Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost
Checks & Balances Project filed a complaint Wednesday with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office seeking an investigation of the Indian Lake Advocacy Group (ILAG) and its electioneering on behalf of state Rep. Jon Cross, who helped secure a $5 million grant for the group.
Last month, C&BP reported that ILAG posted a call on its website for its supporters to vote for Cross so he could continue his work in obtaining the grant for ILAG to conduct dredging on Indian Lake in north central Ohio. Such a call is an apparent violation of federal law that prohibits tax-exempt nonprofit groups from engaging in electioneering on behalf of candidates or public officials.
C&BP also filed a request with the Internal Revenue Service seeking an investigation into ILAG’s apparent violation of the law.
ILAG’s thin track record
The IRS granted ILAG’s 501c3 nonprofit status on Aug. 5, 2022, and the group never handled more than $50,000 a year, according to its federal tax filing. Cross, R-Findlay, has received more than $18,000 in campaign contributions from ILAG’s chairman, Bud Christman, since 2022.
“Support Jon Cross,” read the post on the ILAG website. “Vote for Jon Cross in the Primary Election on March 19th so he can continue his efforts to secure $5,000,000 for Lake Dredging.” ILAG removed the item from its website after June 28.
As Cross took credit for procuring the $5 million for dredging, he didn’t explain why he directed the money to a nonprofit group with no track record instead of relying on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which is already doing the dredging and weed clearance at Indian Lake.
Because ILAG hasn’t raised at least $50,000 in any tax year, it was not required to file detailed tax returns that show how and where it spent the money it raised. So, right now any state or federal agency evaluating its spending would have no way of knowing how it handles its money. If ILAG receives and spends the $5 million, it will have to include greater details in reports to the state and its annual tax filings.
Ray Locker is the executive director for Checks & Balances Project, an investigative watchdog blog holding government officials, lobbyists, and corporate management accountable to the public. Funding for C&BP is provided by Renew American Prosperity and individual donors.
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