Maine has used public funding for state campaigns for ten years. This year, a Republican state legislator who never applies for public funding filed a lawsuit against the part of the system that gives extra public funding to candidates who have well-funded opponents who do not use the public funding system. The legislator, Andre Cushing, is running for re-election in one of Maine’s most competitive districts. In 2008 the vote had been 2,974 for Cushing and 2,805 votes for his Democratic opponent. He says he is hesitant to raise and spend any more money, because if he does, his opponent will get additional public funding.
Neither the U.S. District Court, nor the 1st Circuit, was willing to grant an injunction stopping the extra public funding, so McKee appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. First he asked Justice Stephen Breyer for injunctive relief, but that was denied on October 13. The same day it was denied, he asked Justice Anthony Kennedy for the same relief. Justice Kennedy then asked Maine to respond. The state’s response is due October 21. In the U.S. Supreme Court, the case is Respect Maine PAC v McKee, 10A362. The co-plaintiff Respect Maine PAC is in the case because it wants to do more independent spending on behalf of Cushing. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.
EARLY VOTING, REAL NEWS FOR THE REAL WORLD, YOU HEARD IT HERE AGAIN ……….
NANCY BENAC and LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer – Thu Oct 21, 10:38 am ET
WASHINGTON – Election Day is already over for more than 3 million Americans, and [Lake: Christina Tobin has been repeatedly notified by Citizens For A Better Veterans Home, wake up girl!].
Early voting also has been strong in a number of states that don’t break down turnout by party. In California, for example, nearly 570,000 ballots have been cast. In Texas, 316,000 have voted, compared with 157,000 at this point in 2006, according to totals from the 15 counties with the largest number of registered voters. In Washington [Lake: State], where virtually everyone casts a mail-in ballot, the state estimates roughly 240,000 have voted.
“This is a phenomenon that’s here to stay and it’s going to continue to increase in popularity, even in the midterms,” McDonald said.
The Eighth US Parliament
8/6/2008 to 8/5/2012Prime Ministers:
http://www.usparliament.org
Gail Lightfoot [Libertarian], Ralph Hoffmann [Democratic-Republican], and Mary J. Ruwart [Libertarian]
Secretaries:
James Ogle [Free Parliamentary] and David Olkkola [Democratic]
100 Elected Members of the Parliament (MPs)
Libertarian Party – 22 Members of Parliament (MPs)
Gail Lightfoot, Michael Badnarik, Mary J. Ruwart, Starchild, Ned Roscoe, Richard Winger, Gary Nolan, Cory Nott, Lawrence Samuels, Kristi Stone, Doug Tuma, Aaron Starr, Gabriella Douglas, Mark Hinkle, William J. Wagoner, Dwight Bailey, Richard Vinable, Aarde Atheian, Alex Plewniak, Howard Stern, Bob Barr, Zachary Scott Gordon [American Libertarian]
Parties with One Seat – 16 MPs
Vanessa Morley [Defender of the Republic], Darryl W. Perry [Boston Tea], Pat Buchanan [Reform], Orion Karl Daley [Balanced], Noam Chomsky [New], Mike Bogatirev [Environmentalist], Michale Treeplanter [Co-Operative], Michael Davis [Natural Law], David Frey [Socialist USA/California], Mark P. Steele [Discordian], Eric Charles [Orwellian], Michael Looney [Houseless], Eric Stevenson [Pizza], Lloyd Llewellen [Flying Saucer], John Coffey [Unity08] and Mike Banon [Skateboard]
Green Party – 14 MPs
Winona Laduke, David Cobb, Medea Benjamin, Mike Nelson, Susan Estes, Kevin Clark [Green/Libertarian], Patrick Purcell, Thomas Leavitt, Mike Rogers, Tad Robinson, Michael Grazian, Gary Swing, Brett Johnsen, Dinah Coffman
Democratic Party – 9 MPs
Dennis Kucinich, PRAVDA McCroskey, David Olkkola, Al Gore, Barbara Boxer, John Edwards, Jerry Brown, Victor Cantu, Ralph Hoffmann [Democratic-Republican]
Independent – 8 MPs
Arianna Huffington, Rob Elliott, Dale Gieringer, John Anderson, Kat Penisten, Michael Moore, Casper Leitch, Ralph Nader
Republican Party – 8 MPs
Ron Paul, Jim Doyle, Colin Powell, John McCain, Lani Guinier, Arnold Swarzenegger, Rush Limbaugh, Dennis Peron
Pot Party – 5 MPs
Nate Brown, Myra Fourwinds, Sister Somayah [Pot / Nigritian Kief], Brandon Garcia, Scott Comings
Free Parliamentary Party – 4 MPs
Laura Booth, Marcellius Smith [Parliament], Daniel Penisten [Free Parliament] and James Ogle
Marijuana Party – 3 MPs
Sabrina Melicia, Kelly Russell, J. Roach
Peace and Freedom Party – 3 MPs
Jan Tucker, Maureen Smith, Stewart Alexander
Comedy Central – 2 MPs
Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart Info.
Not Avail. – 2 MPs
Clint Eastwood, Woody Harrelson
Radical Revolutionary Party – 2 MPs
Annie Garner, Jennifer Perkins
Radical Revolutionary Party – 2 MPs
Annie Garner, Jennifer Perkins
Constitution Party – 2 MPs
Michael Peroutka and Don J. Grundmann
Total: 100 Members of Parliament (MPs)
President Ron Paul [Republican]
Vice President Gail Lightfoot [Libertarian]