We've worked hard for the past couple years to get rid of the Electoral College in its current form by enacting the National Popular Vote plan in enough states to reach 270 electoral votes.  A great opinion piece today in the NY Times makes a strong case for why we need to pass NPV in many states now--in 2009 and 10--and not wait around.

The LA Times enthusiastically supports the National Popular Vote plan for California, which Common Cause and a coalition of groups have been pushing in CA and around the country.The National Popular Vote bill in California is likely to get a vote in the Senate soon, and then it goes to the Governor's desk; unfortunately, Schwarzenegger vetoed it two years ago, but the Times argues for him to reconsider.

Common Cause continues its efforts to hold power accountable.

Abuse of Power: Forging the Path to Recovery

Common Cause hosted a distinguished panel on June 10 to discuss the widespread abuse of power engaged in by the current Administration. The Administration has disregarded the rule of law through over-broad assertions of executive power, abuse of signing statements, and policies that arguably flout the Constitution regarding interrogation, detention, and intelligence gathering. The Congress has repeatedly failed to perform its constitutionally mandated oversight duties in each of these areas.

The panelists were charged with examining these disturbing trends and with considering how best to restore the constitutional constraints that have served our country well since its inception.

On Monday, Rob Richie, Executive Director of Fairvote, spoke about the Electoral College at the National Archives.

He spent most of his time speaking about the failings of the Electoral College. Richie argued that having the Electoral College only allows citizens to vote for their Electoral delegates, and not directly for the presidential candidates, an effect that is not only problematic but fundamentally backwards. Given that 70% of Americans today support popular elections, we ought to be taking measures to ensure that the popular vote is what counts in determining the winning presidential candidate.

The Vermont House of Representatives passed the National Popular Vote bill today by a vote of 77-35. Once ratified by enough states to form a majority in the Electoral College, this plan will ensure that the candidate for president who wins the most votes in all 50 states would be elected president.

This bill has already passed the Vermont Senate so it now goes to the Governor. Congratulations to the folks at Common Cause Vermont as well as to Rep. Chris Pearson who not only championed the bill in Vermont but is traveling to states across the country to explain the NPV agreement.

(Maybe they read my post from yesterday and got worried about how climate change would impact the skiing and maple syrup!)

Read here for updates on how this plan is moving in other states.

The news on global climate change keeps getting worse, yet it has not become major topic for presidential candidates.

Climate scientist Jim Hansen (of the Goddard/NASA Institute for Space Studies) and other climatoligists are telling the world that we have already exceeded the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that could be considered safe:

If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm.

The scientists say that we need to take very serious measures very soon:

Present policies, with continued construction of coal-fired power plants without CO2 capture, suggest that decision-makers do not appreciate the gravity of the situation. We must begin to move now toward the era beyond fossil fuels. Continued growth of greenhouse gas emissions, for just another decade, practically eliminates the possibility of near-term return of atmospheric composition beneath the tipping level for catastrophic effects.

While Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain all talk about the need to do something to reduce emissions, none of the proposals they support (such as reducing emissions by 85% by 2050) come close to what Jim Hansen and other scientists are now telling us will be necessary. Even Al Gore didn't spend much time talking about global warming when he was running for president.

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.

It's been awhile since an update, so there's more Common Cause news than can fit here.  But as state legislatures reopen for the 2008 session, and as the country follows a much-anticipated and closely-fought presidential race, here's a sampling of some highlights from our work making our democracy function more like it should....

• More than 75% of Connecticut candidates will opt for public funding at first opportunity
• New Jersey passes National Popular Vote
• Common Cause pushes in Iowa, presidential candidates endorse full public financing
• Common Cause Rhode Island hosts two governors, wins media praise
• Poll on Judicial Public Financing in Wisconsin
• Former Congressman Jim Leach will chair the Common Cause National Governing Board