From the Blackwell camp:

"After consultation with legislative leadership, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett and TEL supporters, the committee decided this issue deserves the widest possible exposure and debate," said Citizens for Tax Reform Honorary Chairman, Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell. "The 2006 General Election ballot gives Ohio voters that opportunity.”

"I intend to be the GOP nominee for Governor and expect this amendment to be a major element of my platform of fiscal restraint for government and job creation for the private sector," said Blackwell.

Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Bennett added, “I applaud Ken Blackwell’s leadership on this issue, and his decision to move the proposed amendment to the gubernatorial ballot is a service to the voters of Ohio. It gives Ohioans an opportunity to hear substantive debate on a major policy initiative before making a decision that impacts all of state government. “This gesture by Secretary Blackwell will allow us to focus our resources this year on defeating the special interest amendments being pushed by pro-Democrat unions and liberal activist groups.”

And from the Dayton Daily News:

Now Blackwell has decided to put his measure on the ballot not this year, but next, when all the big statewide offices will also be on the ballot. And state Republican Chairman Robert Bennett is saying this will help the party. Never mind that Bennett — a representative of the party establishment — always gives top priority to the task of keeping peace within the party and that the Blackwell measure was designed to highlight internal party differences.

Bennett says, "I've told (Blackwell) all along that I thought it was an issue ... (that) should be debated in the context of the gubernatorial election next year." And Bennett said he basically supports the measure. And, "I think this is a good issue for Republicans to run on and to frame the debate, regardless of who our candidate is."

Hmmm.

There are, at this writing, still three big-name Republicans seeking the governorship. One, state Auditor Betty Montgomery, has said of the Blackwell initiative that Ohio would "rue the day when this is passed." The other, Attorney General Jim Petro, has called the measure a "gimmick."

Given that political people normally expect a party chairman to be neutral among major candidates, Bennett's behavior is unusual. Maybe he is trying to signal to the other candidates that Blackwell looks like the winner in the primary or the strongest candidate in the fall.

This is all fascinating fodder, but it will be interesting to see where the compromise falls. It better fall on the side of smaller, leaner government, lower taxes, and an improved business-friendly Ohio, or all of us will continue to suffer under Republican rule. And Blackwell better fall on the side of smaller, leaner government, lower taxes, and an improved business-friendly Ohio, or he'll lose his credibility with both Ohio and national Conservatives.