US House Likely to Vote on Paper Trails Next Week

May 25th, 2007
It is likely that the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on HR 811 during the last three days of May. This is Congressman Rush Holt’s bill to ban vote-counting machines that produce no paper trail. Congressman Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.) recently introduced a somewhat similar bill, HR 2360, to counteract HR 811. HR 811 would take effect before the November 2008 election, but HR 2360 would put off implementation until 2010.

Also, on May 25, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Christopher Dodd introduced S1487, which also outlaws machines with no paper trail starting in 2010. It is co-sponsored by Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Patrick Leahy, Edward Kennedy, Dan Inouye, Robert Menendez, Sherrod Brown, and Bernie Sanders.

No Comments »
New Voting Machines Helped Write-in Candidates in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
May 25th, 2007
Pennsylvania held primary elections on May 15, 2007, for statewide judicial office, and local partisan office. Luzerne County was using electronic vote-counting machines for the first time. Previously the county had used old-fashioned mechanical voting machines.

At the May 15 primary, 32 candidates won enough write-ins to be considered nominees of either the Democratic or Republican Parties. Luzerne County elections officials said the large number of write-ins was due to the fact that it is so much easier for voters to cast write-ins with the new machines, compared to the old machines. The new machines have an electronic keyboard which not only makes it obvious how to do a write-in, but eliminates the problems of poor penmanship.

The most important office for which voters nominated a write-in candidate was Luzerne County District Attorney. Republican write-in candidate Jackie Carroll needed 250 write-ins to be considered nominated, and received 455 write-ins.
www.ballot-access.org

CPPA Chairman Hagan Smith speaks at anti-illegal alien rally

June 3rd - CPPA Chairman Hagan Smith, Ezola Foster, Hazleton Mayor Louis J. Barletta and many more will be speaking at the Anti Illegal Alien Rally in Hazleton, PA at 2:00 pm. This rally is in support of Hazleton's Mayor Louis J. Barletta and his ordinances to rid his town of Illegal Aliens. Event is at the Hazelton city hall.

Key California Republican Group Endorses Ron Paul

May 22, 2007

ARLINGTON, VA – The United Republicans of California (UROC) have unanimously endorsed Congressman Ron Paul for president of the United States. UROC, formed in 1963 to support Barry Goldwater, represents the traditional conservative wing of the California Republican Party.

“The unanimous endorsement from the United Republicans of California proves what the campaign has been saying all along,” said campaign chairman Kent Snyder. “Ron Paul is the only true conservative and real Republican in the race.”

In their official statement endorsing Dr. Paul, UROC called him “the leading advocate for freedom in our nation’s capital” and recognized that:

Ron Paul’s voting record demonstrates that he has voted against:

· raising taxes;
· unbalanced budgets;
· a federal restriction on gun ownership;
· raising congressional pay; or
· increasing the power of the executive branch.

His voting record demonstrates further that he voted against:

· the USA Patriot Act;
· regulating the Internet; and
· the war in Iraq.

Dr. Paul is the only candidate with a record that matches the UROC’s platform.

“Whether the issue is life, the Second Amendment, foreign policy, spending or taxes, Ron Paul is the only traditional conservative candidate,” continued Snyder. “Traditional conservatives across the country should support Ron Paul for president.”
www.RonPaul2008.com

Court Rules Against Allegheny County Smoking Ban

(AP) PITTSBURGH A state appeals court says that Allegheny County had no authority to enact a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, and ordered a lower court to issue a permanent injunction stopping the ban from taking effect.

Commonwealth Court ruled today in a case brought against the county by two restaurants challenging the ban, which originally took effect January 2nd for indoor workplaces. But an Allegheny County judge later delayed the implementation of the law in bars and restaurants.

The owners of the Smithfield Cafe and Mitchell's Restaurant argued that the state's 1988 Clean Indoor Air Act pre-empts the county and Chief Executive Dan Onorato from passing a law restricting indoor smoking.

They also claimed the ban would cause irreparable harm to their businesses and contains unfair loopholes for small bars.
www.kdka.com

Allegheny county meeting

We met today for our monthly meeting and it was a very good meeting. We are looking for a new meeting location in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh. The state committee was on April 28th so we discussed the endorsement of several candidates there. I also brought up the fact that we have to raise funds to recruit new members this summer. We want to get tabels at fairs and any other community event. If you know of any events let me know by email at jmurphpitt@hotmail.com. Also the fall state committee meeting will be in Allegheny county and we are looking to have a very good turnout. In the open discussion state chairman Hagan Smith talked about the role of county sheriffs and that we need to hold them accountable to do their jobs. Stay posted to the blog,our next meeting may be in a different location and time.

Poor Turnout in Pennsylvania Primary is Good News for Ballot Access Calculation

Not that I agree with having to get this many signatures, It does give us an idea of what we may be up against.

May 20th, 2007

On May 15, Pennsylvania held its primary elections. Pennsylvania is one of four states with statewide partisan elections this year. The others are Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Those other three states haven’t had their primaries yet.

Pennsylvania elects four statewide partisan judges this year: two to the State Supreme Court, and two to Superior Court. The November 2007 judicial races will determine how many signatures are required for minor party and statewide independent petitions in 2008.

Fewer than 1,400,000 voters turned out in Pennsylvania on May 15, even though the state had 8,108,125 registered voters that day. The low turnout was especially surprising, given that both major parties had such close races for the judicial posts. The margin for one of the Republican Superior Court nominations was less than 10,000 votes, and the margin for one of the Democratic Superior Court nominations was just barely above 10,000 votes. If the turnout in November 2007 is double what it was for the primary, the number of signatures needed in 2008 will only be about 28,000 signatures. By contrast, in 2006 it was 67,070 signatures.
www.ballot-access.org