Ohio Court Rules on Health Care Ballot Issue

The Associated Press 3:01 PM Thursday, April 29, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that a proposed amendment by groups seeking to exclude the state from President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul should appear as a single issue on the ballot.

The Thursday decision reverses a finding by the Ohio Ballot Board, which had split the issue proposed by the Ohio Liberty Council and others into two separate ballot measures.

The court says the board abused its discretion and disregarded state law and ordered it to certify the proposed amendment.

The Liberty Council tea party group wants voters to approve the Ohio constitutional amendment that would allow the state to opt out of the health care law signed in March.

If supporters get enough petition signatures, the issue would appear on the November ballot.

Read the Ohio Supreme Court decision here. Especially (fore-)telling is paragraph 30: