Drug companies opposed to a statewide ballot issue aimed at lowering prescription prices have raised a record-smashing $58 million this year to defeat the proposal going before Ohio voters Nov. 7.

Ohio's previous high came in 2009 when the successful campaign to bring casino gambling to the Buckeye State drew $47.1 million. And campaign finance reports filed Thursday on state Issue 2 only include money raised through Oct. 18, so the new record could climb higher.

The $58 million came in just six multimillion-dollar contributions, all from Ohioans Against the Deceptive Rx Ballot Issue, a “wholly owned subsidiary of PHRMA.” The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America is a deep-pocketed trade association funded by drug companies that has refused to detail its contributions.

Issue 2 opponents this year have raised four times as much as the $14.2 million collected by supporters of the measure, the reports filed with Secretary of State Jon Husted's office show. Backers had only $9,000 in the bank just a few weeks before the election.

"Issue 2 will lower drug prices and cut into drug companies’ massive profits and CEO pay. That’s why they’ve spent, and will continue to spend, millions of dollars to try to defeat it," said Dennis Willard, Yes on Issue 2 spokesperson. "They are worried that when Issue 2 passes, everyone in America will demand lower drug prices just like Ohio receives."

But opponents reject the supporters' portrayal of a David and Goliath match-up. "You can buy a lot of slingshots for $20 million (which is what) we think they’ll end up spending,” said Dale Butland, spokesman for Ohioans Against the Deceptive Rx Issue.

Ohioans' TV sets have been deluged with ads for and against Issue 2, which have confused many voters. Just since June, the two sides have spent $35.8 million for TV ads, with the opponents spending $27.8 million of that total.


If approved, the issue would require the state, including the Ohio Department of Medicaid, to pay no more for prescription drugs than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Supporters say the measure would reduce drug prices for about 4 million people and produce a savings ranging from $164 million to $536 million annually.

Opponents argue the proposal is unworkable because its impossible to know what the VA pays, and could backfire and cause prices to rise and trigger shortages of critical drugs.

Meanwhile, the man behind Marsy's Law for Ohio, the force behind the Issue 1 ballot issue to expand crime victim rights, contributed nearly $5.7 million after earlier kicking in $2.9 million.

The group spent nearly $5.4 million — including $3 million on TV commercials — and reported a balance on hand of $243,000.

Marsy’s Law is named for Marsy Nicholas, a Los Angeles woman who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Her father and brother were stunned to soon run into the murder suspect in a grocery store. He had been released on bond without their knowledge.

Marsy’s brother, Dr. Henry Nichols, is providing the funds to pursue the Ohio petition and ballot effort.

Dispatch reporter Randy Ludlow contributed to this story.