Issue 2 Backers, Opponents Settle Mailer Complaint

The coalition behind a fall ballot push seeking to change the way Ohio draws legislative and congressional districts wants its complaint against a Republican opposition mailer dismissed.Voters First and the Ohio Republican Party tell the Ohio Elections Commission they've reached a settlement agreement. The proposed constitutional amendment would strip map-drawing powers from elected officials and give them to a 12-person citizen commission. Republicans have agreed not to say in campaign materials that some members of the commission "will be chosen in secret" and that the commission would be given a "blank check." Meanwhile state Budget Director Tim Keen says establishing the commission would cost between 11 and 15 million dollars over eight years. Amendment backers call the estimate "comically high."