Ohio Republicans, with approval from House Speaker John Boehner, crafted a Congressional map last month that would have maximized Republican representation in the battleground state. But Democrats in the state cried foul, and just received a favorable ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court, allowing them to pursue a ballot referendum that would block the new lines.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the state Supreme Court's decision would throw next year's Congressional elections in limbo, with no resolution in sight.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the state Supreme Court's decision would throw next year's Congressional elections in limbo, with no resolution in sight.
State Republicans had attached an appropriation to the redistricting bill, designed to prevent an anticipated referendum to repeal the legislation. But the Ohio Supreme Court -- made up of six Republicans and one Democrat - ruled in a unanimous decision Friday that Secretary of State Jon Husted must accept a petition from a Democratic group that would put the remap on the November 2012 ballot for a yes or no vote.
According to the Enquirer, the implications are significant if the redistricting measure goes before Ohio voters. It could create the need for a statewide primary with the top 16 Republicans facing the top 16 Democrats. Legislators could also go back to the drawing board to try to come to a consensus on a new map, but if they don't, that responsibility could also be tossed to the federal courts.
Husted spokesman Matt McClellan told the Enquirer that the court's ruling throws "a monkey wrench" into not just state filing deadlines but also presidential filing dates in the crucial swing state.
Ohio lost two seats in the decennial reapportionment, and last month the GOP-controlled legislature passed a map that shored up several vulnerable Republican incumbents. Republican drew the map, intending to preserve the GOP's eight-seat advantage. It would have forced Democratic Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur to square off against each other, and also placed GOP Reps. Mike Turner and Steve Austria in the same district Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton was drawn into a district that would have probably pitted her against GOP Rep. Jim Renacci. Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern promised that his group would come up with the required 231,147 signatures, and would ask on Monday to start the 90-day window to collect signatures. "The Republicans need to think long and hard about what they do next," Redfern told the Enquirer. "The ball is in their court now." Ohio state Senate PresidentTom Niehaus, a Republican, pointed out that the court's ruling did not say the maps were unconstitutional, and said he believes the maps are legal and fair. Niehaus told the Enquirer he will hold a conference call with GOP leaders to decide how to proceed.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/10/ohio-republicans-face-setback-with-congressional-map-15
According to the Enquirer, the implications are significant if the redistricting measure goes before Ohio voters. It could create the need for a statewide primary with the top 16 Republicans facing the top 16 Democrats. Legislators could also go back to the drawing board to try to come to a consensus on a new map, but if they don't, that responsibility could also be tossed to the federal courts.
Husted spokesman Matt McClellan told the Enquirer that the court's ruling throws "a monkey wrench" into not just state filing deadlines but also presidential filing dates in the crucial swing state.
Ohio lost two seats in the decennial reapportionment, and last month the GOP-controlled legislature passed a map that shored up several vulnerable Republican incumbents. Republican drew the map, intending to preserve the GOP's eight-seat advantage. It would have forced Democratic Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur to square off against each other, and also placed GOP Reps. Mike Turner and Steve Austria in the same district Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton was drawn into a district that would have probably pitted her against GOP Rep. Jim Renacci. Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern promised that his group would come up with the required 231,147 signatures, and would ask on Monday to start the 90-day window to collect signatures. "The Republicans need to think long and hard about what they do next," Redfern told the Enquirer. "The ball is in their court now." Ohio state Senate PresidentTom Niehaus, a Republican, pointed out that the court's ruling did not say the maps were unconstitutional, and said he believes the maps are legal and fair. Niehaus told the Enquirer he will hold a conference call with GOP leaders to decide how to proceed.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/10/ohio-republicans-face-setback-with-congressional-map-15