(UPDATE: Bob McDonnell says NO! – promoted by lowkell)
Is the attempt by Virginia Republicans to rig the electoral college in their favor, by apportioning Virginia electoral votes based on gerrymandered-by-Republicans congressional districts (as opposed to the current, winner take all), dead? It’s sure starting to look like it.
If a bill to reapportion Virginia’s presidential electoral votes by congressional district is a Republican plot, someone forgot to tell state Sen. Ralph Smith, R-Bedford County.
Smith said this morning that he opposes the legislation, calling it “a bad idea.” Smith sits on the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, which will hear the bill next week. Without Smith’s support, it’s unlikely the bill could get to the Senate floor. The Privileges and Elections Committee has eight Republicans and seven Democrats.
“What if all states got to skewering it to their advantage?” Smith said in an interview this morning.
Great question by Senator Smith (a Republican with integrity?!?), one that should be directed at the head of the Republican National Committee, the wildly irresponsible Reince Preibus, who has endorsed Republican attempts to rig the Electoral College to their advantage. You know, as opposed to actually trying to convince voters that Republicans have better ideas, policy proposals, etc.
Anyway, phew! Now, on to stopping the Republican attempt to re-redistrict Virginia to their advantage, and whatever other nefarious and insane crap they come up with this session.
P.S. Nice scoop by Roanoke Times reporter Michael Sluss, consistently one of the best Virginia political reporters out there…
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