On March 26, the Nebraska Supreme Court declined to hear the Republican Party’s appeal, in the case over whether Bob Kerrey should be on the Democratic primary ballot on May 15 as a candidate for U.S. Senate. See this story. The Supreme Court said it doesn’t have jurisdiction, so the lower court decision stands. The lower court said candidates for federal office cannot be required to be registered voters, so even if Kerrey’s voter registration is improper, it doesn’t make any difference to whether he can run.

Some of the nation’s smaller or newer political parties have recently launched petition drives to place themselves, or their presidential nominees, on the November ballot. The Party for Socialism and Liberation has completed its Vermont petition. The Socialist Party is petitioning in New Jersey. American Third Petition is petitioning in West Virginia, Mississippi, and New Jersey. The Justice Party, having finished qualification efforts in Mississippi and Utah, is petitioning in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

On March 8, the Maine Legislature’s Joint Taxation Committee unanimously passed LD 1826. It hasn’t received a vote in either house yet, but it probably will next week. It repeals the provision that puts a question on the State Income Tax form that asks taxpayers if they wish to send a small donation to the political party of their choice.

This bill, if enacted, will injure the Green Party, because approximately half of the party’s income comes from the tax checkoff. In many recent years in Maine, the Green Party has received more donations than the Republican Party from the income tax checkoff.