put Ohio into more debt by funding a program through a bond mechanism.
Issue 2	The authorization of casinos in Ohio passed a statewide vote in 2009. The people of Franklin County did not approve of a casino in the city of Columbus. This issue will move the location of the casino from the Arena District to the deserted manufacturing plant on Columbus' West side.	There are a variety of issues that caused the people of Franklin County to vote against a casino in Columbus. Opponents of Issue 2 feel that these concerns should be addressed rather than only the relocation issue.

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Review previous state ballot issues