U.S. District Court Enjoins Florida Law Preventing Candidates for Non-Partisan Office from Mentioning their Party

Posted on by July 21, 2021
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On July 14, U.S. District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers, a Bush Jr. appointee, enjoined the Florida law that makes it illegal for candidates for non-partisan office from mentioning their political party. Hetherington v Madden, n.d., 3:21cv-671. Here is the order.

This is the second Florida election law that has been enjoined by a federal court this month. The first was the severe limit on contributions to an initiative campaign. Thanks to the Institute for Free Speech for the news about the Hetherington case.

Congressional Bill to Require Speaker of House to be a Member of the House

Posted on by July 20, 2021
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Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-Pennsylvania) has introduced a bill to require that the Speaker of the House be an elected member of the House. The bill doesn’t have a bill number yet. Article II, section two of the U.S. Constitution says “The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Offices” but does not say the House must choose a member. However, all speakers in history have been members of the House.

The presidential succession act says that if the president and vice-president both die, the Speaker shall become president.

Maine Bill to Let Independent Voters Vote in Partisan Primaries Didn’t Pass After All

Posted on by July 20, 2021
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The Maine legislative session for this year is over, and LD 231 did not pass. This is the bill to let independent voters vote in partisan primaries. Although it received affirmative votes in both houses of the legislature, afterwards it was placed on the Appropriations Table, which means it was held in abeyance until the state budget was passed.

The Maine legislature finalized the budget on July 19 and then went home for the year, and did not include money in the budget for the bill. It could theoretically pass next year.