Opportunity Ohio

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Opportunity Ohio (O2) is a right-wing advocacy group based in Ohio. It was a member of the State Policy Network, a web of state pressure groups that denote themselves as "think tanks" and drive a right-wing agenda in statehouses nationwide, but is no longer listed as one as of August 2016. O2 was formed on June 15, 2012.[1]

Ties to "True the Vote"

In 2012, O2 gave $50,000 to True the Vote/Legacy Foundation (TTV) for "an initiative aimed at training state and local volunteers to ensure the integrity of votes."[1]

According to a letter sent to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in October 2012," TTV has a "horrendous record of filing inaccurate voter registration challenges."[2] Many believe that the organization's activities are aimed at voter suppression and a right-wing agenda to further a new administration.

TTV trains volunteers to monitor elections and report incidents of voter fraud. It also holds local rallies to promote "voter ID" laws, which it staunchly supports.[3] TTV has been accused of voter intimidation[4] and advancing hysterical claims about the pervasiveness of voter fraud.[5] TTV's current president is Catherine Englebrecht, who is also the founder of the King Street Patriots, a Tea Party 501(c)(4) group based in Texas.[6]

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council

O2 Treasurer Michael C. Carnuccio is on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force as of 2011, representing the SPN Member Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, of which he is president.[7]

About ALEC
ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our PRWatch.org site.

Finances

2012[1]

  • Total Revenue: $267,228
  • Total Expenses: $156,173
  • Net Assets: $111,055

Personnel

Staff

As of November 2013:[8]:

Board of Directors

As of April 2013:[1]

Contact Details

Opportunity Ohio
P.O. Box 98
Dublin, OH 43017-0098
Phone: (614) 636-2663
Email: contact AT opportunityohio DOT org Web: http://www.opportunityohio.org/

Articles and Resources

Related SourceWatch Articles

Related PRWatch Articles

External Resources

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Opportunity Ohio, 2012 Form 990, annual organizational IRS filing, April 15, 2013.
  2. ↑ Elijah E. Cummings, Letter to Catherine Engelbrecht, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, October 4, 2012.
  3. ↑ True the Vote, About, organizational website, accessed February 22, 2012.
  4. ↑ Rachel Slajda, DOJ Probes TX Voter Intimidation Complaints, Talking Points Memo "Muckraker," October 20, 2010.
  5. ↑ Ryan J. Reily, True the Vote says Eric Holder supports NAACP request for United Nations' involvement in U.S. elections, Politifact, January 27, 2012.
  6. ↑ True the Vote, About, organizational website, accessed February 22, 2012.
  7. ↑ American Legislative Exchange Council, Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting agenda and materials, June 30, 2011, on file with CMD.
  8. ↑ Opportunity Ohio, About Us, organizational website, accessed November 2013.
  9. ↑ Allison Sherry, GOP resources begin shift to Buck as he focuses on Bennet, Denver Post, August 12, 2010.
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