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Maine House Appears to Kill National Popular Vote Plan Bill — 4 Comments

  1. @JB,

    In a bicameral legislature, both houses must pass identical versions of a bill for it to become law. In a conventional system (Maine is not conventional), the second house may amend a bill passed by the originating house.

    The originating house may then concur in the amendment made by the other body; or they may refuse to concur, Typically, they would then request that a conference committee be appointed, which would attempt to reconcile the two versions, which must then be accepted by both houses.

    In Maine, subject matter committees are joint bodies. In this cases the committee had 10 representatives and 3 senators. The committee report was divided, with a majority saying the bill should not pass, while the minority report said it should pass.

    The senate adopted the minority report (do pass), while the house adopted the majority report (do not pass).

    The senate /insisted/ that their action be taken, and the house /receded/.

    But now on final passage, the house has reversed its position.

  2. The article erroneously implies that a winning candidate would require a majority of the popular vote under the NPV compact. In fact, a plurality is sufficient.

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