Ohio's elections chief has rejected 1,000-plus signatures submitted by Democrats trying to get a repeal issue on the state's new congressional map on next year's ballot.
Secretary of State Jon Husted, a Republican, says the redistricting legislation laying out the new U.S. House districts contained an appropriation and took effect immediately, so it isn't subject to referendum.
Democrats have yet to receive a ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court on the issue. Their suit argues the maneuver by Republicans to add the spending component to the bill shouldn't block it from a ballot challenge.
They cite a 2009 case where the high court said an effort to legalize racetrack slots was subject to repeal despite being included in the appropriation-laden state budget.