Yes on Issue 2 campaign files elections commission complaint against opponent

Staff report

COLUMBUS

The campaign in support of a state ballot issue that seeks to reduce prescription drug prices Wednesday filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission against the issue’s opposing campaign.

The complaint filed by the Yes on Issue 2 campaign demands that the opposing campaign publicly disclose the names of its campaign donors.

“The complaint filed with the Ohio Elections Commission alleges that the opponents have failed to comply with state campaign finance disclosure laws, including failing to file a complete and accurate list of donors, the essence of such laws,” said Don McTigue, an election law attorney for the Issue 2 group, in a statement.

Issue 2, if approved by voters in the November election, would require state agencies to pay no more for prescription drugs than what the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pays for those drugs.

Proponents of the statute say it would result in significant cost savings for the state and reduce drug prices for many Ohioans. The proposed statute would directly impact an estimated 4 million Ohioans.

Opponents contend the act would have the opposite effect, saying that many Ohioans would actually see higher drug prices and reduced access to medications.

Both sides are now in the midst of what is likely to be an expensive campaign leading up to the election.

“Enough with this secrecy,” said Tracy Jones, a supporter of Issue 2 who filed the complaint. “The drug companies think they are above the law, but they are not. Just like every other candidate and issue campaign who filed a campaign finance report July 31, the drug companies must reveal themselves to Ohio voters, along with the exact amount they are spending on their secret campaign against Issue 2.”

“Ohioans are entitled to know what corporations, what drug companies and perhaps what drug company executives have contributed $15.8 million to the campaign against Issue 2,” said Dennis Willard, Yes on Issue 2 spokesman. “Are the same drug companies – like Purdue, Endo and Teva – that were sued recently by our own Ohio attorney general for contributing to Ohio’s deadly heroin epidemic among the contributors to the campaign against Issue 2? Ohioans should know that.” Ohio Taxpayers for Lower Drug Prices, the group leading the effort to pass the act, is sponsored by the California-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The organization backed a similar ballot measure in California last year that the pharmaceutical industry spent upwards of $109 million to defeat.

The pharmaceutical industry is funding the opposing campaign, Ohioans Against the Deceptive Rx Ballot Issue.

Ohioans Against the Deceptive Rx Ballot Issue has brought together a broad coalition opposed to the statute, from veterans groups to medical associations to business organizations.

The campaign claims that the Drug Price Relief Act is unworkable, would likely increase drug costs for Ohioans who do not get their medicines through state programs, has the potential to increase the state’s prescription drug costs, threatens to reduce access to medicines and puts at risk other discounts the VA receives.

The group argues the act would be unworkable because it’s not publicly known what discounts the VA receives. The VA negotiates additional discounts with pharmaceutical companies.