This committee is working on promoting IRV and more accountable voting processes in Colorado.
(SEE EXPLANATION OF IRV AT: IRV DESCRIPTION)
Members:
Kent Holcomb - co-chair
Bob Kinsey - co-chair
Rick Van Wie
Doug Malkan
Sunny Maynard
Hollie Kopp
Brad Klafehn
Jerry Gerber
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Email List Name: GPOC-IRV
Group email address: GPOC-IRV@yahoogroups.com
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The Committee is vigorously following HB 07-1162, the Advanced Voting Methods Bill, in 2007. The following is a timeline of events and messages regarding this bill. A fact sheet regarding the bill is here.
Jan 18:
Yesterday Representative John Kefalas from HD 52 introduced the Voter Choice Act, which establishes a group to study advanced voting methods for Colorado, including IRV. Ken Gordon is the Senate sponsor. Hollie Kopp, Eric Fried and myself along with Jan Kok of the Libertarian Party have had the honor of being able to assistwith the drafting of this exciting new legislation that could very well be a step forward in expanding democracy here in Colorado.
Rick VanWIe
Feb. 2:
The SVMA committee is only the first hurdle. Okay, it could be the final one if it does not pass, true. So we have to mobilize in the next few days. But if it DOES pass out of committee, the bill will move to the Appropriations committee to wait for funding along with the rest of the bills passed until the Long Bill comes from the Joint Budget committee. And it will have to pass on the floor of the Legislature as well. My point is there (hopefully) will be lots of work to do and people to mobilize after Feb. 8 as well. In the meantime we need to get Greens to call and email the committee members, especially (but not solely)Greens to contact their own state reps in Adams, Alamosa, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, El Paso, Jefferson and Larimer Counties. The Dems on the committee will be more likely to support it (IRV is in the 2006 Colorado Democratic platform) while the R's (three from El Paso and Lundberg from Larimer) are no doubt right-wing Republicans...all but a handful of R's now in the state legislature are pretty right-wing. We have no party organizations that I'm aware of in Alamosa or El Paso, but we do in the other counties. We could start by calling the party chairs or leaders in each of those counties and getting them committed to mobilizing people to make phone calls and emails. We could also try to get people in those counties to contact their local Libertarians (who also support IRV) and have them focus on the Republicans. Maybe the co-chairs could focus their efforts on finding someone in Denver (Bruce M? Bruce M? Sunny? someone else?) to coordinate the effort there as no one has stepped forward to volunteer to help pass the bill we have eagerly wanted for so long. Rick has offered to testify at the hearing on Feb. 8, but anyone else is free to do so as well.
Eric Fried
Feb 5:
The Voter Choice Act of 2007 sponsored by Representative John Kefalas of Fort Collins will be heard this Thursday, Feb. 8 before the Colorado House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. This bill would establish a study commission made up of representatives of major and minor parties, county clerks and the Secretary of State (or his designee) to study the possibility of implementing Instant Runoff Voting or other advanced methods (such as Approval or Range Voting) in Colorado elections. The commission would report back to the Legislature on costs and benefits, obstacles in current law, necessary voting machine changes, training required, and all other relevant issues. This is our best chance ever to break out of the "spoiler" straightjacket we have been placed in by the two major parties. We need every Green receiving this email to forward it to other Greens and interested progressives, and to call and email the committee members in the next few days! Attached is a fact sheet/action alert on the bill. Please take a minute to act on this now! Don't wait - time is short and we must seize the moment. If you have any questions or concerns, please call me on my cell phone - 970-214-4548. Thanks for your concern and action.
Eric Fried
Feb 8:
I just listened in and HB 1162 was amended down to just a study committee - no pilot project - and consequently passed out of Committee by an 8-3 vote.
I hope the floor of the House is next.
I will make my calls and I hope our newly formed support group makes gains with whomever might vote against this.
Bruce Meyer
Feb 9:
Rick was a fantastic witness yesterday, and one of the reasons the bill was passed. He is very well known at the Capitol, and can be a real ally.
Rick Randall, the Legislative Coordinator of the Libertarian Party
March 2:
Sorry you haven't heard from me in a while. I have been waiting on Rep. Kefalas to advise me on how to proceed. As you recall, the Advanced Voting Methods Bill (for a study commission on IRV and other possible reforms) passed the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on 2-8-07 on an 8-3 vote and is now at the Appropriations Committee with a $25,000 fiscal note (what they expect it will cost in 2007). There it will sit until the Joint Budget Committee brings forward The Long Bill with the whole budget and all appropriations mandated by all passed bills. The $25k cost is small potatoes and should not be an issue, but...it might be. Legislators are reluctant to spend anything they don't have to, and this is not a top priority for many legislators. Speaker Romanoff responded to my email, and told John, he would support the bill assuming they could get the $25,00 figured out. With other commissions like this, sometimes private donations have been solicited to cover the cost or match the state funds. If anyone knows of a financial angel who supports IRV, this would be a good time to talk to them.
