May 30 — The California State Assembly today passed a bill (AB 2948) to enact the proposed interstate compact entitled "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote" in California. The action follows passage of an identical bill by the Colorado State Senate on April 17. The bill in California is sponsored by Assembly members Tom Umberg, John Laird, and Merv Dymally.

In a KGO TV video story run entitled "Assembly Votes To Remove Electoral College", Assemblyman Umberg explains that he sponsored the bill to make California count again. KGO Video Segment. More coverage of the National Popular Vote plan and the CA Assembly vote is in the the Los Angeles Times story, the Associated Press story , and the California Progress Report story. The National Popular Vote plan was recently endorsed in a Sacramento Bee editorial and Los Angeles Times editorial.

The proposed interstate compact implements a goal favored by 70% and more of the public since the 1940s, namely nationwide popular election of the President. Recent poll results from Arkansas, Missouri, Maine, and Michigan.

On May 25, five Republican New York Assembly members introduced a bill (A11563) to enact National Popular Vote's proposed interstate compact entitled "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote" in New York state. The bill in New York is sponsored by Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (Republican, Independence, Working Families - Sag Harbor); Assemblyman Jim Bacalles (Republican, Conservative - Corning); Assemblyman Joe Errigo (Republican, Conservative - Conesus); Assemblyman Andrew Raia (Republican, Conservative, Independence, working Families - East Northport); Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward (Republican, Independence, Conservative - Willsboro).

The bill's sponsor, New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. stated, "The election of the President by popular vote is a goal that is supported by more than 70% of the American people. There is no rational reason in the 21st Century why the public should not be permitted to select its President by majority vote. The Electoral College is a 18th Century anachronism that no longer serves the goals of a pure democracy. The enactment of an interstate compact to insure the popular election of the President is a creative and innovative way to attain this goal. New York State, the Empire State should take a leadership role in energizing our democracy."

Also on May 25, Arizona state Sen. Paula Aboud (D-Tucson) announced that she plans to introduce the National Popular Vote plan to reform the Electoral College system into the Arizona Legislature in its next session. "The President of the United States should be the candidate who received the most votes cast by voters, period, and every vote should count the same no matter where it is cast.," said Aboud. "This reform is long overdue and Arizona should set an example for the rest of the country." Press Release

In Vermont, Rep. Warren Kitzmiller (D-Montpelier), Rep. Chris Pearson (P-Burlington), and Rep. Daryl Pillsbury (I-Brattleboro) plan on introducing legislation in 2007.

On May 17, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee today approved National Popular Vote's bill (AB 2948) to enact the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote" in California. Watch the video. Earlier, on April 25, the California Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee approved the bill. See the Sacramento Bee Story.

On May 10, The Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee today approved National Popular Vote's bill (HB 927) to enact National Popular Vote's bill in Louisiana. The Committee's action followed testimony in Baton Rouge by former congressman John Buchanan (R-Alabama), bill sponsor State Representative Juan LaFonta (D), and National Popular Vote President Barry Fadem.

On April 25, the Missouri House Elections Committee held an informational hearing on National Popular Vote's bill, hearing testimony from former Congressman John Anderson (R–Illinois and Independent presidential candidate) and John Buchanan (the first Republican to represent Birmingham, Alabama in Congress) and National Popular Vote President Barry Fadem. In Missouri, National Popular Vote's plan (HB 2090) is sponsored by Representative Robert Johnson (R) and Representative Jeff Roorda (D). See St. Louis Post-Dispatch April 27, 2006 article. See St. Louis Post-Dispatch May 11, 2006 article.

On March 14, 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.” On March 1, 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.” On March 27, the Minneapolis Star Tribune endorsed National Popular Vote’s plan saying, “the Legislature [should] do the right thing and endorse the new compact.” In a March 31 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.” Video Segment

The proposed “Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote” in an interstate compact. The proposed interstate compact implements nationwide popular election of the President by having states agree to jointly award all of their electoral votes to the presidential candidate receiving the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The bills currently pending in various states would enact the compact in those states. National Popular Vote is working to get identical legislation introduced into all of the 50 states. The proposed interstate compact would not take effect until identical legislation is enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes (that is, 270 of the 538 electoral votes). Thus, the compact would only take effect when it can guarantee an Electoral College majority to the presidential candidate receiving the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The proposed compact is described in detail in the book Every Vote Equal: A State-Based Plan For Electing The President By National Popular Vote by John R. Koza, Barry Fadem, Mark Grueskin, Michael S. Mandell, Robert Richie, and Joseph F. Zimmerman.

Earlier, on April 17, the Colorado State Senate gave its final approval (on third reading) to National Popular Vote's proposed interstate compact entitled the “Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote.” Colorado’s Senate thus became the first state legislative house in the nation to pass National Popular Vote's plan for nationwide election of the President. Among the Senators voting for the bill (SB 06-223) were original Senate sponsors Ken Gordon (D), John Evans (R), and Lew Entz (R). On April 14, Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon said “We're trying to count every vote equally, … We think the president should be the person who gets the majority vote. It's the bedrock of our democracy.” Senator Evan (R-Parker) said on April 14, “This bill addresses some serious flaws in the Electoral College process.”

National Popular Vote's plan was announced on February 23 at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, 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, FairVote Executive Director Rob Richie, National Popular Vote President Barry Fadem, and Dr. John R. Koza, originator of the plan. Every Vote Equal: A State-Based Plan For Electing The President By National Popular Vote, by National Popular Vote Press, was released at that time.

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).

How You Can Help

1. Contact your local representative to your state legislature and urge him or her to support a nationwide popular election of the President, and to introduce the National Popular Vote legislation in your state if it hasn't already been introduced. The ideal form of contact is a personal visit to the local district office where you meet with your representative and/or his or her staff. You can also send a personal letter, fax, or email to your representative.
   
   
2. Make a contribution to National Popular Vote. We need your support to continue our work and to expand our effort to additional states.
   
   
3. Please forward this newsletter to your friends and colleagues so that they can sign up on the National Popular Vote website at www.NationalPopularVote.com to receive our newsletter in the future.
   

Related Links
VIDEO: KGO-TV story
Sacramento Bee Endorsement
Los Angeles Times endorsement
The New York Times endoresement
Chicago Sun-Times endorsement
Minneapolis Star Tribune endorsement
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