In September 2006, the 7th circuit held Illinois ballot access law unconstitutional, relating to independent candidates for the legislature. Illinois had asked for a rehearing en banc, but that had been denied on January 3, 2007. Illinois then had until April 3, 2007 to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision (called Lee v Keith). However, Illinois did not appeal, so the case is completely over.
Attorneys for Connecticut are trying to persuade a federal court to rule that the state’s discriminatory public funding law is constitutional, and that the court should not even hold a trial to gather evidence. The law, passed in December 2005, provides for public funding for the nominees of parties that polled 10% in the last election. Other nominees cannot get public funding unless they submit petitions of up to 20% of the last vote cast.
The Green Party filed a lawsuit against the law on July 6, 2006. All sides originally assumed their would be a trial. However, now the state argues the law is so obviously constitutional, there is no need for any further evidence. The Brennan Center for Justice has intervened on the side of the state. The ACLU’s brief on behalf of the Green Party, arguing that summary judgment is inappropriate, is due April 27.
SB 5561 in Washington state, to permit election-day registration, passed the Senate on March 13, and passed the House State Government Committee on March 30. It will receive a vote on the House floor very soon. County elections officials are strongly opposed to the bill and are working hard to defeat it. However, Democrats control the legislature and the Governor’s chair and seem solid in support of the bill.
The National Popular Vote Plan has finally been introduced in Maine. It is LD 1744. It has five sponsors in the Senate and six sponsors in the House. One of the sponsors is the Maine House Majority Leader, Hannah Pingree.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, MSNBC, and The Politico, are all sponsoring the first debate between candidates seeking the Republican presidential nomination. The debate will be May 3, 2007. Nine candidates will debate: Sam Brownback, Jim Gilmore, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Tommy Thompson.
The three debate sponsors will also sponsor a 2nd Republican debate on January 30, 2008.
