Ken Blackwell figures it out.
Columbus - Ohioans will not vote this fall on a constitutional amendment that would have capped the spending of state and local governments.The sudden decision by an anti-tax group spearheaded by Secretary of State Ken Blackwell will allow embattled Republicans to pour more resources into challenging another ballot initiative aimed at dismantling political and elections rules that critics say have contributed to pay-to-play politics in Ohio.
Blackwell's Citizens for Tax Reform announced Monday that it will delay for a year the so-called TEL, or tax expenditure limitation, amendment to coincide with Blackwell's 2006 run for governor.
The group was on track to file 515,000 signatures Wednesday to get it on November's ballot.
"After consultation with legislative leadership, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett and TEL supporters, the committee decided this issue deserves the widest possible exposure and debate," Blackwell said in a statement issued while he was away on vacation.
Don't believe this for a second. If they were so close to filing the signatures, why would they stop now? This is an unpopular issue with Ohioans. In a state where education costs are skyrocketing and tax receipts are falling, capping spending by state and local governments would require even more cuts in services. This is not going to fly with most people in the Buckeye state.
The Ohio GOP isn't popular right now, and this initiative is seen as a Republican issue. Blackwell may or may not bring it back next year, but I highly doubt it. Coingate and the BWC fiasco will last well into 2006. Plus Bob Taft is the least liked governor in the union. With so many strikes against them, the Buckeye Republicans would be wise not to try any radical approaches.