As requested ... info on Issue 2

Final ballot language

TO CREATE THE OHIO LIVESTOCK CARE STANDARDS BOARD TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT STANDARDS OF CARE FOR LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY

Proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly
To adopt Section 1 of Article XIV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio
This proposed amendment would:

1. Require the state to create the Livestock Care Standards Board to prescribe standards for animal care and well-being that endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food, and protect Ohio farms and families.

2. Authorize this bipartisan board of thirteen members to consider factors that include, but are not limited to, agricultural best management practices for such care and well-being, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers when establishing and implementing standards.

3. Provide that the board shall be comprised of thirteen Ohio residents including representatives of Ohio family farms, farming organizations, food safety experts, veterinarians, consumers, the dean of the agriculture department at an Ohio college or university and a county humane society representative.

4. Authorize the Ohio department that regulates agriculture to administer and enforce the standards established by the board, subject to the authority of the General Assembly.

If adopted, this amendment shall take effect immediately.

A “YES” vote means approval of the amendment.
A “NO” vote means disapproval of the amendment.
A majority YES vote is required for the amendment to be adopted.

Official Argument in favor of Issue 2

Voting Yes on Issue 2 creates the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to ensure livestock well-being, maintain our food safety, assure our locally grown and raised food supply and protect Ohio farms and families.

The Board will…

• Maintain and promote food safety
• Promote locally grown and raised food
• Protect Ohio consumers and family farmers
• Ensure the care and well-being of livestock
• Be composed of a broad-based group of Ohio experts

Voting Yes on Issue 2 will keep control of agriculture where it belongs, here in Ohio, under the guidance of Ohio experts including family farmers, food safety experts, veterinarians, and consumers.

Agriculture is the cornerstone of Ohio's economy generating billions of dollars and creating thousands of jobs for Ohioans. Voting YES on Issue 2 is an opportunity for our state to lead the way in regulating safe food production and by promoting locally produced food, voting YES on Issue 2 keeps jobs here in Ohio.

Yes on Issue 2 has received broad bi-partisan support from both Republican and Democrat state legislators. Governor Ted Strickland, Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland), House Speaker Armond Budish (D-Beachwood), and elected officials and organizations across Ohio all urge a YES Vote on Issue 2.

Official argument against Issue 2

You should vote NO because: Issue 2 puts the economic interests of factory farms ahead of the welfare of farm animals; Issue 2 was passed through the Legislature; Agribusiness supports this amendment to prevent certain animal care reform proposed by national animal rights organizations; Issue 2 expands state government unnecessarily, and expands it at a time when Ohioans cannot afford more government; Making the proposed livestock board a constitutional board would be an inappropriate use of the Ohio Constitution; Amending the Ohio Constitution should be reserved for significant issues that affect the rights of all Ohioans.

Voters should defeat proposed amendments that add clutter to Ohio’s Constitution and that address issues better suited for changes to the Ohio Revised Code or the Ohio Administrative Code.

Vote NO on Issue 2.