Wilkin urges 'no' votes on State Issues 1 and 2

COLUMBUS – State Senator Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro) strongly supports Senate Resolution 215, which expresses the chamber’s opposition to Issue 1, a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot this November that:

• Removes the current laws protecting children, women, and families; and

• Permanently enshrines in our state’s constitution abortion-on-demand through all nine months of pregnancy.

"Protecting life is paramount to me and my constituents," Wilkin said. "The resolution we approved today underscores just how dangerous and confusing this proposal really is. Issue 1 opens the door to policies that hurt our children and families instead of protecting them." 

Senate Resolution 215 outlines how this misleading proposal undermines the rights of the unborn, women, and families. The resolution details the extreme consequences of Issue 1 as written, including: 

• Allowing painful, late-term abortions, including those performed by dismemberment; 

• Eliminating basic health and safety protections for women; 

• Permitting abortion based on a child’s characteristics, such as Down Syndrome; 

• Allowing aborted children born alive to die; 

• Removing parental notification requirements for abortions;

• Giving abortion providers the power to make the final call on all abortion procedures, standards, and timing;

• Giving abortion doctors the power to unilaterally declare whether a woman’s health is endangered by her pregnancy, at any stage of that pregnancy; and

• Allowing abortion providers to pressure children into abortion without their parents’ involvement.

Issue 1 will be on the ballot this November.

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Wilkin opposes drug cartel putting profits over people

Wilkin also strongly supports Senate Resolution 216, which expresses the Senate’s opposition to Issue 2, the proposed initiated statute that would legalize the use and retail sale of recreational marijuana.

"Marijuana use has dire health consequences, and legalizing this drug will make our addiction crisis worse and put more lives in jeopardy," Wilkin said. "I am proud to tell Ohioans why this proposal is a bad deal for our state."

Issue 2 was written by the commercial marijuana industry to put their profits over people. Ohio already leads the nation in opioid overdose deaths. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury death in Ohio, and 33,000 Ohioans have died of drug overdoses since 2011. Issue 2 will allow the marijuana industry to capitalize on addiction and turn it into profit. 

The stark ramifications of legalizing recreation marijuana are evident from other states and in numerous studies. Senate Resolution 216 describes these repercussions, including:

• Increases in fatal traffic accidents and injuries in traffic accidents;

• Increases in crimes rates, including violent crimes;

• Increased workplace accidents; and

• Declines in brain function in adulthood for adolescent users.

Senate Resolution 216 also details the financial benefits the marijuana industry would attain if Issue 2 would pass. Issue 2:

• Gives more than a third of tax revenue generated to the industry itself through its “social equity” fund program;

• Does not include any funds for Ohio counties to administer addiction treatment programs and other challenges from increased drug use in Ohio;

• Does not allow Ohioans to direct tax revenue towards priorities such as public education and road improvements.

Issue 2 is on the ballot this November.