On March 22, Texas Representative Leo Berman (R-Tyler) said he won’t hold a hearing on HB 2280. This is the bill to ease ballot access by repealing the primary screen-out. “Primary screen-out” is a law making it illegal for primary voters to sign a petition for a new party or an independent candidate.

Representative Berman says he believes in the principle of the primary screen-out, and that is why he won’t even hold a hearing on the bill. It might be possible to amend the bill so that it leaves the primary screen-out in place and instead lowers the number of signatures.