Elections

November 02, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley today announced the special election dates for House District 40, which became vacant with the death of Representative Lea Fite last month.

The deadline for candidate qualification with the two major political parties is Friday, November 13 at 5:00 p.m. Party primaries will be held on Tuesday, January 5. Primary runoffs, if necessary, will take place on Tuesday, February 16. If no runoffs are necessary the general election will be held on Tuesday, February 16. In the event of a runoff, the general election will be held on Tuesday, March 30.

The Governor’s Office has communicated the schedule to the two major political parties and the probate judges of all in House District 40.

Source: Alabama Governor

September 17, 2009 -- "These videotapes that are the excuse for this amendment understandably have offended most who have heard about them, including me. I detest the stupidity and crassness that they depict. If people have acted improperly, they should be fired, and if they have acted illegally, they should be prosecuted, period. The Obama Administration has been equally critical.

ACORN is not the reason for my vote. There is not even an ACORN office in my entire state. Nor, for that matter, is there any reason to believe that this group ever has or ever would have any interest or expertise in applying for competitive grants under the programs funded in this Interior Appropriations Bill.    » read more »

Governor Pawlenty statement regarding the Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision in the Franken-Coleman election contest

June 30, 2009 -- Saint Paul – The following is a statement from Governor Tim Pawlenty regarding the Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision in the Franken-Coleman election contest.

“The Minnesota Supreme Court has today addressed the issues surrounding the accuracy and integrity of our election system during the 2008 U.S. Senate race in Minnesota. In light of that decision and Senator Coleman’s announcement that he will not be pursuing an appeal, I will be signing the election certificate today as directed by the court and applicable law.    » read more »

Statement by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on the current crisis in iran

June 23, 2009 -- The AFL-CIO, representing over 11 million working women and men in the United States, expresses its deep concern over the immediate situation in Iran, following the contested election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Several people have been killed and many more wounded and injured by Iranian government forces attempting to repress massive demonstrations demanding either an annulment of the elections or a vote recount.    » read more »

June 20, 2009 -- "The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.

As I said in Cairo, suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. The Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government. If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion.    » read more »

06/19/2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leading into the final week before Albania’s parliamentary elections, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN), along with Senators Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT), issued the following joint statement announcing the Senate’s passage of a resolution recognizing Albania’s democratic achievements:    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- "I congratulate the Afghan people on the start of your official election campaign period. On August 20 this year, the people of Afghanistan will choose a President to lead your nation, and also elect provincial councils to represent you locally.

The successful Presidential candidate will have a full agenda and high expectations. Afghan institutions must better serve the people. There must be full accountability and transparency, so that Afghans can see where their money is spent. Fighters who are ready to lay down their arms and embrace peace must be reintegrated. And Afghanistan needs to work with all her neighbours to promote security and opportunity in the region. In all of these efforts, Afghanistan’s next President will have a partner in the United States.    » read more »

WASHINGTON - June 16 – Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is again part of an effort to fix problems in the REAL ID Act of 2005 that have led many states to balk at participating in what critics say is a thinly disguised national ID program built around a national database that would be vulnerable to identity theft.

Leahy is a leading cosponsor of a new bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate on June 15 by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii). Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) is the chief Republican cosponsor. The new bill would implement the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations to enhance the security of driver’s licenses while fixing many of the most troubling aspects of the REAL ID Act of 2005.    » read more »

17 June 2009 -- Demonstrations against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed election victory have spread to all corners of the country. New reports suggest that around 15 protesters have been killed and hundreds more injured or arrested by security forces.

Up to two million people, including supporters of opposition leader Hossein Mousavi, took to the streets in Tehran on Monday to protest the outcome of the election. Large numbers massed again on Tuesday afternoon despite government threats that they would clamp down on "illegal protests".    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- "I congratulate the people of Lebanon for holding a peaceful election yesterday. The high turnout and the candidates – too many of whom know personally the violence that has marred Lebanon – are the strongest indications yet of the Lebanese desire for security and prosperity. Once more, the people of Lebanon have demonstrated to the world their courage and the strength of their commitment to democracy.

The United States will continue to support a sovereign and independent Lebanon, committed to peace, including the full implementation of all United Nations Security Council Resolutions. It is our sincere hope that the next government will continue along the path towards building a sovereign, independent and stable Lebanon.    » read more »

June 7, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement in response Lebanon's successful parliamentary elections:

"Today's parliamentary elections marked a significant step forward for democracy in Lebanon. The people of Lebanon should be commended for rejecting violence and showing their commitment to legitimate political discourse with a spirited campaign and high voter turnout.

“If early results hold, the leaders of the March 14th movement deserve a great deal of credit for persevering through difficult times. They will have our continuing support as they work to build a better future for the Lebanese people.    » read more »

Guidelines to Assist in Testing Voting System Accuracy, Reliability and Security

June 1, 2009 -- GAITHERSBURG, Md. – The Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today delivered to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) a draft revision to the 2005 federal Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) Version 1.0, specifying how electronic voting machines are built and tested. The EAC has made the draft revision available for public comment today, with a final version expected by the end of 2009.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that he will not seek a third term.

“I am incredibly grateful for the support and trust the people of Minnesota have given me during my two terms as Governor,” Governor Pawlenty said. “From providing the best support programs in the country for veterans and their families, to moving Minnesota out of the top ten highest taxed states, to sparking economic development in Greater Minnesota, to strengthening our K-12 education standards and implementing performance pay for teachers, much has been accomplished for our state.”

Governor Pawlenty said being governor should not be a permanent position for anyone.    » read more »

Facing Tough Re-Election, Vitter Fires First Shot of 2010... at SEIU; SEIU Highlights Vitter's Anti-Working Family Votes in New Ad; Vitter Tries to Cash In on Shameful Record

May 29, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Senator David Vitter (R-LA), facing an uphill battle for reelection and wanting to keep his options open for 2012, has aimed his fire on the Service Employees International Union, who dared to draw attention to his shameful anti-working families record in a new ad that ran in Thursday's Times-Picayune.    » read more »

New Transparency & Disclosure Policy Among Strongest in the Country; Bans Campaign Contributions from any Parties Seeking Investment

May 26, 2009 -- (Santa Fe) – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and the State Investment Council voted unanimously today to ban any future investments with money managers who employ third-party placement agents, as well as requiring sweeping disclosure of any and all payments made in relation to Permanent Fund investments.

“The ban is the strongest in the nation and appropriately so,” Governor Bill Richardson said.

“With this ban, and the more stringent transparency and disclosure policies in place, I want the public to be confident that we are acting as responsible managers of the state’s Permanent Funds."    » read more »