While prosecutors are STILL continuing to seek accountability for those involved in the HB6 scandal -- the largest bribery scheme the state has ever seen -- the legislature is considering making it even harder to combat government corruption.

Rather than working to strengthen transparency, Ohio House leaders slipped in a budget provision that would entirely eliminate the Ohio Election Commission, the state’s independent campaign finance enforcement agency.

For our democracy to work, elected officials must answer to the people they represent — not wealthy special interests. That is precisely what campaign finance laws aim to do: prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption in government and ensure that voters know who is spending big money to influence their vote.

Ohioans want more accountability in government, not less. With secret spending flooding state elections, current state laws and resources for the Commission render it a small flame in the darkness. The Legislature must strengthen the law and increase the Commission’s resources to illuminate more for voters. Instead, this proposal extinguishes that flame entirely.

Call your Ohio Senator and tell them: “Preserve the Ohio Election Commission!”

You can find the phone number for your Ohio Senator HERE. Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to talk to an aide but it is fine to leave a voicemail message.

Here’s an idea of what to say: “My name is [Your Name] and I live in [Your Town]. I urge you remove the reference to the Ohio Election Commission from the budget and work to preserve and strengthen the commission. We need to increase resources to the commission. I care about accountability in government. Ohio needs a mechanism to make sure that politicians are following the law when it comes to campaign finance laws. Shutting down the Commission will be a big step in the wrong direction.”

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