| ALERT |
April 2, 2012
NPV Rhode Island National Popular
UPDATE: The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on the National Popular Vote legislation this Tuesday, April 3. A vote on the full House floor could occur as soon as April 11. It is important to call your state representative immediately!
The committee agenda appears here: http://status.rilin.state.ri.us/documents/agenda-8454.pdf
The committee agenda appears here: http://status.rilin.state.ri.us/documents/agenda-8454.pdf
Dear Friends,
We need your help. A dangerous anti-Electoral College bill is pending before the Rhode Island House of Representatives. This bill is currently pending in the Committee on Judiciary, but it could be voted out at any time. Please call members of the committee and your state representative. Tell them that you are OPPOSED to HB 7388, the National Popular Vote legislation.
Contact information for the House Committee on Judiciary is here:
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/ComMembers/ComMemr.asp?ComChoiceR=HJUD
rep-ajello@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-blazejewski@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-brien@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-chippendale@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-costa@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-desimone@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-flaherty@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-lally@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-lima@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-marcello@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-martin@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-morrison@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-oneill@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-tarro@rilin.state.ri.us
Contact information for representatives is here:
rep-ajello@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-blazejewski@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-brien@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-chippendale@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-costa@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-desimone@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-flaherty@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-lally@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-lima@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-marcello@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-martin@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-morrison@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-oneill@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-tarro@rilin.state.ri.us
Contact information for representatives is here:
HB 7388 would require Rhode Island to join an interstate compact, as proposed by the National Popular Vote organization. This compact would require Rhode Island to give all its presidential electors to the winner of the national popular vote, instead of the winner of Rhode Island’s state vote. If enough states agree to the plan, the Electoral College will be effectively eliminated.
HB 7388 is in great danger of passing in Rhode Island. Currently, a majority of the Senate and a majority of the House have agreed to be listed as sponsors on this legislation. It is important to make your voice heard before this dangerous bill becomes law.
NPV is a bad idea for two reasons:
First, the Electoral College provides many benefits to Americans. It affords special protections to the citizens of small states such as Rhode Island. Without the Electoral College, Rhode Island voters can expect to live in the shadow of big cities such as Los Angeles and New York in each and every presidential election.
Second, even assuming the Electoral College needed to be eliminated, this legislation is not the way to do it. It is an end-run around the constitutional amendment process, and it will create many logistical difficulties. These issues will haunt us in election years and cause much litigation and confusion. For instance, this legislation would allow any of the following situations:
- A President can be elected by ANY plurality: 15, 20 or 25 percent of the vote is enough. NPV does not provide for run-offs, nor does it require candidates to meet a certain threshold.
- The margin between two candidates could be very close, yet Rhode Island could find itself unable to participate in a recount.
- Rhode Island could be forced to award its 4 electors to a presidential candidate who was not on its ballot.
- Other states might use recount standards that differ from Rhode Island’s. They might thus cause election totals to tilt in favor of their candidate, as opposed to Rhode Island’s.
- Rhode Island could be forced to award its 4 electors to a candidate who was overwhelmingly rejected by Rhode Island voters.
- NPV has been enacted in 8 states plus D.C. It has been supported by legislators who have often spent too little time understanding and researching the logistical ramifications of enacting it. Don’t let Rhode Island become the 9th state to endorse this crazy idea. States such as Rhode Island uniquely benefit from the Electoral College.
Call your representative TODAY and urge him to vote NO on HB 7388.
And pass this information on to your friends and neighbors who may help to spread the word about this dangerous legislation.
You can find out who your state representative is here:
https://sos.ri.gov/vic/
Contact information for representatives is here:
https://sos.ri.gov/vic/
Contact information for representatives is here:
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Email/RepEmailListDistrict.asp
More information on the legislation can be found here: http://www.SaveOurStates.com
Phyllis Schlafly has also written extensively on the issue and you can find her writings here:
More information on the legislation can be found here: http://www.SaveOurStates.com
Phyllis Schlafly has also written extensively on the issue and you can find her writings here:
The bill that has been proposed in Rhode Island can be found here:
Thank you for your help!