House Bill Targets Independent Candidates
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House Bill Targets Independent Candidates

Date: March 31, 2008
By: Stephanie Levy
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: A St. Louis County Democratic Representative proposed a bill to the Senate Finance Committee that would put new regulations on independent candidates.

Stephanie Levy (Lee-vee) has more from Jefferson City. 

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The bill, sponsored by Representative Ted Hoskins, would require independent candidates to declare their intent to run for office eight months before the general election.

The same bill was proposed last year by Republican Senator Gary Nodler after he nearly lost his Senate seat in the 2006 election to an independent candidate.

Barbara Woodruff, co-founder of Show Me Independents, testified in opposition of the bill.

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Description: It's every citizen's right, every qualified citizen's right, to run for office in this country. It's not a privilege. And it's being made a privilege by members of the two major political parties.

Woodruff called the bill a "selfish" attempt by Republican and Democratic politicians to keep Independent candidates from holding office. But Republican Senator Kevin Engler says the bill holds independent politicians accountable for their campaign strategies.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Stephanie Levy.

Intro: The Senate Finance Committee heard strong testimony against a bill that would make independent politicians declare their intent to run for office eight months before the general election.

Stephanie Levy (Lee-vee) has more from Jefferson City.

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Barbara Woodruff, co-founder of the grassroots political group Show Me Independents, says the bill is unconstitutional and unfairly favors the two-party system.

Show Me Independents opposed a similar bill proposed last year by Republican Senator Gary Nodler after his independent opponent in the 2006 election earned 36%% of the vote.

This year, St. Louis County Democratic Representative Ted Hoskins sponsored the bill.

Actuality:  WOODRUF.WAV
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Description: It is really sad that respected public servants with distinguished records of service to the state should diminish their records with personal vendettas such as this one.

Under current Missouri law, independent candidates do not have to declare their intent to run until August of an election year.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Stephanie Levy.