It was found that a September 2023 hearing testimony by Ohio State Senator Michael Rulli, matches up almost word-for-word to a script a lobbyist sent Rulli in May of 2023. 

This happened during a committee hearing for Senate Resolution 121, which passed last week, declaring natural gas is vital in Ohio and part of a larger effort to advance fossil fuels. 

Political Professor of the University of Cincinnati, David Niven, said this is politics for you, but ultimately makes it appear as though lawmakers are working for the lobbyists, not the taxpayers who put them there.

Courtesy of Cleveland.com reporter Jake Zuckerman, documentation shows oil and gas lobbyist Mitch Given emailed what Given titled a "sample script" to Rulli. 

Phrases in the lobbyist "sample script" are some of the exact words Rulli used during the introduction of his hearing speech for this resolution.

The script provided to Rulli read in part, "Ohio is a leader in clean energy technology, and the natural gas industry leads Ohio in clean electricity production when compared to other energy sources..." 

During the committee hearing, Ruli said in his speech, "Ohio is a leader in clean energy technology, and the natural gas industry leads Ohio and electric production when it compares to all the others."

Another line in the lobbyist script read, "Natural gas and the natural gas industry are vital components of the state's economic future,"
and, "...I urge continued investment in natural gas infrastructure to make affordable energy available to every Ohioan."

Meanwhile, Rulli said during his testimony, "Natural gas and its production industry are vital to Ohio's economic future. It urges continued investment in natural gas infrastructure to make affordable energy available to Ohio." 

Niven said this is a "disappointing" aha moment, and adds that a variation of this practice is not uncommon in politics, although it's unusual for an interest group to dictate words.

"You expect your kids to do their homework. You expect your legislators to choose their own words," he said, "What's embarrassing about this is, if somebody who is paid to generate a profit for, a specific industry or specific interest can literally put words in the mouth of an Ohio elected official,  where do the people fit into that equation?"

21 News reached out to Rulli and Mitch Given for a response. Rulli's office responded with a statement that said, "I’m proud to lead the Ohio Senate in its passage of SR121 with unanimous bipartisan support. Continued support for the natural gas industry is critical to maintaining strong economic growth, energy security, and a pathway to American energy independence. In Congress, I will continue to advocate for these pro-America, pro-energy policies."