{"id":2241922,"date":"2024-05-10T15:13:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T19:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pressure-grows-for-ohio-speaker-to-advance-bill-keeping-foreign-cash-out-of-elections\/"},"modified":"2024-05-10T15:20:20","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T19:20:20","slug":"pressure-grows-for-ohio-speaker-to-advance-bill-keeping-foreign-cash-out-of-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pressure-grows-for-ohio-speaker-to-advance-bill-keeping-foreign-cash-out-of-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio Speaker Urged to Push Bill Banning Foreign Influence in Elections"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpressure-grows-for-ohio-speaker-to-advance-bill-keeping-foreign-cash-out-of-elections%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2241922&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A \u200ccoalition of\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-liberty-is-messy-founder-of-true-the-vote-gears-up-for-2024\/\" title=\"Founder of True the Vote prepares for 2024, says liberty is chaotic.\">election integrity groups<\/a> pressures Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens to advance legislation \u200cpreventing foreign funding in ballot measures. The battle involves ensuring fair and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watchdog-says-democrats-illegally-paid-foreign-national-for-campaign-work\/\" title=\"Watchdog: Dems Paid Foreign National Illegally for Campaign Tasks\">transparent elections free<\/a> from foreign \u2063influences. The Senate is taking\u200b steps to address errors in presidential ballot \u2062access, while the Speaker faces scrutiny for stalling the bill. \u200bYour summarized text is concise and effectively captures the key points regarding the pressure on Ohio House Speaker Jason \u200cStephens to\u200d advance legislation addressing foreign funding in ballot measures \u200dand the Senate&#8217;s actions to rectify errors in presidential ballot access. The focus\u2063 on ensuring fair and transparent \u2064elections is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of eliminating foreign influences. The Speaker&#8217;s delay in progressing the bill is \u200bnoted, showcasing the scrutiny \u2063he is under for this decision.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure>                         <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A coalition of election integrity groups is demanding Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens advance legislation prohibiting foreign money from backing ballot measures. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cOhioans deserve elections that are free and fair\u2014not influenced by foreign billionaires allowed to bankroll Left-wing causes at the expense of American citizens,\u201d Heritage Action Director of State Advocacy Catherine Gunsalus said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/heritageaction.com\/press\/election-integrity-proponents-condemn-speaker-stephens-for-failing-to-end-foreign-meddling-in-ohios-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a>. \u201c\u2026In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chuck-todd-upset-jan-6-investigation-not-going-as-planned\/\" title=\"Chuck Todd Upset Jan 6 Investigation Not Going as Planned\">crucial election year<\/a> with generational ballot measures on the line, the Speaker\u2019s decision to put politics over election integrity is unacceptable. Conservatives will not relent in our calls to get foreign meddling out of every election and protect the votes of all Ohioans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate passed an amended version of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislature.ohio.gov\/legislation\/135\/hb114\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">House Bill 114<\/a> to ensure President Joe Biden will be able to appear on the Buckeye State\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-arizona-school-choice-law-takes-effect-after-bid-to-repeal-falls-short\/\" title=\"New Arizona School Choice Law Takes Effect After Bid to Repeal Falls Short\">2024 general election ballot<\/a>. As The Federalist reported, the office of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/04\/10\/could-democrat-hubris-and-incompetence-cost-biden-ballot-access-in-these-states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sent<\/a> a letter last month notifying state Democrat Party Chair Liz Walters that the Democratic National Convention\u2019s current date is more than a week after the date by which presidential candidates must be certified in Ohio.<\/p>\n<p>LaRose\u2019s office noted that to rectify the issue, the Democratic National Committee must change the date of its nominating convention or Ohio lawmakers must pass legislation \u201ccreat[ing] an exception to this statutory requirement\u201d by May 9. <\/p>\n<p>Senate Republicans attempted to score for their own voters, too, as they passed a bill to help rectify Democrats\u2019 scheduling mistake. When the Senate passed HB 114, they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-speaker-blocks-bill-keeping-foreign-money-out-of-ohio-ballot-measure-campaigns\/\" title=\"GOP Speaker halts foreign funding ban for Ohio ballot campaigns\">added provisions prohibiting foreign nationals<\/a> from expending funds, including \u201cindependent expenditures,\u201d for Ohio ballot measure campaigns. <\/p>\n<p>Foreign donors including Swiss national <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearinvestigations.com\/articles\/2023\/08\/22\/the_progressive_benefactor_who_makes_us_barriers_to_foreign_cash_look_like_swiss_cheese_973986.