Foreign Corporations Are Meddling in State Ballot Measure Campaigns
Foreign corporations shouldn’t get a vote in Missouri’s democracy.
But thanks to a loophole in federal law, they already are. And it’s only getting worse.
Right now, foreign companies can legally spend money to influence state ballot measures.
Federal law bans foreign money in candidate elections, but not in ballot measure campaigns. That means foreign governments and corporations can pour millions into rewriting state constitutions, and it’s happening across America.
Foreign Money in Maine
In 2021, Hydro-Québec, a foreign government-owned utility company from Canada, spent over $20 million to influence Maine voters.
The goal: stop a ballot measure that threatened its billion-dollar energy deal.
It worked. And it was perfectly legal.
If a foreign government can buy influence in Maine, what’s stopping them from doing the same thing in Missouri?
Foreign Money in Montana
In 2018, Sandfire Resources, an Australian mining company, funneled nearly $300,000 through a Canadian subsidiary to fight a Montana mining regulation initiative.
Regulators admitted that the spending came from foreign sources, but said that it didn’t violate federal law because ballot measures aren’t considered elections.
That’s the loophole.
And it’s one that foreign corporations are happy to exploit.
Why Missouri Must Act
Foreign billionaires and multinational corporations don’t care about Missouri values. They care about power and profit.
The Protect MO Voters Amendment would finally close this loophole and constitutionally ban foreign funding in state and local ballot measure campaigns.
It’s a simple, common-sense safeguard: only Missourians should decide Missouri’s future.
Maine and Montana have already been targeted.
Missouri could be next.
Click here to take action now.
Andy Bakker
Executive Director
Liberty Alliance USA