October 2019 Update from the Chair

This month our focus is on the two Bills related to National Popular Vote Interstate Compact that have been filed for the 2020 Florida Session; on the NPV Webinar Training Program; the upcoming “Learning at Lunch” event for Legislators on November 12th in Tallahassee; and the launching of the new Floridians for NPV website.

Kathleen Crampton, Chair, Floridians for National Popular Vote

Representative Joseph Geller files NPVIC Bill for the 2020 Session

Representative Joseph Geller (north Miami-Dade, south Fort Lauderdale) filed HB 335, the National Popular Vote bill. Senator Victor Torres (south Orlando) will once again file a companion bill in the Senate shortly as he has for the past four years. Once bills are filed in both the House and Senate, they are referred to Committees. We expect that the Florida House HB 335 to be referred to the following committees: Local, Federal, and Veterans Affairs; Judiciary; and Public Integrity and Ethics Committee. The Florida Senate, will likely refer its bill to: Government Oversight and Accountability; and Ethics and Elections.

Meeting earlier this year to talk about NPV Educational Programs are from left, Ken Thomas, President of the LWVPBC, Karen Wilkerson, Former President of the LWVPBC, Kathleen Crampton, and Representative Joseph Geller.

Third and fourth from left, Carmen and Senator Victor Torres stand behind NPV sign with members of the Tallahassee NPV team.

In opposition to NPVIC, Representative Bob Rommel (Collier) has filed a House Resolution (HR 323). This Resolution, “reaffirms the oath of office made by each member of House of Representatives to support, protect, & defend U.S. Constitution, including 12th Amendment, & supports preservation of Electoral College”. The Resolution suggests that if NPVIC bills were passed states would not determine how their electoral votes would be cast. This is not the case. The states would retain the right to direct their Electors how to vote. This Resolution has already been referred to: Oversight, Transparency, and Public Management; State Affairs Committee; and Civil Justice. Given that there appears to be some support from Republicans, it may be debated on the floor which would give Rep Geller/Sen Torres the opportunity to address a large body of Legislators. Hence, we will ask our NPV committees to meet with their Legislators ahead of the session to give them CORRECT information.

NPV Webinar Training

On Thursday, October 3rd, over 25 joined our Webinar to learn more about National Popular Vote. State Senator Chris Pearson of Vermont was the speaker. He used the new NPV PowerPoint which is now available on the newly completed Floridians for NPV website (www.floridiansforNPV).

Senator Pearson has been a proponent of NPV for many years and helped pass it in his own state of Vermont. Since Vermont’s Legislature is part-time, Senator Pearson works for Jon Koza and the National Popular Vote, Inc. as a speaker and lobbyist.

In addition to giving the NPV presentation, he also answered a myriad of questions regarding how to get more Republicans to support NPV. He stressed that it is critical to get the correct facts out to folks. So much of what people believe about the Electoral College and how people vote is simply not true.

We were very grateful to National Popular Vote and to our coordinator, Eileen Reavey for arranging for Senator Pearson to be on our webinar. If you would like to know more about speakers for your group or to volunteer, go to Floridians for Popular Vote and sign up.

Dean Vikram Amar, PhD, University of Illinois School of Law, to speak to Florida Legislators

Representative Joseph Geller and Senator Victor Torres will be hosting a “Learning at Lunch” event for Legislators on Tuesday, November 12th in the statehouse. Dr. Amar is an expert on National Popular Vote, having written a number of academic articles on National Popular Vote. Many of you heard Dr Amar speak this past spring at the Hot Topics Luncheon sponsored by the LWV of Orange county. Over 180 people attended that “sold out” event and were most impressed by Dr. Amar’s ability to make complicated issues understandable.

Please contact your Legislator and encourage them to attend the event which will be held on Tuesday, November 12th from 12:00 noon to 1:30 in the Senate Office Building, room 221.

Taken earlier this year in Orlando, from left to right, Dr. Vikram Amar, Dr. Rick Fogelson, Rollins College, and Leslie Feinberg, NPV Coordinator for Orange County.

FL4NPV Coalition Announced

With the launching of FL4NPV, we have reached out to other organizations to establish partnerships. We are pleased to announce that three organizations have entered into partnership with Floridians for NPV. Common Cause Florida under the leadership of Liza McClenaghan, Chair of CCFL Governing Board, recently agreed to a partnership agreement. She has already become a key member of our Florida NPV “Core” Group. NPV, Inc. which was founded by John Koza has also agreed to be a partner with Floridians for NPV. Finally, a Chicago based group which supports NPV called Make Every Vote Count has also become a partner with Floridians for NPV.

We are delighted to have these organizations working with us and look forward to welcoming other organizations in the future.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Event Coordinator: Someone who likes to organize events and guide others to do the same. Need to be compulsive, detail-oriented, good with people.

Writer: background in public relations, writing, publishing; social media would be a plus.

If you are interested, please contact Kathleen Crampton at krcrampton@gmail.com.