Ohio is a great place to do business. Our state ranked in the top ten of CNBC’s 2021 “Top States for Business,” and we have the third largest manufacturing workforce in the country, along with rapidly growing healthcare and technology sectors, to name a few. But despite these promising developments, there is one issue holding our economy back: Ohio’s continued use of capital punishment.
There is no evidence that the death penalty deters violent crime. In fact, research has repeatedly shown that states with capital punishment have higher murder rates than those without. This measure comes at an enormous cost to our economy and our taxpayers. Ohioans pay $16 million per year to maintain the use of capital punishment – and these cases cost up to ten times more than others. Continuing to funnel dollars into an ineffective and inhumane practice demonstrates fiscal irresponsibility and undermines our state’s credibility as a great place to do business. Investors everywhere are signaling their opposition to capital punishment – and taking it into account when deciding where to send their money.
But there is a path forward. States across the country, on both sides of the aisle, are abolishing the death penalty, and support for capital punishment is at an all-time low. Governor DeWine has already shown tremendous leadership by refusing to schedule executions in our state. As we continue to grow our economy and look to attract new corporate investment, we should ensure our state’s values and fiscal priorities are in alignment. Rather than fight years of delays and spend millions more in taxpayer dollars in litigation, Ohio should end its use of the death penalty once and for all.
We stand united in urging the Ohio Legislature to pass Senate Bill 101 and House Bill 259 to send to Governor DeWine to make law.