In our elections, it is illegal for foreign money to influence candidates.
However, we have seen foreign money influence ballot initiatives, and it has swung elections on abortion measures already.
In Ohio, that will no longer be an option thanks to a judge that just blocked a previous ruling.
Not Happening
Ohio had passed a new law that would have blocked foreign money from being permitted to promote ballot initiatives.
The law was blocked in the lower courts based on a very bad interpretation of free speech.
Judge Amul Thapar corrected that mistake this week.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Attorney General David Yost filed an emergency appeal to have the lower court ruling blocked, and Judge Thapar granted their motion.
He stated, “Because our initial review suggests that the district court’s First Amendment analysis was flawed, we now grant Ohio’s motion for a stay of the district court’s order.”
“…[W]orries about foreign influence in American elections have escalated in recent years.
“Ohio’s rationale of preventing foreign interference in state elections has a strong pedigree in American political history, and that fact reduces its evidentiary burden under the strict scrutiny analysis.”
I have never understood how foreign money was permitted in the first place.
This is America, and only American money should be permitted in any race.
Actually, if I had my way, only local money would be permitted for local elections, state money for state elections, and the only race that would be permitted to have funds from around the country would be presidential elections.
It seems a bit outrageous to me that someone from California can donate money to a campaign in Texas to help someone win a race.
Our election systems are badly broken, but at least Ohio is starting the fix.