A group of organizations focused on election integrity is urging Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens to move forward with legislation that would prohibit foreign funding in support of ballot measures. The coalition believes that it is important for elections in Ohio to be free and fair, without interference from foreign billionaires who may be supporting Left-wing causes over the interests of American citizens. They are calling for action to prevent foreign meddling in Ohio’s elections and to protect the votes of all Ohioans.
Recently, the Ohio Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, passed an amended version of House Bill 114 to ensure that President Joe Biden can appear on the state’s 2024 general election ballot. This move was made due to a scheduling issue with the Democratic National Convention that could potentially impact Biden’s candidacy. In addition to addressing this issue, the Senate added provisions to prohibit foreign nationals from funding Ohio ballot measure campaigns, including independent expenditures.
Despite receiving unanimous support from Senate Republicans and opposition from Democrats, House Speaker Jason Stephens, who was elected with the help of House Democrats, refused to allow debate on the measure in the House. This decision has caused concern among advocates for election integrity, who believe that foreign funding should not be allowed in Ohio ballot measure campaigns.
The coalition of organizations, including Heritage Action, APT, and Honest Elections Project Action, are urging Speaker Stephens to reconsider and pass HB 114 to protect Ohio’s elections from foreign interference, particularly from donors like Hansjörg Wyss. Wyss has funneled millions to Democrat dark money groups and could be impacted by the legislation in question.
They argue that foreign money should not be used to influence Ohio’s ballot measure campaigns and are calling on Speaker Stephens to take action to address this issue. The organizations point to the impact of groups like the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which has used significant funding to support various causes and initiatives in Ohio, including efforts related to abortion and amending the state’s constitution.
Overall, the coalition is pushing for legislation to prevent foreign meddling in Ohio’s elections and ensure that the voices of Ohio voters are protected. They are calling on Speaker Stephens to prioritize election integrity and take action to address the influence of foreign money in ballot measure campaigns.
