COLUMBUS—Protect Women Ohio (PWO), a pro-woman, pro-parent, pro-life coalition, is launching a multi-million-dollar ad buy this weekend in support of Issue 1. PWO is investing $2 million in a new 30-second television ad, entitled “Your Promise,” which will run statewide on broadcast, cable, and satellite. The buy comes on top of PWO’s $1 million investment in radio and digital ads earlier this week, bringing PWO’s initial ad spend to $3 million.

“Right now, Ohio’s constitution has a giant ‘FOR SALE’ sign on it,” said Molly Smith, PWO board member. “Out-of-state special interest groups, like the ACLU, think they can drop into Ohio with their fat pockets and buy their way into our founding document – it’s outrageous, and it must be stopped. By voting ‘yes’ on Issue 1 in August, Ohioans will put much-needed, common-sense protections in place.”

By increasing the threshold for passing constitutional amendments from a 50 percent simple majority to 60 percent, Issue 1 will protect Ohio’s constitution from out-of-state special interest groups that too often circumvent the legislature and buy their way into the constitution – like the ACLU is doing with its dangerous anti-parent amendment. Such a change will put Ohio in line with most states. Currently, Ohio is one of only 18 states that allows constitutional amendments to be proposed by outside groups. Of those 18 states, half – including red and blue states – have some form of enhanced requirement for amendments to be adopted.

Watch “Your Promise” 

Ad Text (Female narrator): 

You promised you’d keep the bad guys away, protect her.

Now’s your chance.

Out-of-state special interests that put trans ideology in classrooms and encourage sex changes for kids are hiding behind slick ads.

Don’t be fooled.

You can keep this madness out of Ohio classrooms and protect your rights as a parent by voting “yes” on August 8.

 Keep your promise to her.

 Vote “yes” on August 8.

Issue 1 Opponent Hypocrisy

Earlier this week, the hypocrisy of Issue 1 opponents was on full display. Groups like the ACLU of Ohio, the Ohio Democratic Party and Planned Parenthood all require supermajorities to amend their bylaws yet oppose protecting Ohio’s constitution. PWO is calling the ACLU and its allies out for their blatant double standard.

Background on the ACLU’s dangerous November anti-parent amendment:

This anti-parent amendment is just the latest example of the ACLU’s war on parental rights. Background on the ACLU’s war on parents is available HERE. The ACLU has a long and well-documented history of fighting against parental rights, including in Alaska and Indiana. The ACLU specifically calls out parental involvement on its website, saying it would restrict “teenagers’ access to abortion.” Heritage Action recently released a report and video about the ACLU's attacks on parental rights in Ohio. In recent weeks, the ACLU has denounced parental notification requirements in schools, and the ACLU of Ohio's chief lobbyist confirmed that stance on Twitter.

A legal analysis of the extreme anti-parent amendment is available HERE from constitutional scholars Carrie Campbell Severino, President of Judicial Crisis Network, and Frank J. Scaturro, a former special counsel to the House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives. 

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Protect Women Ohio is a coalition of concerned family and life leaders, parents, health and medical experts, and faith leaders in Ohio dedicated to defeating the ACLU’s extreme anti-parent amendment this November.

To learn more please visit www.protectwomenohio.com.