Great News HB3 ...... is dead for now!

[Botany]

liberal N proud (1000+ posts) Tue Dec-20-05 03:57 PM
Original message
OH Election Reform Victory! House Rejects HB3! - Message from PFAW

Last week, the Ohio House surprised observers by overwhelmingly rejecting HB3. If this election "reform" bill had passed into law, more Ohioans would cast provisional ballots; random audits would no longer be required for electronic voting machines; and heavy burdens would be placed on voter registration drives. When we began fighting this bill a year ago, it was widely assumed that passage of these provisions was a slam-dunk. This extraordinary vote is a testament to the work of PFAW activists and our partners in Ohio.

HB3 now goes back to a conference committee, giving us the chance to push for real election reform in the legislature in 2006. Please support our continued work with a year-end donation.

http://www.pfaw.org/go/OHElectionReform

We were tremendously disappointed when voters rejected the election reform initiatives on the November 8th ballot. The defeat of HB3 shows that our investment in the fight for voting rights in Ohio is reaping dividends. Your work and that of our Ohio team, led by PFAW organizer Shaun Tucker, had more impact than we knew.

We challenged Republican leaders in the Ohio legislature every step of the way on HB3. When it was first introduced in winter of last year, its backers thought they could pass it in one week. But PFAW activists and their allies showed up to the legislative hearings, conducted lobby days at the state house, met with their elected officials, and wrote letters to the editors of Ohio newspapers generating the public scrutiny that dragged the fight out for almost a year and led to the House's rejection of HB3.

This fight is far from over -- a new version of this legislation will emerge early next year. We count on your support as we continue to push for real voting reform in Ohio. Please support People For the American Way's commitment to protecting Ohio's elections with a year-end contribution.

http://www.pfaw.org/go/OHElectionReform

Thank you,

Ralph G. Neas
President

[medinalib]

1. Back to reality...

As much as I'd like to give you credit for "killing HB
3",  everyhting I've heard and read suggests that the
bill is going to conference committee to work out a small
disagreement on campaign finance law.   You may have
challenged Republicans at every step of the way,  but they
appear to have flicked you aside like a fly.  This bill and
the voter id stuff is going to be law. Period.

[MeDeMax]

2. links people

links anyone ?

Botany's link took me to a fundraiser site for PFAW.

[lfairban]

3. Link to most recent article:

The Cincinnati Enquirer:
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051216/EDIT01/512160338/1020/EDIT

also see:
http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002139.htm

more at:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&q=Ohio+Election+Reform+HB3&scoring=d

[OzarkDem]

4. Well that's what happens

when you live in a corrupt state without a Democratic
government.  We'll have a lot of work to do when we take back
the majority.

Bottom line, none of the provisions in the bill will pass
Constitutional muster.  While it may appease the Ohio GOP
base, this bill, even if passed, is going nowhere.  Ohio Dem
leadership doesn't have the funds (and I'm not sure all of
them have the willpower) to contest the legislation.
Once again, Ohio is fortunate to have groups like PFAW to come
to the rescue for us.  

Welcome to the forum, Medinalib!

[newyawker99]

5. Hi medinalib!!

Welcome to DU!!  :toast: