Nevada Families Eagle Forum

186 Ryndon Unit 12, Elko, Nevada 89801, 775-397-6859, Sparks 775-356-0105

Janine Hansen  director@nevadafamilies.org

March 3, 2009 In the Year of Our Lord, 2:26pm

 Please forward to everyone you know!  Acknowledgement appreciated.

You can watch the Legislature live at: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/audio/AudioVideo.cfm

Find out who your Senator and Assemblyman is: www.leg.state.nv.us

See the 43 page bill at: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Bills/AB/AB82.pdf

 AB82 Sec. of State’s Election Bill:

Jeopardizes Free Speech & Initiative Petitions, & Hurts Non-Incumbents &

Minor Parties

 

The hearing is today at 3:35pm in the Assembly Elections, Procedures, Ethics & Constitutional Amendments, but the vote will be at a later date.

 

AB82 will place ballot initiative/petition campaigns under the far stricter and burdensome regulations and reporting requirements that are now required for Political Action Committees.  This will severely impact free speech and participation by the people in the political process.

 

Currently, Ballot Initiative/Petition Campaigns only need to register with the Sec. of State and begin reporting after they receive $10,000 in contributions, whereas PAC’s must begin reporting at the first $100 contribution. Ballot Initiative/Petition Campaigns only need to report those by name who give $1,000 or more to the campaign instead of reporting every person who gives $100 or more. Everyone can see how important this higher threshold for contributing is after witnessing how those favoring Proposition 8 on Marriage in California have been individually targeted by opponents for intimidation and persecution.  In the future, people will not give to Ballot Campaigns fearing they will be targeted. The opponents of Prop 8 published the addresses of contributors and provided maps to their homes and businesses. This type of law will so curtail free speech through fear and intimidation, that free speech will become a thing of the past. 

 

In addition, AB82 moves the filing date for candidates from the first two weeks in May to the first two weeks in January. This will make if far more difficult for non-incumbents to gain timely support to determine whether or not to file for office. It thereby gives incumbents just one more significant advantage over non-incumbents and challengers.

 

AB82 will be devastating for Minor Parties like the Independent American Party & Libertarians.   Minor Parties do not have primaries, they nominate their candidates at county and state conventions which must take place prior to candidate filing.  That would mean that county and state conventions would be taking place during Thanksgiving—Christmas and New Years.  Who is going to be able or willing to participate?  Who is even interested in politics during the Christmas Season?  The result will be far fewer candidates for Minor Parties and thus far less influence in the political process.

 

MESSAGE: Vote NO on AB82 protect free speech and participation in ballot campaigns.

And/or: Vote NO on AB82 Don’t make it harder to participate in the election process for non-incumbents and Minor Parties.

 

CONTACT: Assembly Elections, Procedures, Ethics & Constitutional Amendments Committee:

Email addresses include first initial of legislators and last name.

Chairman: ekoivisto@asm.state.nv.us , hmortenson@asm.state.nv.us , mconklin@asm.state.nv.us , whorne@asm.state.nv.us , rkihuen@asm.state.nv.us , hmunford@asm.state.nv.us , johrenschall@asm.state.nv.us , tsegerblom@asm.state.nv.us , dsmith@asm.state.nv.us, tcobb@asm.state.nv.us , hgansert@asm.state.nv.us , jhambrick@asm.state.nv.us , jsettelmeyer@asm.state.nv.us

 Contact by Phone:   Northern Nevada 775-684-6789, Southern Nevada 702-486-2626,

Toll Free 800-978-2878 Toll free fax: 866-543-9941

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