Vermont Legislature Adjourns, Won't Return for a Veto Session

On Saturday, May 3, the Vermont legislature adjourned for the year. In a surprise move, legislative leaders said they won’t bring the legislature back for a day in June to consider whether to override any vetoes. Governor Jim Douglas may or may not sign the National Popular Vote Plan bill, SB 270. He may let it become law without his signature. He must decide by the end of the day, Friday, May 9.

Vermont Legislature Adjourns, Won’t Return for a Veto Session

On Saturday, May 3, the Vermont legislature adjourned for the year. In a surprise move, legislative leaders said they won’t bring the legislature back for a day in June to consider whether to override any vetoes. Governor Jim Douglas may or may not sign the National Popular Vote Plan bill, SB 270. He may let it become law without his signature. He must decide by the end of the day, Friday, May 9.

Many Independent Candidates File for Congress in Florida

Seven of Florida’s 25 U.S. House seats will have an independent candidate on the ballot in November. There have never before been this many U.S. House races in that state with an independent candidate on the ballot. Florida had extremely stringent petition requirements for independents and minor party candidates before 1999.

One of the independent candidates is a former Democratic state legislator, Ben Graber. He is running in the 19th district against incumbent Democrat Robert Wexler. Here is Graber’s webpage. Wexler usually has no opponents.

Another of the independent candidates for Congress is Burt Saunders, who is now a Republican State Senator. Saunders is running in the 19th district (Naples). Here is his webpage.

Democrats are running someone in all 25 districts. No Republicans are running in the 3rd, 17th, and 20th districts. Thanks to ThirdPartyWatch for the news about Burt Saunders and Ben Graber.

State Chair of California American Independent Party Still Favors Nominating Alan Keyes

On May 5, Ed Noonan, state chair of the American Independent Party of California, changed the state party’s webpage to show that Chuck Baldwin is the party’s presidential nominee. The AIP is the California affiliate of the Constitution Party, which nominated Baldwin last month in Kansas City.

However, Noonan told me on the telephone on May 7 that he still will work to nominate Alan Keyes as the presidential candidate of the American Independent Party. Noonan feels that Keyes would run a more vigorous campaign than Baldwin will. The AIP state convention will make the decision in Sacramento in June.