During past election cycles, political analysts and pundits have characterized Ohio as a “bellwether” state, but more recently it has moved firmly into the GOP column. 

That evolution was confirmed in 2022, when Ohio was one of the few states where predictions of a red wave were actually borne out.

And yet even in this supposedly “deep red state,” outraged parents see their kids being exposed to sexually explicit content in their K-12 public schools, Critical Race Theory is snuck into the classroom through backdoor means and right-to-work protections remain elusive because state politicians don’t want to upset labor bosses.

In politics, when the will of the people is so blatantly undermined, money always reveals the wizard behind the curtain. 

The grip of union money and its stranglehold on Ohio politics was once again exposed last weekend as the Ohio House of Representatives began its new session in 2023 and a battle for the most coveted position in all of Ohio politics, speaker of the House, played out in dramatic fashion. 

Unfortunately for Ohio voters, who believed they chose who their next leaders would be at the polls in November, it’s not fun and games. 

Moreover, this exact political nightmare has been on repeat since 2019. 

Disgraced Perry County Republican Larry Householder partnered in secret with House Democrats to form a coalition to unseat Rep. Ryan Smith from the leadership helm. 

It is important to note that Householder earned more support from Democrats than from Republicans. But the entire bloc of Democrats courting even a very small minority of Republicans fixed the speaker race in their favor. 

And their scheming paid off. Democrats enjoyed many political victories under Householder.

What Ohioans now know is that Householder is currently on trial for taking bribes to the tune of $61 million from a notorious energy company that needed his political favor to substantially raise rates on millions of unwitting Ohio customers. 

Federal prosecutors are calling it the largest corruption case in state history.

Householder was also beholden to the government unions and teachers’ unions, having taken more government union money than any other Republican in state history. Labor bosses have contributed at least $147,000 to his coffers. 

Tensions were still raging over the rigged Ohio Speaker’s race of 2019, but by mid-November 2022, the entire delegation of Republicans at the state house publicly agreed to seat Rep. Derek Merrin as the speaker come 2023. 

But then around 3 p.m. on Jan. 3, shock waves pulsated through the statehouse. 

Just as Merrin was preparing to be sworn in as speaker, 22 Republicans, led by Reps. Jay Edwards of Nelsonville and Sara Carters of Hamilton, agreed to vote with the House’s 32 Democrat members for an alternative speaker. 

Enough votes were conjured — or purchased — to squash parental rights in education and put more workplace power into the hands of crony union bosses.  

The people of Ohio were betrayed. 

The Freedom Foundation in Ohio, however, refuses to allow for the people of Ohio to remain ignorant and forever subject to deceit by crooked politicians and the government union dons who fund them. 

That’s why this long, complicated story is so important to tell. 

Most of the GOP beneficiaries of teacher union money and government union money in Ohio sided with the Democrats on Jan. 3. And the 22 have collectively received almost $350,000 from government unions and teachers’ unions since 2017.  

By contrast, the 11 who voted against Stephens in favor of Merrin have received only $53,950 from public-sector unions since 2017. 

The link between government and teacher’s union influence over these two rigged speaker elections can no longer be denied. 

The unions have succeeded in their political battles in a GOP state by peeling off Republicans who can be convinced to side with the Democrats and create a contrived majority in the Ohio house. 

What’s sad is that Ohio’s public employees and teachers are funding this entire cabal with their dues payments. They just don’t know it. 

The Freedom Foundation is on a relentless mission in Ohio to inform public employees about their rights. We are reminding them the roughly $700 these good people pay in union dues every year belongs to them, and they have a choice to keep their hard-earned money from funding their unions’ highly deceptive political schemes. 

The good news is, when teachers and government workers learn about their rights, they redirect dues money into their own bank accounts, costing the unions millions. 

As for the Freedom Foundation in Ohio, the gloves are off. We will not stop because the people of Ohio, teachers and government employees deserve accountability. And the truth. 

The 22 Defectors: 

Republican Jason Stephens (Kitt Hill) – received $10,000 from the Ohio Education Association since 2021

Republican Cindy Abrams (Harrison) – received at least $11,500 since 2021 from government unions including the International Union of Operating Engineers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Ohio Education Association, and the Ohio Nurses Association (an extension of the American Federation of Teachers)

Republican Monica R. Blasdel (Columbiana County) – received $500 from Ohio Education Association in 2022

Republican Sarah Carruthers (Hamilton) – received $2,500 from the Ohio Nurses Association (an extension of the American Federation of Teachers) and Ohio Education Association since 2021. 

Republican Jon Cross (Kenton) – received $6,000 from the Ohio Nurses Association (an extention of the American Federation of Teachers), and the Ohio Education Association since 2021. 

Republican Al Cutrona (Canfield) – received $4,100 from the Ohio Education Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers  since 2021. 

Republican Jay Edwards (Nelsonville) – received $30,250 from OCSEA/AFSCME 11, OAPSE, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Ohio Education Association in 2021 and 2022

Republican Haraz N. Ghanbari (Perrysburg) – received at least $19,954.41  from the Ohio Education Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and Ohio Nurses Association (an extension of the American Federation of Teachers) in 2021 and 2022 

Republican Brett Hudson Hillyer (Uhrichsville) – received $5750 from the Ohio Education Association, and Ohio Nurses Association (an extension of American Federation of Teachers) 

Republican Don Jones (Freeport) – received $40,250 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Ohio Nurses Association, OCSEA/AFSCME 11, and the Ohio Nurses Association (an extension of the American Federation of Teachers) in 2021 and 2022

Republican Jeff LaRe (Violet Township) – received $5,500 from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Ohio Nurses Association (an extension of the American Federation of Teachers), and OCSEA/AFSCME 11 in 2021 and 2022 

Republican Mike Loychick (Bazetta) – received $2,000 from International Brotherhood of Electrical workers in 2021 and 2022

Republican Kevin Miller (Newark) – received $2,000 from International Brotherhood of Electrical workers in 2021 and 2022

Scott Oelslager (North Canton) – received $13,500 from Ohio Education Association, OCSEA/AFSCME 11, and Ohio Nurses Association (an extention of the American Federation of Teachers) in 2021 and 2022

Tom Patton (Strongsville) – received at least $11,100  from Ohio Education Association, United Auto Workers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, OCSEA/AFSCME 11, Ohio Nurses Association (an extension of the American Federation of Teachers) 

Gail K. Pavliga (Portage County) – received $2,500 rom IBEW in 2021 and 2022

Bob Peterson (Washington Courthouse) – $12,707.79 from the Ohio Education Association in 2021 and 2022

Tracy Richardson (Marysville) – $4,250  from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Ohio Nurses Association (an extension of the American Federation of Teachers), and the Ohio Education Association in 2021 and 2022

Bill Seitz (Cincinnati) – $19,700 from the Ohio Education Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in 2021 and 2022

D.J. Swearingen (Huron) – $11,750 from IBEW, Ohio Nurses Association (an extension of the American Federation of Teachers) since 2021

Bob Young (Green) – $1500 from IBEW and Ohio Nurses Association (an extension of the American Federation of Teachers) since 2021

Jene Schmidt – $1,500 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers since 2021