Opponent Testimony on House Bill 188, Ohio Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership — Matthew Brown

Summary

Opponent testimony on House Bill 188, the Ohio Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership, from Matthew Brown, a Columbus resident, before the House Development Committee, dated 10/27/2025. The testimony states that the bill raises questions regarding transparency and accountability and that cost of living in Ohio is becoming increasingly unaffordable. It states that Israel's credit rating has been downgraded multiple times. It urges the committee to vote no on House Bill 188.

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Opponent Testimony on House Bill 188 Ohio Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership
Matthew Brown – Resident
Before the House Development Committee
10/27/2025

Chair Hoops, Vice Chairman Lorenz, Ranking Member Brownlee, and members of the House
Development Committee:

My name is Matthew Brown and I am a lifelong Catholic, a Columbus resident, and an IT
professional.

Thank you for the opportunity to give testimony in opposition to House Bill 188. While framed as
an economic development initiative, this bill raises serious questions regarding transparency
and accountability at a time when we should be putting Ohio first and investing here at home.

The cost of living in Ohio is becoming increasingly unaffordable for more and more people. Lack
of affordable housing, stagnant wages, and cuts to food stamps are threatening Ohio workers,
our families, and small businesses every day.

HB 188 would take money out of Ohio and funnel it into a partnership with Israel, a risky
economic partner and a gamble that we cannot afford. Israel’s credit rating has been
downgraded multiple times and remains at risk of further decline under strain from its prolonged
military campaign.

A trade commission with Israel would lock Ohio into partnership with a politically volatile, fiscally
unstable country that the International Court of Justice has found to be in violation of
international law and leading human rights organizations accuse of genocide.



I urge you to put Ohio first, vote no on House Bill 188. Thank you.



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