Republicans ignore the will of the people in power play

Too often, the majority of Ohioans across our state are ignored by a handful of Republicans in power at the Statehouse. Kitchen-table issues that matter to people like good jobs, accessible health care and affordable housing are forgotten. Instead, a blind pursuit to have and keep power at all costs results in one party’s politics and culture being imposed on everyone else.

In 2015 and 2018, citizens overwhelmingly voted to end partisan gerrymandering in Ohio to ensure their voices are heard and their votes count. But throughout the redistricting process over the last year, Republicans in power have intentionally ignored the will of the people by passing districts rigged against voters in favor of political parties.

Despite the Ohio Supreme Court ruling these maps unconstitutional repeatedly, a handful of Republicans in power refuse to follow the law. This corruption of power is so blatant, they don’t try to hide it. The president of the Ohio Senate, Matt Huffman, recently said, “We can kind of do what we want.”

As the saying goes, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Ohio Republicans aren’t just ignoring voters at the ballot box. They continue to pass extreme legislation that the majority of Ohioans aren’t asking for.

After the 2019 Dayton shooting, where nine Ohioans

lost their lives, people stood up and demanded their government “do something” to prevent gun violence. Instead, Republicans have introduced or passed extremist legislation that puts more lives at risk, including shoot-first laws, repealing the duty to notify police, permitless carry, and most recently, arming teachers.

Police, teachers’ unions, civil rights groups, students, and Ohioans across the state all strongly oppose this kind of legislation.

Democrats have introduced a number of gun-safety bills that people are actually asking for, such as red flag laws, universal background checks, safe storage requirements, and other common-sense safety initiatives.

Yet in most cases, these bills aren’t even allowed to receive a committee hearing. By dismissing the policies people are asking for, a handful of Ohio Republicans show their true colors in that they are more interested in retaining power than serving the people.

So while some in power take every opportunity to abuse their power, they cannot “kind of do what they want.” They are accountable to you. No matter how hard they try, don’t let people with too much power prevent your voice from being heard or your vote from counting.

As long as the stars and stripes wave above the Statehouse, I will continue to believe that the rule of law matters and that, in America, the real power still belongs to the people.

Rep. Allison Russo, D-upper Arlington, is Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives. She represents the 24th district.