On February 6, the Washington House Government Committee heard HB 1534, which revises Washington state procedures for minor party and independent candidates. The bill was written by the Secretary of State’s office. Ruth Bennett of the Libertarian Party, and Linde Knighton of the Progressive Party, testified that the bill is too onerous. The chairman of the committee, Samuel W. Hunt (D-Olympia), then said that he agrees the bill is too harsh on minor parties, and he suggested that the bill be re-written to take into account the concerns of the minor parties. That work will proceed over the next few weeks.