There鈥檚 a growing debate over whether a group can put a referendum on next year's ballot that reverses the nuclear bailout bill. The dispute revolves around whether or not the increased rate on electric bills should be considered a tax increase.
A Columbus law firm sent a memo to the Secretary of State arguing that the new energy law charging electric customers up to $2.35 a month for nuclear, coal and solar subsidies, is a tax increase. Citizens can't use a referendum to challenge a tax increase.
But Ned Hill, an energy economics professor for said, if that's the case, then the has approved several tax increases over the years.
"All the other non-bypassable riders that have been larded onto your electricity bills over the past six years are also taxes and maybe legally questionable."
Hill, who wants a referendum, points out that many supporters of the bill argued against the claim that it was essentially a tax increase.
Hill himself called it a de facto tax increase in committee testimony.
