Not long ago the Ohio legislature adopted a new Congressional district map for Ohio that has been widely condemned. In a roughly 50/50 state, their new map gives the GOP a clear 75/25 advantage (or 12-4) by putting Democrats on a few reservations, blatant gerrymandering.
But last night the 6-1 Republican Ohio Supreme Court unanimously threw a wrench in the works when they ruled that the new map is subject to referendum.
See here: Court ruling throws 2012 elections into chaos
and here: Voters can have a say on map, court rules
The Republicans had tried to shield the bill from referendum by adding an appropriation to the bill. Appropriation bills are exempt form referendum.
Ohio Democrats have shown twice in the last few months that they can raise the signatures to put legislation on the ballot through referendum once with Senate Bill 5 (union busting) and again with HB-194 (voter suppression).
So now Republicans face a stark choice: