Gov. Kasich, Ohio lawmakers don't rule out ballot push

COLUMBUS (AP) — Republican Gov. John Kasich and GOP legislative leaders weren’t saying today whether they will use strong Statehouse majorities next year to champion some statewide ballot issue before Ohio voters.

In a year-end review session with Senate President Tom Niehaus and House Speaker William Batchelder, Kasich answered “next question” when asked by a reporter whether the 60-vote margin in the Ohio House might be invoked to advance a ballot measure.

The GOP will have both the House and Senate votes to do so without Democratic help, beginning in January.

Kasich also declined to say what position he might take on a right-to-work amendment limiting Ohio labor unions, if one were advanced by an outside group. Besides right-to-work, which prohibits mandatory union-dues collection, other prospective ballot issues could deal with overhauling Ohio’s redistricting process or countering burgeoning ballot initiatives pushing gay marriage or legalized medical marijuana.