Testimony on HB 188 — Diana Sette

Summary

Testimony from Diana Sette, who identifies as a resident of Cleveland, stating strong opposition to HB 188. The testimony says the bill would funnel millions of taxpayer dollars into a foreign partnership with the State of Israel while Ohio communities face deep cuts to libraries, schools, healthcare, infrastructure and public services. It states that the legislation includes no clear benchmarks, performance reporting requirements or community input mechanisms, and that the bill creates a board of political appointees. It asks why the proposed $10,000,000 over two years is not invested in Ohio's farmers and urges a vote NO on HB 188.

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Full text

My name is Diana Sette, and I am a resident of Cleveland, and I strongly oppose
HB 188. This bill would funnel millions of taxpayer dollars into a foreign
partnership with the State of Israel. This funding would be sent overseas at a
time when Ohio communities are facing deep cuts to libraries, schools,
healthcare, infrastructure, and public services.

As a healthcare worker and mother, I am shocked our lawmakers would make
such a proposal in this dire moment. I have serious concerns about this bill’s
lack of transparency, oversight, and return on investment for Ohio taxpayers.
The legislation includes no clear benchmarks, performance reporting
requirements, or community input mechanisms. It also proposes to invest in a
state’s economy which has seen its credit ratings downgraded repeatedly with
decline in the tech sector. We should not be gambling with Ohioans’ hard-
earned tax dollars.

Most importantly, this bill proposes to send millions to a state that is currently
under international investigation for crimes against humanity. A trade partnership
makes Ohio complicit in war crimes and prolonged unlawful occupation of the
Palestinian territory, which has now escalated to a full edged genocide. Please
read the most recent report by the United Nations regarding the ways in which
international partnerships can legally be held accountable for complicity in these
crimes: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/ les/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/
coiopt/a-80-492-advance-unedited-version.pdf.

HB 188 creates a board stacked with political appointees tied to pro-Israel
organizations, explicitly excluding Palestinian, Arab-American, Muslim, and
neutral voices. It contains no independent oversight, no competitive process,
and no clear safeguards to ensure accountability or public bene t. This is not
just about trade. This is about values.

In three days, nearly 1.5 million Ohioans are set to lose SNAP bene ts. Why not
propose emergency food funds so our people, especially our children, sick and
elderly, are not abandoned hungry and starving? Why not invest the proposed
$10,000,000 over two years in Ohio’s farmers, like the Mid-Ohio Regional
Planning Commission proposed with their Agricultural Economic stimulus plan
they’ve proposed as a way to strengthen Ohio’s economy from the inside?
There are so many ways that Ohio can invest in local innovation, workforce
development, medical centers, universities and technology, but sending our
money overseas to a declining and questionable state is unethical and unwise.

I strongly believe Ohio’s resources must stay in Ohio, to build up the economy of
our own communities. Please stand for transparency, equity, and scal




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responsibility, and consider the people of Ohio who elected you—not foreign
lobbyists—and to vote NO on HB 188.

Sincerely,

Diana Sette


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