On September 19, Congressman Ron Paul introduced a bill, outlawing restrictive ballot access laws for minor party and independent candidates for the U.S. House. He had previously introduced this bill in past sessions of Congress. Before he had done so, a somewhat more comprehensive bill had been introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan), in 1985, 1987 and 1989. Also during the early 1990’s, the bill had been introduced by Congressman Tim Penny (D-Minnesota, no longer in Congress).
Article One of the U.S. Constitution explicitly gives Congress the authority to override state election laws pertaining to Congressional elections. Ron Paul’s bill does not yet have a bill number.
Isn’t that sweet?!? Despite the fact that Ron Paul needs extra help in that he could lose votes with a third party behind him, he still would push a bill that would aid third party candidates?!? Unless this is in case Ron Paul does not get the Republican nomination, but I will think of this as the latter. Keep up the good work Ron Paul! You can do it!
We should all get behind this. Ron Paul’s record on the Constitution speaks for itself.
Thanks for posting this.
We should all get behind this because it’s the right thing to do for America. The two parties have had a monopoly too long and it is bankrupting us.
ANother fine bill from Congressman Paul. Am I suprised? No.
I will contact my state Reps – but we will all have to do this for it to work… I think we should also push our reps for the Letters of Marquee Bill RP introduced a second time this summer
Let’s make a point
I think that this is great. The constitution gives me my requirements to being eligible for election, but the state in turn sets ballot access laws that are prohibitive of getting your name on the ballot. I have to spend all my time getting on the ballot instead of campaigning. Anyway, Go Ron Paul. You just got my vote.
I will wait to see the details of the bill and reasons given to support the provisions. For example, just HOW LOW is Ron prepared to in lowering the barriers?
I support this whole heartedly. But it will be interesting to see what level constitutes “restrictive”. It would be better if the Bill explicitly spelled out the maximum rules that the States can impose. Otherwise, if it’s left up to the candidate to take the States to court to prove the laws are restrictive, the election could be over by the time the case winds its way through the appeals process.
Some states have absolutely draconian ballot access requirements. We need to push for this. What happens if Ron ends up running as an Independent candidate for the presidency in’08?
We vote for him.
I say this with all seriousness. The country will probably disintegrate and be carved up the Chinese if Ron Paul does not win. It will take time, but we are on the road to perdition.
America needs Ron Paul more than ever, and everyone who supports Ron Paul loves him as he is the closest thing to family we have ever seen in government.
Ron Paul, for what is just, what is right, and what is our Nation’s root modus, the Constitution and Freedom and Liberty for All.
Think for yourself, question authority.
Nice, Paul can find a way to reduce State’s rights for elections in the Constitution but he can’t find a reason to, for example, reduce aid to Vietnam because of human right’s abuses, put the National Guard on the border, fund our troops in the middle of a combat zone, or restrict someone from taking minors across State lines for abortions. But heck, if you are a wild shrimp farmer or want to set up a federal child tracking database, he’ll find a back door way to do that.
If the current bill is like the past bills, the maximun number of signatures for a US House candidate will be 1,000 signatures.
Matthew N, you really have things ass-backwards.
I’ll just give you a quick clue… Dr. Paul puts in the earmarks from his district because he feels that people in his district shouldn’t be left out of the process to get their money back from the federal government. Then he votes AGAINST the spending bill that would fund the earmarks. It’s how the game is played and makes perfect sense. It has to do with how earmarks work.
As I understand it there is a big pot of money, if the spending bill passes, that money gets spent. Earmarks are about reserving slices of it. Dr. Paul votes against spending the money. However if it does pass those in his district still get a slice.
Voting against the spending bill is all that matters. Earmarks or no earmarks if the bill passes the money gets squandered somewhere.
great work. you know, we have a great interview with jamin raskin on our website about the broken voting system, vote pairing, and what ron paul could do if he DOESN’T get the bid… check it out. veracifier dot com slash blog – and make sure you check our youtube page, too.
Ron Paul is The Schizznitt!!!
He is what this country needs.
Matthew N – nice try at a GOP drive by – the old shrimp BS.
Here is what the GOP without Ron Paul in charge has done to us:
– 9 trillion in debt
– 850 billion trade deficit
– War in Iraq
– War in Afghanistan
– Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda alive
– Fomenting War with Iran
– 12.25 trillion M3 money supply, and expanding (massive inflation)
Ron Paul’s record is crystal clean perfect and consistent. He takes no money from anyone but people and constituents. He is as pure as they come.
One of my favorite quotes about Dr. Paul, “You’re working for the most honest man in Congress.†That was John McCain speaking to Kent Snyder in 1988.
Ron Paul is a constitutionalist.
Ron has never voted to raise taxes.
Ron has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
Ron has never voted for the Iraq War.
Ron has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
Ron has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
Ron has never voted to raise congressional pay.
Ron has never taken a government-paid junket.
Ron voted against the Patriot Act.
Ron votes against regulating the Internet.
Ron voted against NAFTA and CAFTA.
Ron votes against the United Nations.
Ron votes against the welfare state.
Ron votes against reinstating a military draft.
Ron votes to preserve the constitution.
Ron votes to cut government spending.
Ron votes to end the war on drugs.
Ron votes to protect civil liberties.
Ron votes to secure our borders with real immigration reform.
Ron votes to protect religious freedom.
People! You must realize all the other candidates save maybe Obama are crypto-fascists that will lead us into a state of perpetual WAR!
This is truely a man of integrity! He votes and puts forward what is right! Even when it does not necessarily serve his personel interest. This BILL NEEDS TO BE PASSED!
This bill will be so beneficial to our country!
I would like to see it passed.
Kay F.
“Each of us should choose which course of action we must take; education, conventional political action, or even peaceful civil disobedience to bring about necessary changes, but let it not be said we did nothing.”
Ron Paul 2007
I can’t find the number of this bill. Apparently it hasn’t been listed on the House’s website yet. When I do, I will certainly inform my (unlikely to listen) representative of it.
If every RP supporter would make it a point to tell just one other person about Ron Paul each day, everyone in America will hear about him in 90 days! Just in time for the primaries. Then let’s begin to push our local representatives to get behind him and vote only for those who openly support Ron Paul. The revolution starts at the top and ends with the local elections. Go RP!
I just posted this story to iDiggRonPaul. It’s great to see Dr. Paul paving the way for third parties.
Justice will prevail!!! Ron Paul will win!!! Freedom will speak!!!!
A much bigger benefit to minor parties and independents would be to implement Range Voting.
According to this report, the bill is about U.S. House of Reps ballot access. 1000 signatures is a reasonable number for house districts. I would imagine that the bill has provisions for Senate, VP and presidential ballots also, perhaps with more signatures required. If we can take Ron Paul at his word, he won’t be seeking ballot access as in independent or 3rd party candidate, however, it would increase the chances that more non-Republicrat candidates could be elected in ’08, expanding the Liberty Caucus which would be President Paul’s base of support in Congress.
It’s time we break up this one-party state – not two parties, but to wings of the same bird. Give power back to the people. Ron Paul gives hope to America. He will win the nomination and America will never be the same again. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to restore power to “we the people.”
How does he have time to do all this Ron Paul is everywhere.