Five Washington state representatives have introduced HB 1091, which repeals Washington state’s participation on the National Popular Vote pact, and provides that each U.S. House district choose its own presidential elector. The five sponsors are: Matt Shea (R-Spokane Valley), Jason Overstreet (R-Blaine), David Taylor (R-Moxee), Cary Condotta (R-East Wenatchee), and Drew MacEwen (R-Union). Thanks to Christopher Roberts for this news.
The Montana legislature is considering two bills to increase contribution limits to candidates for state office. They are HB 229 and HB 263. See this story for more details. The existing limits are so low, they were enjoined in a U.S. District Court last year, although the state is appealing. Thanks to Mike Fellows for the link.
New Mexico State Senator Howie Morales (D-Silver City) has introduced SB 218. It provides that candidates for federal and state office may pay a filing fee instead of filing a petition. The bill applies equally to candidates seeking the nomination of a party that nominates by primary, and also to candidates who have been nominated by a minor party convention, and also to independent candidates. The bill is fairly short but says it applies to all nominating petitions dealt with in Chapter 1-8 of the election code.
The fee for statewide office and Congress would be 1% of the annual salary of that office. For state legislature, the fee would be $500. Thanks to Jon Barrie for this news.
Connecticut Representative Tim Bowles (D-Preston) has introduced a bill to lower the statewide independent candidate petition, and the statewide petition for newly-qualifying parties, from 7,500 signatures, to 5,000 signatures. The bill doesn’t have a bill number yet.
In 2012, the only statewide minor party or independent petitions that succeeded were the Libertarian Party’s petition for President and U.S. Senate, and the Independent Party’s U.S. Senate petition. Thanks to Mike DeRosa for this news.
Here are the new campaign finance donation limits to federal candidates and parties, from the FEC. The amount an individual may donate to the campaign of a candidate for U.S. House is now $2,600, whereas for the 2012 election it had been $2,500. These amounts are indexed to inflation. Thanks to Rick Hasen, and RollCall, for the link.