So, what is the best thing for us to do now? We could:
1) Lobby the Appropriations Committee (see http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2007A/csl.nsf/Directory for lists of legislators and committee members)
2) Lobby all the members of the State House, because once it passes Appropriations it will go to the House floor
3) Lobby the Senate State Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, where it will go once it passes the House. The Dems are Romer and Groff from Denver and Windels from Jeffco. The Reps are R, May and Schultheis from El Paso County and thus possibly lost causes, especially with no Colorado Springs Green local to lobby them.
If we do #2, one idea would be to increase public awareness of the bill and why it will enhance Colorado's democracy if it passes, by writing Op-Eds and sending them to all the local/regional papers around the state. Rick van Wie has already published one in the Colorado Statesman, and we could send them to you all, plus there is a talking points memo written by Rick and John we could forward. My idea would be to get local green contacts to write their own Op-Eds based on the talking points and send them to their local papers: more likely to print that way, and a good way to get the green party name out there. Plus many of you are elected officials in your areas and well-known.
Eric Fried
March 4:
After discussions with Representative John Kefalas this weekend, HB07-1162, the Voter Choice Act, needs support now. It is scheduled to be heard by the House Appropriations Committee this Friday, March 9 at 7:30 AM. This was unexpected, as we were under the impression that we wouldn't be heard until the "long bill" was before the committee.
As an update, the bill was amended in two significant ways. First, we lost our pilot program. Although we wanted a pilot program, the study group is still an important step forward. Second, it was amended so that we can accept private donations. As it turns out that this may be more important than we thought. The $25,000 fiscal note may be an issue. There is very little money this year, and there are quite a few bills competing for what's there.
Therefore, we need everyone's help in two ways. First, we are asking everyone to contact the committee members, especially if one represents your district, and ask them to fund and pass the bill. $25,000 is a reasonable price to pay for investigating how we can have a fuller, better democracy that strengthens majority rule and eliminates the spoiler issue. The names, phone numbers and e-mails of the members are listed below.
Second, we are asking for anyone that may be able to actually put money into the bill to pledge now. It would probably do a lot for the bill if John could go to the committee hearing on Friday and tell them that grassroots supporters have stepped forward and pledged money. If you know any well-off donors or financial angels who support IRV, this is the time to contact them. I know it seems absurd that we might have to raise the money for a $25,000 state study when the state budget is in the billions, but if we don't, it just might not happen, at least in 2007.
Eric Fried
House Appropriations Committee Members (13)
Rep. Bernie Buescher, Chair (HD-55): 303-866-2583, bernie.buescher.house@state.co.us
Rep. Jack Pommer, Vice Chair (HD-11): 303-866-2780, jack.pommer.house@state.co.us
Rep. Dorothy Butcher, (HD-46): 303-866-2968, dorothy.butcher.house@state.co.us
Rep. Michael Garcia, (HD-42): 303-866-3911, michael@michaelgarcia.info
Rep. Joel Judd, (HD-5): 303-866-2925, repjoeljudd@qwest.net
Rep. Jim Kerr, (HD-28): 303-866-2939, james.kerr.house@state.co.us
Rep. Tom Massey, (HD-60): 303-866-2747, tom.massey.house@state.co.us
Rep. Anne McGihon, (HD-3): 303-866-2921, anne.mcgihon.house@state.co.us
Rep. Frank McNulty, (HD-43): 303-866-2936, frank@frankmcnulty.com
Rep. Jim Riesberg, (HD-50): 303-866-2929, jim@riesbergin50.com
Rep. Glenn Vaad, (HD-48): 303-866-2943, glenn.vaad.house@state.co.us
Rep. Paul Weissmann, (HD-12): 303-866-2920, Reppaul@aol.com
Rep. Al White, (HD-57): 303-866-2949, al.white.house@state.co.us
March 5:
i know bernie, so i wrote him.
art goodtimes
March 7:
1) The Fact Sheet I sent the other day had some outdated info in it as the bill has been amended, so please use the attached Alert instead.
2) I am told that about $7,500 in pledges towards the projected $25,000 cost (if needed) have already been received.
3) In terms of the committee members, please call/email everyone you can, but if you need to prioritize, it is always best for constituents to call their own representatives (since they can vote them in or out of office). So, Appropriations Committee Chair Buescher is from Mesa County, Co-chair Pommer (as well as Weismann) is from Boulder County, Butcher is from Pueblo, Garcia is from Arapahoe, Judd is from Denver, J. Kerr is from Jeffco, Massey is from Chaffee/Custer/Fremont/Park/Pueblo/Saguache counties, McGihon is from Denver/Arapahoe, McNulty is from Douglas, Reisberg & Vaad are from Weld, and White is from Garfield/Grand/Jackson/Moffat/Rio Blanco/Routt counties.
