Although the U.S. Supreme Court released two full opinions on June 1, it did not release any of the three pending election law cases. The Court only has four more days on which decisions will be released: June 8, 15, 22 and 29. Then the Court goes on summer recess.
The three pending election law decisions are: (1) Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, on federal campaign restrictions on making a movie that seems to call for the defeat of anyone running for federal office; (2) Caperton v Massey Coal Company, on how to handle the problem that in states that elect judges, one side to a lawsuit may have given very large campaign contributions to a judge hearing the case; (3) NAMUDNO v Holder, on the constitutionality of Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act, the section that requires certain states to get approval from the U.S. Justice Department before changing an election law.
No Election Law Activism including KC MO Maryor’s recall ballot access. Inspite of national attention [Good Morning America – TV, Wall Street Journal, New York Times] Ballot Access News and [so called] Independent Political Report has taken no notice of the biggest recall, impeachment ballot access story of the year.
When corrupt insider California Governor Gray Davis was initially the target of a state wide recall the Establishment East Coast media [Time, Newsweek, US News] completely ignored the interest of the West Coast rank and file.
Is BAN part of the alternative philosophy, cause they, and Third Party Watch [RIP, thank goodness], and IPR sure act in wholey conventional ways on a regular basis.
“We have met the enemy, and he is us!” —– Pogo, 1963
Attacking the status quo by acting like the status quo!
mayor recall bid fails to get needed numbers
The Associated Press
An effort to recall Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser has fallen just short of the number of signatures needed.
The petition drive collected 16,821 valid signatures, 129 short of the required 16,950 signatures, The Kansas City Star reported on its Web site Saturday.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Funkhouser said he always expected the recall to fall short. He said he didn’t know exactly how he would respond if opponents continued their efforts to remove him from office.
After hearing the results, petitioners said they would seek a recount, then consult an attorney about their legal options.
Funkhouser has been criticized heavily since taking office in May 2007. Much of the controversy centered on the role his wife, Gloria Squitiro, played in his administration. She volunteered nearly full time at his office and came under fire for her brash personality and control of the mayor’s agenda.
Funkhouser sued the city council in November 2008 after it enacted an ordinance aimed at keeping Squitiro from volunteering in his office. That came after Squitiro was at the center of a lawsuit from an aide who accused her of harassment and discrimination.
Historic Kansas City: Chicago West, Al Capone’s prairie cousins, the Pendergasts, beaten and dead election officials, “Vote early and vote often!”