In 2012, independents will outnumber one of the major parties in 12 of the 53 Congressional districts, 10 of the 40 Senatorial districts, and 22 of the 80 Assembly districts.
Given the expected 75 word limit on proposed 2014 constitutional amendments, Florida Independent Voting (fivorg.com) proposes the following legislative changes to implement Top 2 Open Primaries. The changes are patterned.
Nowhere in our political system is power more institutionalized than in the pocket books of the political players. But a little discussed, and even lesser questioned reality is that the source from which the parties draw much of their funds are not their own, but from the taxpayers they are elected to represent.
Yesterday, the California State Senate unanimously concurred in minor Assembly Amendments to SB 140 by Senator Mark Leno, thus sending the bill to Governor Brown for his expected signature. The bi-partisan votes on SB 140 is the first but not the last beneficial effect of the Open Primary and Competitive redistricting.
A young Democratic newcomer is mounting a credible challenge even in the face of Rep. Mike Honda. This phenomenon is made possible by the nonpartisan top two primary. The same system that saw a young Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) take out long-time incumbent Rep. Peter Stark last election, evidence that the top-two nonpartisan primary is changing California’s political environment more than the politicos had anticipated.
Montana House of Representative will vote on Friday on a proposed referendum that would create a top two primary system in Montana. If the House votes in favor of the bill, Montanans will have the opportunity to vote on the adoption of a new system in November 2014.
With the filing of the appeal in the Field v. Bowen case, the California non-partisan top two primary’s legal challenges continue.
Many people hear the phrase ‘open primary’ and assume that this is the most transparent and fair type of primary system. But, “open” primaries are still partisan elections in which nominees from each party are selected.
Last year’s partisan primaries cost taxpayers around $400 million, public money went directly to private organizations to conduct these elections.
Charles Munger, often associated with Republican causes, is defending California’s non-partisan open primary against political party interests.
