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Supreme Court: Health Care Freedom Amendment to Move Forward

April 29, 2010 By 1851 Center for Constitutional Law

Ohio Supreme Court Orders Ballot Board to Certify Amendment Language

Columbus – The Ohio Supreme Court today unanimously ruled Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and the Ohio Ballot Board abused their discretion and violated Ohio law in rejecting ballot language for the proposed Ohio Health Care Freedom Constitutional Amendment. The ruling is a significant victory for constitutional initiative rights, Ohio’s grass-roots liberty movement, and health care freedom in Ohio. The 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, a non-profit constitutional rights advocacy firm, argued the case on behalf of amendment sponsors the Ohio Liberty Council. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Defending Referedum Rights, Frontpage Posts, Gallery, Litigation and Counsel, News Releases

Maurice Thompson talks smoking bans on Detroit’s WJR-AM

April 20, 2010 By 1851 Center for Constitutional Law

With Michigan’s recently enacted smoking ban about to go into effect, Frank Beckmann of WJR-AM Detroit spoke with 1851 Center Executive Director Maurice Thompson about his successful efforts challenging Ohio’s smoking ban.

Listen to the interview here:

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Read more about the 1851 Center’s successful challenge of the Ohio smoking ban here.

Filed Under: 1851's Recent Actions, Radio Interview Tagged With: Smoking Ban

Stand up to collectivist government: Maurice Thompson addresses the Columbus Tea Party

April 18, 2010 By 1851 Center for Constitutional Law

On Thursday, April 15, 1851 Center Executive Director Maurice Thompson addressed a crowd of over 3,000 activists at the Columbus Tea Party’s Tax Day Rally.  He urged them to stand up to paternalistic – we know best – government.  Thompson believes taxpayers should be leery of the state and federal government’s continued path toward collectivist policies.

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Listen to his speech.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Speech, Tax Day Rally

High Court Asked to Address Improper Rejection of Health Care Freedom Amendment

April 14, 2010 By 1851 Center

1851 Center Files Ohio Supreme Court Complaint Against Ballot Board

Columbus – The 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, a non-profit constitutional rights advocacy firm, yesterday filed a complaint with the Ohio Supreme Court seeking a remedy for improper actions taken by the Ohio Ballot Board. On Friday, the Ballot Board, chaired by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, rejected a proposed health care freedom constitutional amendment. It ruled the Ohio Liberty Council, the amendment’s sponsor, must resubmit the measure as two separate amendments. The ruling requires the group to rewrite its constitutional amendment, and gather two sets of 402,276 signatures for two separate amendments by June 30. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Defending Referedum Rights, Featured Post, Litigation and Counsel, News Releases

Ballot Board Attempts to Block Health Care Freedom Amendment

April 9, 2010 By 1851 Center for Constitutional Law

1851 Center for Constitutional Law to File Action with Ohio Supreme Court

Columbus – Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and the Ohio Ballot Board today ruled a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at protecting Ohioans from forthcoming health care regulations should be split into two parts. As a result, the board rejected the proposed amendment and told its sponsor, the Ohio Liberty Council, to start over. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Defending Referedum Rights, Litigation and Counsel, News Releases

Maurice Thompson w/ WTVN’s Bob Conners on health care admendment

April 6, 2010 By 1851 Center for Constitutional Law

1851 Center for Constitutional Law Executive Director Maurice Thompson and 610 WTVN’s Bob Conners discuss the Ohio Liberty Council’s effort to block new federal health care mandates through a constitutional amendment. The amendment language was drafted by the 1851 Center.  Thompson and Conners believe government’s role should be limited, especially in matters of individual health care coverage. The interview took place on Friday, April 2, 2010, after the Ohio attorney general approved the amendment language.

Listen to the interview:

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Read more about the constitutional amendment here.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Victory in SpeechNow.org v. FEC

April 5, 2010 By 1851 Center

In August, the 1851 Center filed an amicus brief defending the First Amendment rights of SpeechNow.org in its legal battle with the Federal Elections Commission. The FEC viewed the non-profit much like a political action committee or PAC. The 1851 Center’s brief argued SpeechNow.org is not a political committee that makes contributions to candidates, and its subjection to harsh campaign finance laws are a constitutional violation of the freedoms of political speech and association. It emphasized that political speech made by citizens in a grassroots organization is protected by the First Amendment. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Litigation and Counsel, News Releases, Safeguarding Election Rights