Congressmember John Sarbanes (D-Maryland) has introduced HR 1, “For the People Act of 2021”. It alters many federal election laws. It makes it more difficult for a presidential candidate seeking the nomination of a party to receive primary season matching funds. Current law requires private contributions of $5,000 from each of twenty states. The bill increases that to $25,000 from each of twenty states. Thanks to Mike Feinstein for this news.

Minor party presidential candidates have frequently qualified for primary season matching funds, and have been permitted by the Federal Election Commission to use such funds on ballot access drives. Minor party presidential candidates who received such funds were from these parties: Citizens, New Alliance, Green, Reform, Natural Law, and Libertarian (in 2012).

The change is in section 5202 of the bill. Scroll down about three-fourths of the way.

Oklahoma State Senator Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) has introduced SB 30. It says no party may nominate a presidential candidate whose parents were not citizens when he or she was born, regardless that the candidate may have been born in the United States. Here is the text. Thanks to Richard Prawdzienski for this news.

On January 4, Congressmember Ralph Norman of South Carolina introduced HJR 12. It would amend the Constitution to impose term limits for members of Congress: 3 terms for U.S. House, and two for U.S. Senate. If enacted, service prior to the ratification would not be counted toward the limits. Thanks to Michael Drucker for this news.