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Group: Ohio Board Unlawfully Split Lawmaker Ethics Amendment
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The battle over a proposal to put ethics restrictions on state lawmakers is headed to Ohio’s highest court.
Last week the Ohio Ballot Board split the proposal’s provisions into three ballot issues after the Ethics First – You Decide Ohio Committee didn’t show up to answer questions about the amendment.
Supporters of the Ohio Ethics First Amendment tell The Columbus Dispatch the board’s decision is unconstitutional and they plan to challenge it at the Ohio Supreme Court.
State lawmakers would make nearly 20 percent less under the proposal and would have to pay Columbus city income tax. Former lawmakers would be barred from lobbying or working with the General Assembly for two years.
The proposal also lets taxpayers sue to force lawmakers to follow the rules.