National Popular Vote -- Electoral college reform by direct election of the President

E-mail newsletter no. 2 of 2006

April 4, 2006

Bills Filed in Five States for National Popular Vote

April 3— In the five weeks since National Popular Vote’s initial press conference on February 23, state legislative bills to implement nationwide popular election of the President have been introduced in five state legislatures—Illinois, Colorado, Missouri, California, and Louisiana. Hearings on the proposed legislation—called the “Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote”—are expected in Colorado and California in the near future.

The National Popular Vote plan is sponsored in the Illinois Senate by Senators Jacqueline Collins (D), Kirk W. Dillard (R and Du Page County Republican Party Chair), James T. Meeks (I), and others (SB 2724). The House bill in Illinois (HB 5777) is sponsored by Representatives Robert S. Molaro (D) and Jim Durkin (R). In Missouri, the bill (HB 2090) is sponsored by Representative Robert Johnson (R) and Representative Jeff Roorda (D). In Colorado, the bill (SB 06-223) is sponsored by Senators Ken Gordon (D), John Evans (R), and Lew Entz (R). The California bill is AB 2948 and the Louisiana bill is HR 927.

On march 14, the The New York Times endorsed National Popular Vote’s plan, calling it an “innovative new proposal" and "an ingenious solution" and saying “Legislatures across the country should get behind it.”

The The Chicago Sun-Times called National Popular Vote’s plan “thinking outside the box” and said “It's time to make the change with this innovative plan” (March 1).

The Minneapolis Star Tribune endorsed National Popular Vote’s plan (March 27) saying, “the Legislature [should] do the right thing and endorse the new compact.”

In a video story entitled “An Idea To Make Your Vote Count In 2008,” KGO TV said “A movement gaining momentum to reform the electoral college and change the way we choose our presidents.” Story.

National Popular Vote's plan was announced on February 23 at a press conference at the National Press Club featuring former Congressmen John Anderson (R-Illinois and Independent presidential candidate) and John Buchanan (R-Alabama), former Senator Birch Bayh (D-Indiana), Common Cause President Chellie Pingree, National Popular Vote President Barry Fadem, and Dr. John R. Koza, originator of the plan. At that time, National Popular Vote Press released a book by John R. Koza, Barry Fadem, Mark Grueskin, Michael S. Mandell, Robert Richie, and Joseph F. Zimmerman describing the plan entitled Every Vote Equal: A State-Based Plan For Electing The President By National Popular Vote.

National Popular Vote’s National Advisory Board now includes John Buchanan (R–Alabama), Birch Bayh (D–Indiana), John Anderson (R–Illinois and later Independent presidential candidate), Tom Campbell (R–California), David Durenberger (R–MN), and Jake Garn (R–Utah).