Ohio Approves Issue Two

On November 3, 64 percent of Ohio voters approved Issue Two, a constitutional amendment designed to prevent the animal welfare legislation recently passed in Michigan and California. The measure will create a 13-member Livestock Care Standards Board to regulate the treatment of farm animals in Ohio. It will include consumers, farmers, veterinarians, and only one representative from a humane society. The Humane Society of the United States says this development is unfortunate, but it will continue to push for reform in states like Ohio to eliminate inhumane animal confinement on factory farms. Supporters say Issue Two lets Ohio make its own decisions about its food systems, but the Ohio Farmers Union opposed the amendment, saying the issue should have been further negotiated to prevent unnecessary bureaucracy.