It appears Governor Chet Culver, a Democrat, is now joining Secretary of State Michael Mauro, a Democrat, and Matt Strawn, the chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, in opposing a bill that would change the way Iowa's Electoral College votes are cast. Troy Price on Culver's staff issued the following statement via email: "As a former history teacher and Secretary of State, Governor Culver knows the important role that Iowa has in selecting the next President of the United States – both during the nominating season and the general election. As the last three elections have shown, Iowa is now a battleground state, and, as such, the issues of Iowans are heard by the candidates of both parties. If we require our electoral college votes to be cast to the winner of the national popular vote, we lose our status as a battleground state and the opportunity to ensure that the ideas that are important on Iowa’s Main Streets remain important on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. That is why Governor Culver opposes any legislation that would require Iowa’s Electoral College votes to be cast for the winner of the national popular vote."
But Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) issued a statement moments later in support of the bill.
A Statement from Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal
Regarding reforms designed to ensure that every Iowa vote is counted
“I support the popular vote reforms because they will ensure that every Iowan’s vote is counted in presidential elections. It is mystifying to me why anyone would cling to an antiquated, winner-take-all Electoral College system that allows a person to be elected to the Presidency without winning the most popular votes nationwide. The popular vote reforms will fix this problem and make sure that every Iowan’s vote is counted in every election.
“In addition, as a member of the Democratic National Committee, I am confident that Iowa will retain its first-in-the-nation caucus status if we adopt the National Popular Vote Act.”
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
All you have to do is look what the popular vote does in Iowa. Playing to the liberal large cities and recruiting voters, elects the Culvers, the Harkins and the Obamas. If we weren’t important to the election process as it stands now, we wouldn’t have every potential candidate tripping over themselves.
Don’t mess with it. We wouldn’t have any hearing with any candidate if they could focus their activity where they could garner the numbers and take the election.
Does Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal know that we are a country of states that formed together to abide by a certain constituion of law but that states retained rights of their own? Why would a state willingly give up its retained power and status to then pass said power to another state that will not support what is best for Iowans? I do not want Californians obtaining more power and nullyfying my vote. Why would anyone campaign in Iowa when they could then spend all of their time in California and focus thier efforts. Small states would be ignored.
Mr. Gronstal,
Without the Electoral College method of voting the Candidates won’t even give Iowans a second thought…we will be insignificant.
Keep us FIRST not Forgotten!!
75% OF IOWA VOTERS FAVOR A NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT
A survey of 800 Iowa voters showed 75% overall support for a national popular vote for President. The question was “How do you think we should elect the President when we vote in the November general election: should it be the candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states, or the current electoral college system?
By political affiliation, support for a national popular vote for President was 82% among Democrats, 63% among Republicans, and 77% among others.
By age, support was 76% among 18-29 year olds, 65% among 30-45 year olds, 76% among 46-65 year olds, and 80% for those older than 65.
By gender, support was 82% among women and 67% among men.
By race, support was 75% among whites (representing 93% of respondents), 65% among African Americans (representing 2% of respondents), 86% among Hispanics (representing 1% of respondents), and 58% among others (representing 4% of respondents).
The survey was conducted on February 17-18, 2009, by Public Policy Polling.
see http://www.NationalPopularVote.com
“75% of Iowa voters favor a national popular vote for President….”
A sad example of how worthless our government (public) school system is. Dumbing down the general population to accept mob rule instead of a representative republic…this is so dangerous.