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They all know they violated the public trust
Before Wednesday, Gov. Locke will act on SB6453, the primary election bill. There has been no news on his deliberations these past two weeks. All legislators are very quiet. No press releases by the p
Before Wednesday, Gov. Locke will act on SB6453, the primary election bill. There has been no news on his deliberations these past two weeks. All legislators are very quiet. No press releases by the p
Here is what is about to happen. Either Locke will veto the 'Top 2' section or, if he signs the full bill, then the two political parties will immediately file a lawsuit demanding they have the right to decide which candidates can label themselves Republican or Democrat. Our legislators crafted the bill to allow this lawsuit to be successful and overturn the 'Top 2' section.
Don't bother writing or phoning the Governor on this. Raw power - political power of party bosses - is what will influence Locke on this one. They are the group threatening us with a lawsuit. The local Democrat and Republican party workers are for the most part just dupes following the party line and speaking against the Top 2 primary election process. I've been getting a lot of email from them - angry that I would suggest their party would stoop to trying to control our election process. Sorry folks - it is true. The parties want to control the final two candidates we get to vote for in the general election. They work together to keep others out of the election process. Their arguments that the 'Top 2' is flawed against independents is a very self-serving argument.
Notice no legislators are speaking about the bill - the most important legislation they passed. Why not? Because they all know they violated the public trust and passed a bill that satisfies the party bosses - a bill with poison-pill wording. Those who voted for and against SB6453 know it is a fraud that invites either a partial veto or a lawsuit. Shame on them.
Powerful groups are trying to gain control of the very core of our democratic process - our election process. Our "leaders" - our elected representatives and officials - are all cowering and wishing they had never been put in the position of having to decide on this. Their political party bosses put extraordinary pressure on them and they all caved in. All.
The Washington State Grange will be our rescuers on this over the summer. We should be ready to support them.
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They all know they violated the public trust
Before Wednesday, Gov. Locke will act on SB6453, the primary election bill. There has been no news on his deliberations these past two weeks. All legislators are very quiet. No press releases by the p
Let the parties use the caucuses
Gov. Locke has not acted on the primary election bill. No doubt he is wondering how his reputation will be hurt if he vetoes the ‘Top 2’ process. He will be known in the future as the guy who tried to
Locke is working _with_ the party machines
Today’s Bham Herald editorial is well meaning but hopelessly ignorant of the process in Olympia. Naive may be a better word to describe their editorial board. Gee, goes the editorial - the legislature
Delays are due to secret bargaining
Will Gov Locke veto the ‘Top 2’ primary process and allow the Montana process to become law? Probably, but not necessarily. He may sign the entire bill - getting himself off the hook with voters - and
Expect a partial veto
The ‘Top 2’ primary election bill has a poison pill in it. Our legislators tonight have changed just three words that will allow the Republican and Democratic party bosses to successfully challenge th
Voting against democracy
We have Kelli Linville and Doug Ericksen voting against democracy and for the iron grip of the two political parties on our election process. Shame on them.
Quall and Morris voted for the ‘Top
They always say they “suspended the rules”
SB6453 passed the House late this evening by a vote of 51 to 46. Now - if Gov. Locke will just sign it. More when we have more facts. The morning papers should cover it decently.
Kelli Linville
Democracy on the line
On Friday morning at 8 am, the WA House committee on government will hold a hearing on the “Top 2” primary election bill - Senate Bill 6453. This is the hot bill this legislative session. The House wi
Top 2 primary election bill, SB6453
- Senate Bill number 6453 - has passed the Washington State Senate by a vote of 28 to 20. This is the primary that allows citizens to vote for whom they want to represent them - the good primary.
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