HB 1310, the full employment bill for incumbents, is scheduled to come up for third reading this week, quite possibly today.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ted Hoskins, D-St. Louis, will force independent candidates, who already face almost insurmountable odds when challenging incumbents from the established parties, to file at the same time as Democrats and Republicans...though they do not have August primary elections as those parties do.
The bill, you may recall, began in the Senate in 2007, sponsored by Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, who faced a challenge from incumbent Kim Wright, Joplin, in 2006. Nodler's bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, who faced a challenge from independent Michael Holzknecht.
With all of the important issues that face Missourians, putting this nonsense bill on the fast track is a clear abuse of power, and appears to smack more of pettiness than anything else. Democrats and Republicans already have an enormous edge in fundraising and organization. This bill is simply not necessary.
This is a great bill and I hope it sails right through. If you want to play in the game, get in the game. Use the two-party system or start building a strong third party...don't just cherry pick and let any single individual pick and choose what seat they want to hold and then just go for that. Build a party the way others have done and give it your best shot....I encourage everyone to involve themselves in politics, but don't ask for special favors...get in there and fight it out under the same conditions as everyone else...through a primary and then on to the final stage. Saying you can't compete because you don't have the money is just an excuse...many in the two parties don't have money either but they don't blame it on something else..they compete with what they have..
ReplyDeleteKeep fairness in the process as much as possible....this bill helps do that.
Agreed- This is insipid nonsense and further proof that the House and Senate are far more interested in their own careers than the democratic process-
ReplyDelete"Insipid nonsense?" I don't think so. We don't live in a nation based on perpetuating "two party system." If that's the case let's just have one party and call it Communism.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who thinks the founding fathers had two parties alone in mind (which didn't even exist in today's form at the time) doesn't know what he/she is talking about.
We live in a system based on liberty. To say that liberty is only offered to Republicans or Democrats and that candidates and that other parties or Independent candidates should be blocked is AGAINST the American way of life, not for it.
The Nodler Bill should be defeated --just as he will probably be if Kim Wright runs again. As a result of this bill, I will work for her!
The issue is not whether an independent can run or not. They must file an "intent to run" by the same date every other candidate must file. Big deal? No. It just prevents partisans running as an independent when someone else files.
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