Supporters of the November ballot issue expected to be the most expensive in Ohio history are trying to get opponents of the measure to release details on their finances.
Issue 2, also known as the "Ohio Drug Price Relief Act," would bar state agencies from buying drugs at a price higher than what's paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which receives large discounts. If the agency can't buy at that price, they can't buy the drug at all.
The group backing Issue 2, which is expected to be the most expensive ballot issue in Ohio history, has filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission, demanding that the opposition reveal its donors.
But Dale Butland says it鈥檚 no secret pharmaceutical companies such as those listed on its website are funding the charge against the 鈥淵es On 2鈥� campaign.
鈥淭hey want to distract attention from their own failing campaign so they filed this baseless complaint,鈥� Butland says about the group Ohio Taxpayers for Lower Drug Prices.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a distraction that drug companies are hiding how much money they鈥檙e giving," says Yes On 2 spokesman Dennis Willard about the group Ohioans Against the Deceptive Rx Ballot Issue.
The 鈥渘o鈥� side does not have to disclose individual contributors, but drug makers Amgen and Biogen have admitted donating more than $7.7 million.