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hansj<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/person\/hansjorg-wyss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00f6rg Wyss<\/a>, who funnels millions to Democrat dark money groups, would be barred under the measure from making expenditures \u201cadvocating support of or opposition to an identified ballot issue or question or to achieve the successful circulation of an initiative or referendum petition in order to place such an issue or question on the ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After clearing the Senate with unanimous Republican support and all Democrats voting in opposition, HB 114 met a roadblock upon arriving in the House. Speaker Jason Stephens \u2014 a Republican who was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news5cleveland.com\/news\/politics\/ohio-politics\/biden-ballot-debacle-continues-in-ohio-statehouse-as-deadline-passes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">elected<\/a> to the position with the help of House Democrats \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/05\/09\/gop-speaker-blocks-bill-keeping-foreign-money-out-of-ohio-ballot-measure-campaigns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">refused<\/a> to allow debate on the measure, claiming the bill didn\u2019t have enough support.<\/p>\n<p>The House \u201cinformally passed\u201d a measure extending Ohio\u2019s presidential nominating deadline on Wednesday. That bill (Senate Bill 92) does not include provisions prohibiting foreign money from being used in Ohio ballot measure campaigns. Stephens did not respond to The Federalist\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/05\/09\/gop-speaker-blocks-bill-keeping-foreign-money-out-of-ohio-ballot-measure-campaigns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">previous request for comment<\/a> on why he did not permit HB 114 to be considered by the House or whether he believes foreign money should be allowed to be used in Ohio ballot measure campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>In her Friday statement, APT Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland <a href=\"https:\/\/heritageaction.com\/press\/election-integrity-proponents-condemn-speaker-stephens-for-failing-to-end-foreign-meddling-in-ohios-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blasted<\/a> Senate Democrats for trying to kneecap HB 114 and claimed they are \u201cplaying high-stakes games with partisan presidential politics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTheir opposition to a measure overwhelming[ly] supported by their own constituents is wrong, and Speaker Stephens should act to get foreign interference out of our elections,\u201d Sutherland said. <\/p>\n<p>Honest Elections Project Action Executive Director\u00a0Jason Snead also <a href=\"https:\/\/heritageaction.com\/press\/election-integrity-proponents-condemn-speaker-stephens-for-failing-to-end-foreign-meddling-in-ohios-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">called<\/a> on Stephens to pass HB 114, saying the speaker must decide whether he\u2019s going to \u201cstand with Democrats and their foreign billionaires, or protect Ohio elections from foreign interference.\u201d He noted that Wyss, through his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/berger-action-fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Berger Action Fund<\/a>, has <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/04\/18\/dark-money-group-backed-by-foreign-billionaire-has-dumped-100-million-into-state-ballot-initiatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">poured<\/a> nearly $250 million into the left-wing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/sixteen-thirty-fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sixteen Thirty Fund<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A recent Americans for Public Trust (APT) <a href=\"https:\/\/americansforpublictrust.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/APT_1630_Ballot_Spending_Report_FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report<\/a> revealed the Sixteen Thirty Fund \u201cuses its war chest \u2026 to support massive get-out-the-vote drives, issue advocacy campaigns bolstering President Biden\u2019s agenda, liberal pet projects from abortion to immigration, and attack ads against Republican lawmakers.\u201d The group is administered by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/for-profit\/arabella-advisors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arabella Advisors<\/a>, an advisory for tax-free political spending \u201cthat guides the strategy, advocacy, impact investing, and management for high-dollar left-leaning nonprofits and individuals,\u201d according to InfluenceWatch.<\/p>\n<p>Ohio\u2019s campaign finance disclosure portal <a href=\"https:\/\/ohiocapitaljournal.com\/2024\/03\/04\/ohio-senate-passes-bill-to-stop-foreign-donations-on-ballot-campaigns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reportedly<\/a> shows the Sixteen Thirty Fund dumped $11.5 million into organizations working to enshrine abortion into Ohio\u2019s constitution and defeat a ballot measure raising the threshold to amend the state\u2019s founding document.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens faces mounting pressure from election integrity groups to promote a bill barring foreign funding for ballot measures. Heritage Action Director of State Advocacy, Catherine Gunsalus, emphasized the need for fair elections free from foreign influences backing leftist agendas over American interests<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2241923,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-photo-4386448.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2241922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-photo-4386448.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2241922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2241922"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2241922\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2241923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2241922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2241922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2241922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}