NW Ohio Times

State Senator Theresa Gavarone and State Senator Rob McColley have introduced Senate Bill 215 in an effort to prohibit foreign contributions to ballot issue campaigns in Ohio. The bill aims to close the loophole that currently allows foreign donations to be made to issue campaigns, extending the existing law which bans foreign contributions to candidates running for office. This law has been in effect since 2000.

Gavarone emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of Ohio's elections, stating, "Ohio's elections should be about Ohioans, not foreign individuals, governments, and entities trying to influence our democracy and decisions." She believes that Senate Bill 215 will prevent foreign influence on statewide ballot issue campaigns, ensuring that the voices of Ohioans are the ones that matter.

McColley echoed Gavarone's sentiments, highlighting the need to protect the democratic process from foreign interference. He expressed concerns about foreign nationals using dark money groups to pour millions of dollars into state issue campaigns. "This legislation preserves and protects these pivotal questions from foreign influence, which was a concern of our founding fathers for the stability and success of our government," McColley asserted.

The introduction of Senate Bill 215 follows the revelation that a known dark money group, The 1630 Fund, spent over $13 million dollars on ballot campaigns in Ohio in 2023. The group has received substantial funding from Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, totaling over $200 million dollars since 2016. This influx of foreign money has raised concerns about the influence it may have on the outcome of ballot initiatives.

The proposal to ban foreign contributions to ballot issue campaigns enjoys broad support among voters. Nearly 80% of voters favor such a ban, regardless of their political affiliation. The sentiment is shared among Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike. Several states have already implemented similar laws or have legislation pending to address this issue. Additionally, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Congress to prohibit foreign contributions in state and local ballot initiatives.

Senate Bill 215 will now move to the committee stage, where it will undergo further scrutiny and evaluation. If passed, the bill will serve as a crucial step towards safeguarding the democratic process in Ohio by preventing foreign interference in ballot issue campaigns.