On March 31, the Missouri Senate Financial, Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee held a hearing on HB 1310. That bill moves the independent candidate petition deadline from late July to March. It does not exclude presidential independents. For that reason, the bill is clearly unconstitutional under Anderson v Celebrezze, and also McCarthy v Kirkpatrick.
Barbara Woodruff, chair of Show Me Independents, testified against the bill and furnished each Senator with a copy of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Anderson v Celebrezze. The bill’s sponsor did not try to argue that his bill would be upheld. He merely stated that he doesn’t want anyone running against him, and not having to declare a candidacy until July of the election year. The Committee will decide later whether to pass the bill or not.
A Missouri state senator actually stated, in public and on the record, that for all intents and purposes the reason he is sponsoring this bill is because he doesn’t want anyone to run against him? Is this an April Fool’s Day joke?
No. Politics1 today has a good April Fools joke, though.
Sadly David, this is not an Aprils Fool joke but the reality of Missouri politics I suppose. This bill was first introduced last session after two indies had the gall to run against long standing state senators and did very well. It passed the Senate last year but stalled in the House and was reintroduced by a House member this time around.
It’s currently sitting in committee and has not moved since the hearing. The Post Dispatch said I had little support at the hearing…….that my friend is an understatement. :o)
Barbara you might not have had support in the committee but you do have the support of 38% to 40% of independents nationally and its growing! Americans are opting out of the two parties as shown in the current presidential primary and the statement of the sponsor of this bill illustrates one of the many reasons citizens are becoming independents. I think the Missouri legislature better open a newspaper or start listening to the news or even better listen to the indies that testified at the hearing. America is not a monopoly but a DEMOCRACY! An independent in NH thanks you Barbara!