Blank check?

One of the more controversial aspects of the ballot measure concerns language that would give supporters the right to sue at taxpayers expense.

Weinstein said this provision was included to make sure the state implements and enforces the law. But opponents say it gives Weinstein and his organization a “blank check” to engage in an unlimited number of legal claims.

AHF hasn’t been shy about filing lawsuits. The opposition campaign says Weinstein and his organization have filed at least 52 lawsuits against government agencies in multiple states, including three in Ohio.

Most recently, the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, which became part of AHF in 2015, sued the Ohio Department of Health when it was denied 2017 grant money.

Not only did AHF ask a judge to overturn that decision, but it filed an injunction that would have prevented any other AIDS organizations from getting their grant money until the matter was resolved in court. That would have tied up half a million dollars allocated to two other non-profits for services to AIDS patients, according to the court documents.

Cuyahoga County Judge Sherrie Miday denied that injunction in June. The lawsuit against the department of health is pending.

An official for Equitas, one of the nonprofits whose funding was impacted by AHF’s lawsuit, said having taxpayers cover the cost of litigation involving Issue 2 is a bad idea.

“It’s concerning that the named sponsors can essentially have a blank check from the taxpayers to pay their legal fees if engaged in a lawsuit, which is not unlikely because the initiative itself is unimplementable,” said Daphne Kackloudis, chief public policy and government affairs officer for Equitas, formerly the AIDS Resource Center of Ohio. “And especially when we consider the litigious nature of AHF nationwide.”