Monday, April 19, 2010

Ohio Supreme Court examining health care ballot issue

Two weeks ago the Ohio Ballot Board, ruled that the issue proposed by the Ohio Liberty Council, one of the nation's new tea party groups that wants voters to amend the Ohio constitution so the state can opt out of the wide-ranging federal health care law, had to be split into two separate ballot measures. ( Here and Here )

The Ohio Ballot Board prescribes and certifies the ballot language for proposed Constitutional amendments, initiatives, and referenda and oversees efforts to inform voters of proposed ballot issues. The Secretary of State chairs the five member board and the office of the Secretary of State provides professional, technical, and clerical support for the Board.

The Ohio Liberty Council says it can't offer two new ballot measures by a June 30 deadline.

Last Tuesday morning USAToday was reporting that "the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, an 'independent legal center dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights of Ohioans from government abuse., formally affiliated with the Buckeye Institute, a Columbus-based free market think tank', has filed a complaint asking the Supreme Court to review the Ballot Board's decision. The center says the board's action was arbitrary and went against its own history." ( Complaint )

Echoing, too, off in the distance were predictions by U.S. Supreme Court Justices Stephen Breyer and Clarence Thomas that their Court would one day be addressing issues on the recently passed health care overhaul bill. (Here and Here)

No comments: