Ohio lawmakers discuss permanent fix to Ohio's ballot deadline issues

Thank you continuing coverage tonight. Getting President Biden on Ohio's November ballot that took center stage once again today at the State House along with banning foreign money contributions to statewide ballot initiatives. Governor Mike Dewine called the legislature into special session to deal with those issues this week 10 TV. Political reporter Doug Pet Cash is covering day two of this special session. He joins us live from the statehouse with new developments after the Democratic National Committee made its own move to get Biden on the ballot. Doug Yolanda and Angela House minority leader Alison Russo said the DN CS move to hold a virtual roll call to nominate the president before the national convention and ahead of Ohio's August 7th deadline to certify candidates on the ballot, eliminates the need for the special session that's going on right now. What we have on the table right now is a temporary fix. The real issue here is that we need a permanent fix to this issue that impacts not just this year or President Biden, but you know, we've had to do this essentially every year since this law has been in effect. Good morning. Welcome, Governor Oversight Committee Democrats in the House Government Oversight Committee proposed amending the bill to make it a permanent fix rather than only for putting Biden on the ballot this year. It was just passed out a dash two of this amendment. The amendment would move up the Ohio deadline to certify candidates by the 60th day instead of the 90th day before the election. The Republican chair of the committee representative Bob Peterson said, speaking for himself, he's fine with a permanent fix. I do think as I've said, both days, I think we ought to take some input from Secretary of State. I think we need to talk to the local boards of elections make there's reasons why those time frames are put in place so that they can do their work. The committee also heard testimony on a separate bill to ban foreign money contributions to statewide ballot initiative campaigns. Republicans say it will protect election integrity and keep foreign influence out Democrats and other opponents say it will make it harder to get citizen initiatives on the ballot. We want to ensure that malicious foreign money is addressed but that we don't discourage civic participation. We oppose legislation designed to restrict the power and freedom of Ohioans to organize and participate in the democratic process. Chairman Peterson says discussions are going on between the House and Senate to possibly see the bill to mirror the current law against candidates taking foreign campaign contributions. I don't think Ohioans in general think it's wise for a foreign investor to interfere with our elections financially or in any other way, the State Senate already passed its own version of the ballot, the Biden ballot fix and the foreign campaign contributions ban. And now the special session does continue again tomorrow. So we'll see if lawmakers can come to an agreement and pass legislation on these issues. Live at the statehouse Doug Pet Cash 10 TV.

Channel: WBNS 10TV

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Keywords: local, news, news-ott, ohio, ott, politics, syndication

Id: q784nGPpA6E

Length: 3min 2sec (182 seconds)

Published: Wed May 29 2024