For the second year in a row, the Maine Green Party has received more revenue from the state’s income-tax check-off choice for political parties than the Maine Republican Party received. State income tax returns that have been sent in during 2007 yield $12,146 to the Democratic Party; $4,467 to the Green Party; $4,349 to the Republican Party.

Twelve states let state income taxpayers choose to send a small donation to the political party of their choice, although in Ohio and North Carolina, only the Democratic and Republican Parties are ever listed (even when there are other ballot-qualified parties).

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, released a press release on August 25 which says he plans to meet with political leaders who aren’t Democrats and Republicans, and to make an active plea for support from voters who aren’t registered into the two major parties. The press release says he has already met with several leaders of the Committee for a United Independent Party (CUIP).

The press release says, “Independent voters are a critical and growing constituency in American politics that must be related to and recognized as a major progressive force in our democracy. Independents are in the forefront for political reform and social change.”

On August 25, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein said she will introduce a constitutional amendment when Congress returns on September 4, for the purpose of electing the president by popular vote. Feinstein is chair of the Senate Rules & Administration Committee, and a member of the Judiciary Committee, so she is likely to succeed in getting it through all committee hurdles. But in the Senate itself, as well as in the House, it can’t pass without a two-thirds vote.