Dayton Area Chamber opposes flawed Rx ballot issue

DAYTON, Ohio – The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce today announced its opposition to a flawed ballot initiative expected to appear before Ohio voters on November 7. After careful review, the chamber’s Executive Committee, which is made up of 15 area business leaders and chamber board members, voted this week to oppose the Ohio Drug Price Relief Act.

The initiative, which is supported by out-of-state interests in California, seeks to bar state agencies from buying drugs at prices higher than those paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Chamber leaders and volunteers believe the Ohio Drug Price Relief Act would significantly impact Dayton-area businesses by shifting the cost of prescription drugs to private employers and employees. The chamber believes the proposal would also cause drug companies to charge the Department of Veterans Affairs more for prescription drugs, increasing the cost burden for the VA and its patients.

“This is about 6.8 million Ohioans subsidizing prescription drug costs for almost 4 million other Ohioans,” said Chris Kershner, Vice President, Public Policy & Economic Development, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. “That’s not good public policy for any state and it’s not right for the Dayton area or Ohio. The Dayton-area business community won’t stand for this blatant disregard for private businesses and the increased financial strain that would be directed toward millions of Ohioans.”

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce will join dozens of organizations in Ohio in the Ohioans Against the Deceptive Rx Ballot Issue Coalition. This coalition is made up of a broad group of nurses, doctors, pharmacists, psychiatrists, veterans groups and business groups including the Ohio Manufacturers Association and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

“Having a conversation about affordable prescriptions is one thing. Having an out-of-state interest group barge into our state and increase costs to our job creators and tax payers through a flawed ballot issue is an entirely different issue,” Kershner said. “Dayton and Ohio voters are much smarter than this California group gives them credit. California voters didn’t buy their flawed proposal and neither will Ohio.”

About Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce: The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce brings together more than 2,400 businesses and organizations in a 9 county area surrounding Dayton, Ohio. The chamber strives to improve the region’s business climate and overall standard of living through public policy advocacy, economic development initiatives and providing networking and training opportunities for its members. Information about the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce is available at www.daytonchamber.org or 937-226-1444.

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