VOTING Democrats want to split November ballot

Democrats say they have votes to split high-tech proposal from road bonds on ballot.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- House Democrats say they have enough votes to split a proposal for state investment in technology firms from a popular measure for public works bonds on the November ballot.
Leaders in the GOP-dominated House and Senate support Republican Gov. Bob Taft's idea to attach $500 million in bonds for the state Third Frontier project to a $1.5 billion bond issue for road, bridge and sewer improvements and cleanups of old industrial sites.
While the public works projects have enjoyed wide support in the past, voters narrowly rejected the governor's Third Frontier proposal in 2003 despite a lack of organized opposition. "Out on Main Street, this issue has problems," said Rep. Chris Redfern, the top House Democrat.
Stand alone issue
Two Republicans support Redfern's proposal to have the public works bonds stand alone on the ballot. While it's not certain House leaders would allow a vote on the proposal, Democrats have enough votes to block the combined ballot question. There are 60 Republicans, and it takes 60 votes for the House to put a measure on the ballot.
"I'm confident we will not get to that point," said Redfern, who plans to meet with House Speaker Jon Husted to work on a compromise.
Counties that depend on the public works money couldn't afford for the bond measure to be defeated at the same time the upcoming state budget cuts money for local governments, he said. Redfern also said Democrats are concerned that not all regions of the state would benefit from approved startup firms under the technology bonds.
Redfern, of Port Clinton, said he would propose a stand-alone Third Frontier ballot question.
Insulting claim
Rep. Tom Brinkman, a Cincinnati Republican who has sometimes broken with his party on votes, said he has opposed the Third Frontier from the start.
"The only reason they're coupling it with a good project like the public works project is to try to pass it because it cannot stand on its own," he said.