(The Israel Project – The IsraelProject.org) Ohio residents, Israel needs your support. Please, call the Ohio Government Accountability and Oversight Committee TODAY and urge them to support HB 476 – LEGISLATION DEFENDING TRADE WITH ISRAEL FROM COMMERCIAL BOYCOTTS will be heard on Tuesday andWednesday.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
1. Attend the meeting of the Ohio Government Accountability and Oversight Committee.
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DATE:
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Tuesday, May 17, 2016
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TIME:
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1:30PM
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ROOM:
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114
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ADDRESS:
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1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215
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2. Call committee members – Click here for contact information
3. Forward this email and ask your Ohio friends and family to call the committee members!
REASONS TO SUPPORT HB 476
1. Commercial boycotts of Israel promote discrimination and undermine public policy.
Boycotts of entities and individuals of specific countries often amount to ethnic, religious, racial, and/or nationality discrimination, which directly contradicts the public policy of the state and the values of its people. Ignoring discriminatory practices and boycotts by companies doing business with the state would consequently make the state and its citizens de facto partners in these discriminatory practices and/or boycotts. This conflicts with the ethical standards of the state government and its citizens. The model bill ensures that the people and government of the state will not unknowingly become party to discriminatory business practices or boycotts. Further, this bill provides the private sector with a clear business rationale for avoiding discriminatory practices and boycotts in the first place.
2. Boycotts of Israel harm the Ohio’s economic and employment interests.
Efforts to inflict economic harm upon the state’s trading partners tends to weaken the state’s ability to conduct trade,and harms vital economic interests of the state. States conduct billions of dollars a year in direct bilateral trade and commerce with entities and individuals in foreign countries, including Israel. In particular, Israel is known for its dynamic and innovative approach in many important business sectors that are directly linked to states’ industries and economies. The important economic benefits that states receive from their international trade are materially harmed by the promotion of efforts to boycott and otherwise discriminate against entities and individuals in countries with whom states conduct business solely on the basis of discriminatory criteria, including nationality or ethnicity.
3. Free Speech rights are unaffected by this legislation.
HB 476 does not raise any 1st Amendment concerns because they do not in any way regulate, penalize, or infringe on anyone’s private speech or conduct. Private parties who wish to boycott Israel can continue to do so freely. They exercise the state’s own right to choose the companies in which it will invest and with whom it will contract. Exercising such discretion with taxpayer funds is an important part of reinforcing economic interests, public policy and the basic ethical standards of government.
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SAMPLE TELEPHONE SCRIPT
Hello, as a concerned Ohio citizen, I am calling to urge you to support HB 476 because taxpayer dollars should not be used to support discrimination against Israel or Ohioans who do business there.
Our state has an excellent track record of working to support Israel, and enjoys hundreds of millions of dollars in annual trade with businesses located or doing business in Israel. We must protect our state’s economic and employment interests from discriminatory boycott efforts that aim to harm our trade with Israel.
Ignoring national origin discrimination in our state’s conduct of business would undermine our public policy and social values. My community is paying close attention to HB 476 and stands ready to applaud your support of legislation that protects trade with our ally, Israel.
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Thank you for your support,
The Israel Project
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