On the evening of August 25, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn did an “amendatory veto” of HB 723. That means he told the legislature he would not sign the bill unless the legislature amends the bill to add one particular unrelated election law provision that he wants. UPDATE: see this Chicago Tribune story. It appears the Governor used the same maneuver on yet another bill. The article also says the ethics initiative would be binding, not advisory.

HB 723 is the bill that makes it impossible for qualified parties to nominate someone by party meeting after the primary, unless a petition is submitted for each committee-nominated nominee.

The Governor wants the legislature to add a ballot question to the February 2010 primary ballot that asks, “Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to allow the people of Illinois to initiate, by petition, a binding referendum to adopt standards of ethical conduct for officials and employees of State government?” So whether or not the bill becomes law depends on whether the legislature is willing to amend the bill and include that idea.

Krist Novoselic has this commentary in the August 25 Seattle Weekly, about the recent court decision that says the Washington state “top-two” system isn’t necessarily constitutional.

The New Mexico Attorney General says he will appeal the U.S. District Court decision New Mexico Youth Organized v Herrera to the 10th circuit. The U.S. District Court, on August 3, had ruled that New Mexico Youth Organized is not a “political committee” and therefore need not file regular reports on who donates. New Mexico Youth Organized had sent out mailings criticizing various state legislators during an election year. See this story.