Rep. Brown Piccolantonio Questions Funding for Secretary of State Lawsuit, Urges Prudence as Lame Duck Approaches

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) today pushed back on the Ohio Controlling Board's approval of $690K in funding from the Emergency Purposes Fund requested by the Secretary of State's office. These state dollars will go towards attorney fees and costs associated with the legal defense in the case of League of Women Voters of Ohio v. Frank LaRose. This case concerned legislation (House Bill 458) that was passed during the 2022 lame duck session.

"Numerous opponents of the bill noted that it would place illegal burdens on Ohioans with disabilities and create true barriers for them to be able to vote. All of that testimony was ignored by the Republican supermajority. The Secretary of State's office declined the opportunity to provide the legislature with any expertise regarding House Bill 458 and how it fit within the Voting Rights Act. We owe it to Ohioans to think through the practical consequences of the laws that we pass," said Rep. Brown Piccolantonio.

"As we approach the next lame duck session, I urge my colleagues to be prudent and remember that when legislation is rushed though, it can lead to additional costs to Ohioans down the road. When we have to spend money on lawsuits that should have been avoided, we divert funds from addressing true emergencies, and policies to support all Ohioans like property tax relief, and fair school funding."