Delays are due to secret bargaining
Permalink +Sat, Mar 13, 2004, 5:42 pm // John Servais
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 let the Republican and Democratic parties file a lawsuit to overturn the 'Top 2' process.Locke and party bosses are probably negotiating the prices for each others actions. A delay is not caused by Locke staring at the horizon and trying to decide what is the right thing to do. Delays are due to secret bargaining. If Locke vetoes the section, then what will the parties give him or his favorite candidates? What is in it for him? He is not running for reelection, so he has good leverage on the parties.
Our representatives in Olympia designed bill SB6453 such that Locke could negotiate with the parties over his partial veto. They designed the bill so that the 'Top 2' primary process does not have a chance. Give them credit for intelligence. And political savvy. Those who voted for the bill will claim they tried - and they will be lying.
Not one of them - not one of our 147 elected legislators - has had the courage or integrity to speak out and tell us that the bill is a purposeful fraud on the voters. You only need scroll through the bill (you may need to key in 6453) and scan the sections to see how it is set up. Part One is the 'Top 2' and is numbered 1 thru 57. Part Two is the 'Montana' primary and is numbered 101 thru 205. The governor is expected to veto Part One. Very neat.
If Locke does not veto, then the parties can sue. Read section 101. This section is an invitation to a lawsuit by the parties. Our legislators removed words from the original bill that would have defeated efforts by the parties to overthrow the 'Top 2' primary. Our representatives purposely worded the 'Top 2' primary bill to be defeated in the courts.
Here is the original section 16 that allowed a candidate to avoid using the label 'Democrat' or 'Republican'. I have bolded the important part.
If, as provided in RCW 29A.24.030(3), a court of competent jurisdiction holds that a political party has the right to control the use of its name in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of that subsection, then the following process applies:
For those offices defined in section 4 of this act, a place for the candidate to submit a description of up to three words that the candidate regards as best approximating his or her own political philosophy. The sole purpose of allowing a candidate to submit a three-word description is to provide to voters information about each candidate's political philosophy, which the voters may consider when casting their votes at a primary or general election. The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary for the implementation of this section.This section was purposely taken out because it would have prevented a lawsuit by the political parties from overturning the 'Top 2' primary process. The bill was reworded to allow easy legal challenge by the parties. In open session, our legislators spoke openly that they had taken out the "three words" description, thus making the bill subject to a lawsuit. If available, you can check the video tapes. I watched it on ch. 23.
Strange you have to read this here first. Your corporate news media have not told you. Your representatives will tell you they voted for the 'Top 2' system. Your representatives will stumble and slide sideways trying to avoid admitting they knew what they were doing. Those who voted for and against the bill knew they were all participating together in a fraud on the voters. Now you know. They are tinkering with the basics of democracy and trying to avoid accountability.
Related Links:
-> Primary Election Bill SB6453
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No Locke on SB6453
Wed, Mar 31, 2004, 5:06 pm // John Servais
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For your morning entertainment. And for those who are in awe of the 'experts' in Olympia. Gov Locke vetoes three sections of a bill meant to streamline our…0 comments
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Fri, Mar 19, 2004, 5:24 pm // John Servais
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Locke is working _with_ the party machines
Sun, Mar 14, 2004, 5:29 pm // John Servais
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Delays are due to secret bargaining
Sat, Mar 13, 2004, 5:42 pm // John Servais
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 -…0 comments
Expect a partial veto
Wed, Mar 10, 2004, 10:40 pm // John Servais
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…0 comments
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Tue, Mar 09, 2004, 6:04 pm // John Servais
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…0 comments
They always say they “suspended the rules”
Tue, Mar 09, 2004, 1:07 am // John Servais
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…0 comments
Democracy on the line
Thu, Mar 04, 2004, 6:14 pm // John Servais
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Top 2 primary election bill, SB6453
Wed, Mar 03, 2004, 6:17 pm // John Servais
- 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…0 comments
Traffic and Western Washington University
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If WWU gets their way, $20 million in state taxes will be spent on jack-hammering out good roads and building new ones a hundred yards away. No increase…0 comments
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