WASHINGTON—Heritage Action, a conservative grassroots organization with two million activists nationwide, including thousands of Utahns, applauds the Utah Legislature for passing S.J.R. 401, legislation to ban foreign funding from flowing to ballot initiative campaigns.
Former Kansas Assistant Secretary of State and Heritage Action Director of State Advocacy Catherine Gunsalus released the following statement:
“When foreign billionaires are allowed to bankroll ballot initiative campaigns, major policy decisions that impact Americans’ daily lives are dictated by activists on the other side of the world. Heritage Action is very glad to see Utah join the growing list of states fighting this unacceptable foreign influence in our elections. We look forward to Utahns approving S.J.R. 401 in November to keep foreign dollars out of elections in the Beehive State.”
For decades, foreign nationals have been prohibited from making donations to political candidates. However, neither federal law nor Utah law applies the same ban to ballot initiatives.
As reported by Honest Elections Project Action and Americans for Public Trust, foreign interests influencing our elections is not a hypothetical problem. Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has given $243 million to the Left-wing Sixteen Thirty Fund, which advocates for progressive policies across the country.
According to recent polling, 78% of Americans agree that foreign nationals should not be influencing our elections, while 68% would support a law to block indirect foreign influence of elections.
Utah currently ranks 33rd out of 51 on The Heritage Foundation’s Election Integrity Scorecard.
BACKGROUND:
The Heritage Foundation: Election Integrity Scorecard
Fox News: Wyoming secretary of state warns of elections' vulnerability to foreign money: 'Deeply disturbing'
Honest Elections Project: Safeguarding our Elections