Ohioans for Economic Opportunity is a left-of-center health care advocacy organization. It is a project of the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a 501(c)(4) funding and fiscal sponsorship organization managed by the Washington, D.C.-based consultancy Arabella Advisors.

Background

Ohioans for Economic Opportunity is a Democratic-leaning organization that uses digital outreach and local partnerships to push elected officials to support certain policies, generally promoting the continuation of Obamacare and opposing Republican-backed tax reforms. ¹ Cliff Schecter, a staffer for various Democratic campaigns, is the CEO of Ohioans for Economic Opportunity. ²

It is a project of the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a 501(c)(4) funding and fiscal sponsorship organization managed by the Washington, D.C.-based consultancy Arabella Advisors. Schecter insists that despite the affiliation with the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the Ohio group is still locally focused. “They helped us all organize, helped with research, giving us ideas and helped us raise money quite frankly, too,” Schecter said. ³

Politico identified 11 other organizations with local names that were affiliated with the Sixteen Thirty Fund. These were, Arizonans United for Health Care, Colorado United for Families, Floridians for a Fair Shake, Healthcare Voters of Nevada, Keep Iowa Healthy, Mainers Against Health Care Cuts, Michigan Families for Economic Prosperity, New Jersey for a Better Future, North Carolinians for a Fair Economy, SoCal Health Care Coalition and Speak Out CNY. ⁴

2018 Election Activities

During the 2018 midterm election season, Ohioans for Economic Opportunity heavily targeted Rep. Steve Chabot, a Republican representing the state’s First Congressional District. ⁵ Politico reported that by July 2018, the organization had spent more than $535,000 on negative ads against Chabot. ⁶

The organization began in May 2018. After the initial $535,000, the group launched another $252,200 ad buy of anti-Chabot spots to air through the election. ⁷

Advocacy

The group claims that 2.8 million Ohioans get coverage from Medicaid, and 4.8 million Ohioans have a pre-existing condition. If Obamacare were repealed, the group claims 539,700 Ohioans would lose health insurance by 2026. ⁸

The organization also strongly opposed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the tax reform package that President Donald Trump signed into law in late 2017. The group complained that the average tax cut for Ohio’s wealthiest 1 percent was $47,510. The tax reform cut rates, but also closed loopholes. ⁹

1. Our Mission. Ohioans for Economic Opportunity. Accessed November 1, 2019. https://www.oheconomicopportunity.org/our-mission/
2. Bland, Scott. “Liberal Secret-Money Network Hammers House GOP.” Politico. July 29, 2018. Accessed October 30, 2019. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/29/democrats-dark-money-midterms-house-745145
3. Vidal, Leo. “Secret ‘Dark Money’ Group is Spending Big to Help Democrats Take Back the House.” Politicus USA. July 29, 2018. Accessed October 30, 2019. https://www.politicususa.com/2018/07/29/secret-dark-money-group-is-spending-big-to-help-democrats-take-back-the-house.html
4. Bland, Scott. “Liberal Secret-Money Network Hammers House GOP.” Politico. July 29, 2018. Accessed October 30, 2019. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/29/democrats-dark-money-midterms-house-745145
5. Bland, Scott. “Liberal Secret-Money Network Hammers House GOP.” Politico. July 29, 2018. Accessed October 30, 2019. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/29/democrats-dark-money-midterms-house-745145
6. Bland, Scott. “Liberal Secret-Money Network Hammers House GOP.” Politico. July 29, 2018. Accessed October 30, 2019. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/29/democrats-dark-money-midterms-house-745145
7. Williams, Jason. “Aftab Builds War Chest as Outside Groups Spend Big Money Attacking Chabot.” Cincinnati Enquirer. July 3, 2018. Accessed October 30, 2019. https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/columnists/politics-extra/2018/07/03/congressional-race-cincinnati-democrat-builds-campaign-war-chest/755780002/
8. Health. Ohioans for Economic Opportunity. Accessed November 1, 2019. https://www.oheconomicopportunity.org/health/
9. Taxes. Ohioans for Economic Opportunity. Accessed November 1, 2019. https://www.oheconomicopportunity.org/taxes/