Washington Examiner

Out-of-state funds accused of influencing Ohio constitutional amendment by abortion opponents.

Anti-Abortion​ Advocates Target Out-of-State Influence ⁤in⁢ Ohio Special Election

Anti-abortion advocates in​ Ohio are taking a stand against​ the out-of-state⁣ financial influence of ‍Planned ​Parenthood and ⁢the American⁢ Civil ‌Liberties ​Union (ACLU) in the upcoming special ⁣election ⁢on ​August⁢ 8th. This election will have ⁣a significant impact on a⁢ referendum ⁢that aims ⁣to codify abortion ‍rights into‍ the Ohio⁣ Constitution⁤ in ⁢November.

“Right now, ‌Ohio’s ⁤Constitution has ⁢a giant ⁢‘FOR SALE’⁣ sign ‌on it,”

⁣‍

-‌ Molly‍ Smith, Protect Women‍ Ohio

Molly ⁣Smith, ‍a⁣ board member of⁣ the advocacy organization⁤ Protect ⁤Women Ohio (PWO), ‍expressed‌ her‍ concerns​ about the situation. PWO ‌has⁢ launched a multimillion-dollar ‌advertising‍ campaign ‌supporting Issue 1 on the ballot, which‍ seeks‌ to ⁢change the percentage ‌of votes required ​to ⁤amend ⁤the state’s Constitution.

“Out-of-state special interest​ groups, like the ACLU, think ‍they can drop into Ohio⁤ with their ⁤fat pockets ‌and buy⁣ their way‌ into⁢ our founding document — it’s outrageous, and it must be stopped.”

– Molly​ Smith, Protect Women Ohio

Pro-abortion rights activists⁢ have successfully gathered ⁣the necessary signatures to put an ‍amendment on the Ohio Constitution⁤ ballot. ⁣This ⁤amendment aims ⁤to⁣ protect the ⁣right to make reproductive decisions, including ​contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage ⁤care,​ and abortion.​ It⁢ also prevents ‌the‍ legislature from ‌restricting⁣ abortion ‌if⁣ it​ is deemed necessary by ⁤the pregnant patient’s treating ⁣physician to⁣ protect‍ their life or health.

In response to ⁣this ⁤ballot measure, the ⁢Ohio legislature has⁣ called ⁤for a ‍special election in⁢ August ​to ⁢change the percentage of⁢ votes required⁣ to⁣ amend ‌the⁣ Ohio Constitution from​ a simple‍ majority to‍ a‍ minimum‌ of 60% of​ voters.

PWO,‍ a self-described “pro-woman, pro-parent, ‍and pro-life coalition,” was formed⁤ to counterbalance the influence of‍ Planned Parenthood and the ‌ACLU. ⁢PWO⁢ claims that ​both organizations are using out-of-state ⁣lobbying funds to‍ support the ‍campaign⁢ and maintain ‌the simple majority ‍amendment‌ process while ‌codifying ‌abortion ‍access.

PWO​ has invested $5 million in opposing Planned Parenthood and the ‌ACLU. ⁤They argue ‌that⁣ these organizations ⁢advocate ‍for⁢ including ‍gender transition medicine as part of comprehensive‌ reproductive care. PWO’s latest ad, ‍titled “Caught,” highlights​ tweets‌ from both organizations ‌supporting youth gender transition ⁤medicine and⁣ the removal of ⁤parental⁣ consent for⁣ transitions and abortions on⁤ minors.

PWO has also released ‌a⁤ 30-second ⁤video commercial called “Your Promise,”⁤ which cost $2 million to air on television.

Planned Parenthood ‍Federation of America and Planned‌ Parenthood⁣ Global‌ had a combined advocacy ⁤budget ⁤of $74.8⁣ million in⁢ 2022, spread ‍across multiple states ⁢and ⁢campaigns. Similarly, the national ​ACLU had‌ a‍ legislative and​ legal operating​ budget​ of $121.37 million,⁤ accounting ⁢for nearly 40% of its​ total expenditure.

Pro-abortion rights ​groups have pointed ‌out⁢ that out-of-state interests are ​also⁢ funding⁢ anti-abortion⁣ advocacy in ⁤Ohio. For ‍example, Illinois billionaire Richard Uihlein donated⁤ $1 million to‍ the Save Our⁣ Constitution PAC.

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“Issue 1⁤ does​ nothing to keep⁢ out-of-state special interests from⁢ coming into ⁢Ohio⁣ and⁣ buying their‍ preferred policy outcome.”

– Collin Marozzi, ​ACLU Ohio

Collin Marozzi,⁣ deputy policy ‍director ⁣for ACLU Ohio, ⁢argues that Issue⁤ 1‍ will not​ prevent out-of-state special interests from influencing Ohio​ and jeopardizes⁢ the people’s right to⁤ amend ‍the⁢ Constitution, which they have ⁤had for‍ over⁣ 110‍ years.

The‍ process⁣ for ratifying state⁢ constitutional amendments ⁢varies across‌ the‌ country. ⁣Florida,​ for ⁤example,‌ also ​requires a 60%⁢ majority⁣ to​ ratify a constitutional ​amendment, while ​Nevada requires an amendment ⁤to⁣ be ⁣ratified ​in two consecutive ⁤elections⁤ before ​taking effect.

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