I know you've all been missing your somewhat regular dose of information on what Common Cause has been working on across the country at the local, state and national level.  Here's the latest edition of the Yellow Memo (as it's known in the CC office - it has been printed on yellow paper for as long as anyone remembers).  Thanks to volunteer Mary Jo Cittadino we've got the memo back up and running.  In future it'll mostly be posted under her name, but I wanted to introduce it this time.  Enjoy! 

House Administration Committee Approve Bills

On April 2 the Committee on House Administration approved two vital measures: The Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 2008 (HR 5036) will help states safeguard voting machines in November's general election. The Universal Right to Vote By Mail (HR 281) will ease administrative hurdles for voters who wish to vote by absentee ballot. The bill clarifies that voters may request the right to vote by absentee ballot without needing to give an "excuse."

Common Cause has championed both measures since their introduction. In a press release, President Bob Edgar commended "those on the House Administration Committee who voted in support of these measures" and urged "the full House and Senate to follow suit to help ensure voting security and accessibility in November."

More below the fold.

As I noted last week, there's a link between the District of Columbia and the Maryland congressional district being vacated early, and in an unseemly manner, by Rep. Al Wynn. They share not only a boundary and some Beltway exits, but soon MD4 may be without representation in Congress - just like DC. Here's the WaPo editorial today:
A clear majority in the Senate support the bill. We only need three Senators to overcome a filibuster: A couple of Dems, Baucus (MT) and Byrd (WV) and one Repub, maybe Hagel (NE) or Smith (OR). Live in those states? Give them a call.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer spoke to the audience at the National Conference On Citizenship last Thursday in the National Archives.  He focused on the central role of democracy in the US Constitution, saying he felt all of his colleagues in the Supreme Court would probably agree even as they differ on interpreting its parts.  This may seem fair enough.  Indeed, he made a point of stating the obviousness of his argument.  Democracy is the fundamental principle our Constitution guards.

The problem is, like Justice Breyer, 600,000 citizens in the District of Columbia are denied democratic representation in the House of Representatives.  I asked him what he thought of that.  Unfortunately, he couldn't answer the question, despite the First Amendment, as he said Supreme Court Justices have to remain publicly impartial.

For now, he has to wait for the Senate, and the recalcitrant minority therein, to let DC Voting Rights pass so that he can exercize his Constitutional duty to give his opinion (should someone be so undemocratic as to challenge it).  For his, my and all our sakes, I hope to see that day soon.

Should citizens in the capital of the United States be represented in Congress?  Should we be able to confirm that votes are counted correctly?  If you thought those were easy questions, well, you haven't been paying close enough attention to the inner workings of our Congress.  Common Cause is pushing for a "yes" on both of those counts and holding elected officials accountable, in Washington and around the country....

• Common Cause New York report triggers lively media discussion about pay-to-play
• Newly-created Connecticut "Clean Elections" system kicks off with special election next month
• Milwaukee Rep. joins Common Cause Wisconsin's call for hold on campaign contributions
• Media consolidation hearing in Chicago this week; Common Cause on the scene
• Voting and election bills on the cusp in Congress

This afternoon, the stars aligned, things went better than expected and there was a room full of people smiling and clapping at the end of the day.

The bill (HR 5388) to give the District of Columbia a voting representative in the House passed by an overwhelming 29-4 vote in the Government Reform Committee.  Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), chair of the committee, has led the effort and recently came together with Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton to make some changes to the original bill, leading to today's triumph.

Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) - remember him from the Clinton years - announced his opposition to the bill, then went into the committee's back room to meet with former Rep. Jack Kemp -- Burton returned and announced he was changing his vote!  It was one of those dramatic, uplifting moments that makes you believe that their is hope in Congress.

Next step - the Judiciary Commitee.  A tough move, but today's vote is a huge step forward.