I see Green locals in Mesa, Boulder, Arapahoe, Denver, Jeffco that can lobby their own reps, at least...
Eric Fried
March 8:
I was informed that HB 1162 will NOT be heard tomorrow. It was pulled by the Legislative Executive Committee for further review.
Please pass on to all of your contacts that the Appropriations Committee will not look at this bill during its hearing tomorrow.
However, please emphasize that we still need people to pledge financial support. We will update you as soon as we know as to the procedural status. However, the more pledges we can collect, the better.
Rick VanWie
March 10:
I have been in contact with our former Presidential Nominee David Cobb. David is a big supporter of Instant Runoff Voting and his supporting HB 1162 with a contribution. Also, he has authorized the below appeal to be sent to Greens in an effort to rally support for the Voter Choice Act.
Please CUT AND PASTE the letter from David and send it out to all of your networks!!
Rick VanWie
Dear Colorado Greens:
In 2004, I had the honor of twice visiting your great state, and asking you to join me in my effort to be the Green Party’s nominee for President of the United States. Now I’m asking you to join me in supporting a piece of Colorado legislation that will go a long way toward implementing election reform that is so desperately needed. Colorado House Bill 1162 “The Voter Choice Act of 2007” could lead the way toward adoption of Instant Runoff Voting in Colorado.
Many of you know Representative John Kefalas, a fellow progressive from Fort Collins. Recently he introduced HB 1162, which would set up a study group to investigate “advanced voting methods” – such as Instant Runoff Voting -- and how they may be instituted in Colorado. If the bill becomes law, this multi-partisan study group will be composed of Legislators, the Secretary of State and third party representatives (like the Green Party). This important committee will report its recommendations to the 2008 Legislature, which could adopt election reform that would benefit all of us.
However, this bill won’t become law without your help.
The Colorado Legislature and the House Appropriations Committee need to hear from you and why this bill should become law. Your state senator and representative should know that if The Voter Choice Act becomes law, it could be the beginning of an era where all candidates are elected by a majority of voters. Depending on the study group’s recommendations, the possibility of any candidate “spoiling” a race will be gone for good.
Also, the bill needs financial support. In Colorado, spending is strictly limited, and a bill’s price tag can weigh heavily on whether the legislation lives or dies. Therefore, Rep. Kefalas built into the bill a provision where if it becomes law, the study group can be funded by people like you who are passionate about democracy. The $25,000 needed to support the study group won’t come from funds that should be used for schools, housing or the poor. Also, it will send a signal to the Legislature that there is strong support for the bill if Rep. Kefalas can tell his colleagues that no state funds are needed; it was paid for directly by the people.
I have personally made a pledge of financial support of $250 for this bill. I am asking that as a supporter of the Green Party, which champions election reform like Instant Runoff Voting, you make a pledge in support of this bill as well. So far, about $8,000 of the $25,000 has been raised.
No amount is too small. Also, no payment will be needed unless the bill becomes law. At that time the Colorado Treasury will be charged with creating a special fund. This means that all of the money sent in support for the study group will be used only for the study group.
Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions about the bill, please contact Rep. John Kefalas, or from the Green Party Rick VanWie, Hollie Kopp or Eric Fried. Their contact information is below.
In Peace,
David Cobb
2004 Green Party of the US
Presidential Nominee
April 27, 2007
Here's the skinny...while HB-1162 was postponed indefinitely for 2007 by the Appropriations Committee, after the Joint Legislative Council did not make it one of their priority studies...getting the state to study Instant Runoff Voting and other reforms may still happen. Representative Kefalas told me yesterday that after his bill was killed, he spoke to House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, who had previously stated he would support the study if the funding issue could be resolved. Speaker Romanoff controls a budget (I don't know how much) allocated to the Legisature, and this study might be funded that way instead. Romnaoff told John he would "see what he could do." Given how low a priority this is for the Democratic majority in Denver, don't hold your breath, but be aware that the IRV study is on life support, but is not yet clinically dead...
The other point worth making is that while we tried, we did not succeed in building a broad-enough movement to support this bill. We (especially Rick van Wie!) did get phone calls and emails generated, got other groups to sign on, got witnesses to testify for the bill, and got it passed through its first committee. But we were not able to mobilize most of the Green Party of Colorado (even some of the members of the five-person GPCO committee to advance this bill did little, and would not respond to emails and phone calls) nor generate public awareness of the issue. Thus it was easy for the Appropriations Committee to kill the bill as a low priority, despite its very modest price tag and how important it is to us. We need to learn from that so we mobilize ourselves and generate more public support the next time around. I am reminded of what FDR said to a delegation visiting him to promote some cause or other (paraphrasing): "Okay, you've convinced me. Now go out and there and build a movement to make me do it!"
Eric Fried