Vicki Prunty — House Bill 291, People Over Profits and Peace Over War

Summary

Testimony by Vicki Prunty to Chair Powell and committee members opposing House Bill 291. Prunty says the bill deeply troubles her as an Ohioan who cares about people over profits and peace over war. The testimony argues that the commission would prioritize military technology partnerships with Israel, that the bill allows unlimited private funding with zero transparency, and that the commission could be funded through the budget without debate. It closes by urging the committee to vote no on HB 291.

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Full text

Chair Powell and committee members, my name is Vicki Prunty and I’m testifying today
because House Bill 291 deeply troubles me as an Ohioan who cares about people over profits
and peace over war. This bill isn’t just about trade. It’s about embedding Ohio into a system that
could harm vulnerable communities here and abroad. Let me explain why.

First, this commission would prioritize military technology partnerships with Israel, especially in
cyber warfare and electronic weapons. That means Ohio’s universities and research centers
could become labs for developing tools used in surveillance or warfare. We’ve seen how these
technologies can target civilians. Why should our state support that? Shouldn’t we invest in
technology that heals and connects people instead?

Second, the bill allows unlimited private funding with zero transparency. Think about that:
foreign governments or defense contractors could bankroll this commission and steer Ohio
policy behind closed doors. That’s not democracy. That’s a pay-to-play scheme where money
talks louder than Ohio families. We deserve to know who’s influencing decisions about our jobs
and communities.

Third, singling out Israel. A country currently involved in war crimes, sends a terrible message.
Palestinian Ohioans, Jewish peace advocates, and so many others are already hurting. Why
would we prioritize a partnership that ignores their suffering? This isn’t neutrality; it’s taking a
side in an ongoing humanitarian crisis.

And let’s be practical: Israel’s economy is faltering. Credit agencies downgraded it, investors are
fleeing, and its tech sector is struggling. Why chain Ohio’s future to instability? We’ve got
schools needing funding, hospitals closing, and towns left behind. Shouldn’t that come before
risky foreign military ventures?

Finally, there’s the sneaky threat of last-minute funding. If this commission gets tucked into the
budget quietly, taxpayers could fund this forever with no debate. That’s not how the government
should work.

At its heart, this bill trades Ohio’s moral standing for war tech partnerships. It risks making us
complicit in harm while silencing ordinary citizens. I urge you: vote no on HB 291. Let’s build an
Ohio economy that lifts everyone up. Without secrecy, without militarization, and without
ignoring the pain of our neighbors.


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