Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Good News and Bad News

The good news is that HB72 the Ballot Access bill sponsored by Rep. Cam Ward passed out of the Constitution and Elections Committee today, despite Rep. Ken Guin's protests.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"This lowers to 150 the number of signatures required in some House districts. That's less than a morning standing in front of Wal-Mart with a petition." - Rep. Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill, arguing against a bill that would make it easier for independent and third party candidates to get on the ballot in Alabama.


And what exactly is wrong with that Rep. Guin? Being that you are a member of one of the two major parties you've never had to spend a second or a cent to get on the ballot. This is a democracy and in a democracy anyone that is qualified to run for office should be granted a spot on the ballot. Democrats and Republicans do not own the ballot or the election process and you should be ashamed for passing and upholding laws that eliminate competition. If your ideas are better than your opponents then what do you have to worry about?

The Bad News

HB475 The Salvia Bill passed out of the Judiciary Committee despite the fact that the sponsor Rep. Laura Hall stumbled and bumbled through the presentation. One of my people was there to speak against this lunacy but in the end the lunacy won over. This bill now goes to the House..or maybe the rules committee. I'll be writing more later about what the next steps in defeating it are.


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