by JD Davidson
Ohio Republican Party officials wasted no time in responding to a federal court ruling that halted the state’s planned ban on the employ of foreign currency in state election campaigns.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Attorney General Dave Yost quickly filed a motion to stay a federal court decision that blocked the law from taking effect Sunday.
“The judge indicated that most of the law is constitutionally enforceable, but he disagreed with the application of the restriction to lawful permanent residents,” LaRose said. “We ask that the court stay the entire decision pending an appeal, or that the board at least enforce what the court believes are the constitutional parts of the law.”
The original bill on the House floor did not include a ban on contributions from lawful eternal residents. However, Republican lawmakers added the provision as an amendment over Republican opposition.
The bill easily passed both the Republican-majority House of Representatives and the Senate.
Ohio already prohibits contributions from foreign nationals to candidates or candidate committees. In addition, Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment two years ago that narrow voter registration and voting to U.S. citizens who are legally eligible residents of Ohio.
On SaturdayU.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson found that the proposed ban on the employ of foreign money for amendment campaigns violates the First Amendment rights of non-U.S. citizens who legally reside in the country.
In his ruling, he said that if eternal residents can serve in the military, they should also be able to make political contributions.
“If the US federal government trusts its residents [lawful permanent residents] to put U.S. interests first in the military (of all places), how can this Court rule that they are not trusted to promote U.S. interests in their political spending? They cannot,” Watson wrote.
The same law extended the deadline for political parties to nominate someone for president this election year. At the time, it allowed Democrats to nominate President Joe Biden without a virtual vote.
Biden later dropped out of the race, and Democrats nominated Vice President Kamala Harris in a roll call vote ahead of the party convention last month.
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Born in Ohio, J.D. Davidson is a seasoned journalist with more than 30 years of experience at newspapers in Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He has served as a reporter, editor, managing editor and publisher. Davidson is a regional editor Central Square.
Photo “Dave Yost” by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Photo “Frank LaRose” by Frank LaRose. Background Photo “Courtroom” by ohioduidefense.
