DeMora Condemns Senate Bill 215

COLUMBUS – Today, state Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) condemned the passage of Senate Bill 215, a Republican bill that is meant to limit certain campaign contributions from foreign nationals but creates a host of unintended consequences. 

“My Democratic colleagues and I would have loved to support actual campaign finance reform,” said DeMora. “But that is not what Senate Bill 215 is. It won’t stop foreign contributions. It’s meant to say the words 'foreign money' and 'liberal' as much as possible and as close together as possible, while stifling the voices of Ohioans who want to take an active role in the political process.”

The most problematic change would require all local ballot issue committees to follow the same laws as political action committees. This would impact local ballot issues like proposed liquor law changes, zoning changes, or even a citizen-led initiative to install a stop sign at a dangerous intersection. 

While the bill would prohibit candidates and ballot issue campaigns from knowingly receiving foreign contributions, the provision would be unenforceable without federal action to prohibit anyone or any group in any state from accepting foreign contributions. 

Senate Bill 215 now heads to the Ohio House of Representatives.