Letters to the Editor
NO ON ISSUE 2
Governor Strickland is gambling with Ohio's future by supporting Issue 2. This ballot initiative is not simply a new law, it would amend Ohio's constitution and set a dangerous precedent by creating a permanent place for special interests in the Ohio constitution.
This proposed constitutional amendment would create a Livestock Care Standards Board to develop guidelines for the raising of livestock in Ohio. This livestock board would give a dozen political appointees broad power to decide rules on animal welfare. Once cemented into the state constitution, this livestock board would have the power to override acts by the Ohio Department of Agriculture or the state legislature. It's ridiculous that, instead of working for a better system of raising animals, agribusiness will spend close to $7 million to pass a constitutional amendment that will serve one purpose: to fatten their bank accounts.
The League of Women Voters of Ohio opposes Issue 2 because this measure is an inappropriate use of the state constitution. Don't allow special interests to hijack the state constitution and vote NO on Issue 2 in November!
YES ON ISSUE 2
The good news about most farms in Ohio is that they are small, family-owned operations, not massive "factory farms." This means that we produce much of our own food rather than importing it from a distance, which is not a sustainable practice. It also means that most Ohio farmers have a vested interest in making sure that their livestock is well cared for, since healthy, happy animals live longer and produce more.
The bad news is that there is currently little regulation as to the care and keeping of Ohio livestock. Therefore, I want to urge your readers to vote "yes" on Issue 2. This bill would create an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, comprised of a representative of the local humane society, veterinarians, food safety and consumer experts, family farmers, and others knowledgeable about Ohio livestock and poultry. This issue has extremely broad support, with the notable exception of HSUS, which is a political-action group that pretends to be associated with your local humane society, even though it is not. This disingenuous approach, plus the fact that they have possibly ruined certain sectors of California's farm industry, leading to less food being produced locally, shows that they do not have the best interests of Ohio's farms in mind.
Let's keep the decision about how to treat Ohio livestock in the hands of local Ohioans, and insure a safe and LOCAL food supply which comes from happy, healthy, Ohio animals. Vote "yes" on Issue 2.