Posted on Wednesday, February 12, 2025
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by AMAC Action
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AMAC Action is leading a grassroots effort in Kentucky in support of House Bill 45, a common-sense measure that strengthens campaign finance transparency to prevent wealthy foreign donors from unfairly influencing state and local elections.
According to the Federal Elections Campaign Act, foreign nationals are prohibited from contributing to candidates for public office in the United States. However, in 2021 the Federal Elections Commission ruled that this same restriction does not apply to state ballot measures, creating a loophole that allows foreign entities to influence American state and local policies.
Recent years have seen an alarming uptick in foreign contributions to state ballot initiatives – most notably efforts to erode protections for the unborn following the Dobbs Supreme Court decision in 2022. In Ohio, for instance, more than $14 million in foreign money poured in to support ballot measures reducing penalties for fentanyl possession and codifying radical pro-abortion laws in the Ohio Constitution.
According to a report from National Review last October, “The Sixteen Thirty Fund, an organization bankrolled by left-wing Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss funneled $23 million into statewide ballot campaigns” in 2024 alone. In total over the past decade, “Sixteen Thirty Fund has spent $115 million on statewide ballot campaigns across 25 states to advance liberal priorities.”
The expansive influence of the Sixteen Thirty Fund has raised serious concerns about the potential of U.S. adversaries meddling in American politics. Chinese or Russian entities could theoretically work behind the scenes to sow unrest and discord in the United States under the guise of contributing to state ballot campaigns.
In response to this urgent and growing crisis, at least nine states have passed laws prohibiting foreign nationals or governments from funding state ballot initiatives. This issue has crossed political lines, with liberal states such as Maryland, Washington, and California joining conservative states such as North Dakota, South Dakota, and Ohio in enacting bans.
Kentucky could now become the next state to enact a ban and build on the momentum to get foreign money out of state and local politics. “This measure is a crucial step to ensure Bluegrass State voters, not shadowy foreign billionaires, determine Kentucky law,” said AMAC Action Senior Vice President Andy Mangione. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Kentucky state legislature to get this important measure passed as quickly as possible to ensure the integrity of Kentucky’s elections.”
Kentucky residents can ask their state representatives to support HB 45 HERE.
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