The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Some ranking Republicans in the General Assembly are dubious about proposed emergency legislation to let more of the party's presidential candidates on the March 6 primary ballot and are unenthusiastic about returning early to consider it.
"I don't personally have a desire to do something retroactively... for one or two candidates who couldn't get on the ballot," Virginia House Speaker William Howell said Sunday, adding that he'd consider changes for future elections.
Some Republicans and Democrats have publicly appealed for a quick change to state law to open Virginia's Super Tuesday contest to more candidates.
That followed news that candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry failed to qualify for the state primary ballot. State GOP officials determined the former U.S. House speaker and the Texas governor each failed to submit petitions bearing the 10,000 valid voter signatures required by law to appear on the primary ballot.
The Virginia Republican Party deemed Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, and Ron Paul, a Texas congressman, qualified to appear on the ballot.
Since then, Virginia's ballot-access requirements have come under scrutiny and have been challenged in court, prompting calls for an immediate overhaul.
Making the case for a change on Saturday, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said Virginia owes its voters more options than the narrow primary field produced by the current system.
Cuccinelli backtracked a day later, saying that while he thought a change to Virginia's ballot law was needed, he would not support efforts to change the law for this year's presidential election.
"Changing the rules midstream is inconsistent with respecting and preserving the rule of law - something I am particularly sensitive to as Virginia's attorney general," Cuccinelli said in a statement Sunday.
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican who heads Romney's campaign in Virginia, said Sunday that was pleased with Cuccinelli's about-face and that he doesn't favor a rule change in the middle of the process.
Some legislators also seemed reluctant to make a quick fix, saying the rules shouldn't be changed to benefit those who failed to meet existing guidelines.
Howell, a Stafford County Republican, said he doesn't sense a groundswell among legislators to return to the General Assembly before the start of the 2012 session - scheduled for Jan. 11 - to tackle that issue.
Calling a special session before Jan. 11 would require action by Gov. Bob McDonnell, according to Virginia's constitution.
A spokesman for the governor said Sunday that McDonnell has no plans to call a special session.
The state constitution sets a high bar for approval of emergency legislation - a super-majority of four-fifths of the members of each house is required.
"That's a high hurdle to overcome," said state Sen. Ryan McDougle, a Hanover County Republican and the Senate GOP Caucus chair.
McDougle said the current rules haven't kept many other candidates off past Virginia presidential primary ballots. Six candidates, Romney among them, qualified for the Republican contest in 2008.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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no chance
If the legislature bends the rules now it will make Virginia look like some sort of banana republic. The rules have been in place for a long time and should be followed until they are properly changed.
all cuccinelli is trying to do
All Cuccinelli is trying to do is play politics. If this was about Democrats getting on our ballots he wouldn't have his nose in it.
Get real people.
Conflict of Interest Office (AG)
Isn't it again a conflict of interest for the AG to weigh in on this issue, since his office may have to defend the Commonwealth in the lawsuits of Perry, Gingrich et al? But then taking political positions in opposition to Va. law is a habit of Mr. Cuccinelli.
Virginia GOP Leaders who cool to fixing the primary problem...
...are about to be voted out of office. Maybe the next group will listen to their electorate.
There is no problem with the
There is no problem with the primary, only the candidates who fail to follow the rules & expect the courts to bail them out.
No special exceptions!
I, for one, am keen to see what a head-to-head Romney/Paul matchup will reveal in Virgina without the distractions of the other GOP candidates. Let it proceed.
the people
Section 2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them.
Section 3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community; of all the various modes and forms of government, that is best which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration. And that, when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community has an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judg
Virginia's Declaration of Rights * June 12, 1776
shall be judged most conducive to the public weal
Virginia's Declaration of Rights was adopted by the Virginia Constitutional Convention on June 12, 1776.
too late
Sorry team but you guys were too late. If you want to change the law for 2016 you have four years to do it but for now stick with the rule that was in place. I still look fwd to voting for Newt in NOV...just not in the VA primary.
Leave it alone
This process has been in place for years, and has worked very well. If they cannot get 10,000 people to sign petitions to allow them on a ballot, then it shows they must not have alot of support in Virginia. I see no reason for the rules to be changed now or in the future, this keeps only the better candidates in the ballots, if you lower the number the just about anyone can be on the ballot and that would just be a waste of time.