Virginia Republican senators to kill electoral college change

[DonViejo]

By Stephen C. Webster
Friday, January 25, 2013 15:53 EST

A plan to alter the winner-takes-all Electoral College rules in the state of Virginia is on the chopping block after two Republican state senators on a key committee said they would oppose it, according to The Associated Press.

The proposed remake would have changed how electoral votes are tabulated by anchoring them to congressional districts, which are largely drawn to favor incumbents — the majority being Republicans, even though Democrats won the House popular vote in 2012.

Had the bill been passed ahead of last year’s presidential election, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney would have been declared winner in Virginia even though President Barack Obama won the popular vote by hundreds of thousands of actual voters.


Similar bills are being considered in the key swing states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, AP noted, and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus is encouraging state lawmakers to take up the cause.


Raw Story (http://s.tt/1yXmg)

Link to AP Story:
http://news.yahoo.com/gop-senators-oppose-va-electoral-change-180550098--election.html

[Tx4obama]

1. MSNBC - GOP's electoral vote scheme likely illegal in Virginia

MSNBC - GOP's electoral vote scheme likely illegal in Virginia
Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014380839

Also additional info regarding Virginia and info regarding FLORIDA in the comments here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022260006

[temporary311]

2. Good to see at least a few Republicans

aren't tyrants in waiting.

[Mz Pip]

3. PErhaps these state senators

live in swing districts and they need the votes of some democrats to keep their seats. Any lawmaker who signs on to this scheme needs to be in a very very safe district because I doubt any democrat in their right mibnd would vote for someone who supports that level of electoral disenfranchisement.

[DrToast]

4. If I was a state politican, I would resent the national party

The state party is thinking, "Hey, if we can win, why the hell can't the national party win? Why the hell do we have to take a hit politically by implementing this law just because they suck."

[annabanana]

5. Always good to shine light on shenanigans....

Thank you Rachel

[RedSpartan]

6. And VA's gov (R) opposes it as well:

Last edited Fri Jan 25, 2013, 11:28 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/25/bob-mcdonnell-electoral-college_n_2553197.html

[Dreamwithnolove]

7. Can someone please explain to me

A caller into the Thom Hartman show tonight had a great question. it was:

How could they vote on this bill when all VA employees that would be required to record the vote etc. were suppose to be off observing the MLK holiday? The commonwealth of VA observed the MLK holiday. How could normal business be conducted? Which is why Rep Marsh probably thought it was okay to leave town for the day and attend the inauguration.

[marlakay]

8. Same way my grand kids in Colorado

had to go to school. The bus showed up to pick them up and no one was ready, my daughter had just moved there and assumed it was a holiday! She got them ready and drove them but I found out later its not a forced federal holiday states can do what they want.

[Third Doctor]

9. We should still stay on top of this..

They could do a about face.