Ohio GOP hope to protect new district map

Senators add spending provision to bill

9/21/2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Senate Republicans have revised a bill establishing their newly-drawn congressional boundaries to add a spending provision aimed at protecting it from a threatened ballot challenge by Democrats.

The state Senate panel considering the U.S. House map Ohio will use for the next decade set aside $2.75 million to help county boards of election implement the map.

Under Ohio’s constitution, bills appropriating money cannot be repealed. However, a legislative memo obtained by The Associated Press shows the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled in the past that adding money to a bill to protect it from repeal is unconstitutional and can “emasculate the constitutional right” of voters to strike down laws.

The map passed out of committee along party lines Wednesday and a floor vote may come later in the day.