As I write this, George W. Bush is president of the United States.
By the time you read it, Barack Obama will be president.
Bush’s completion of a two-term presidency following Bill Clinton’s two terms mark the first time we’ve had consecutive eight-year presidencies since James Madison (1809-17) and James Monroe (1817-25).
Important proposals for elections reform
Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed has given the state Legislature a series of elections reforms that are worth considering.
Many clarify ambiguities in the top-two primary.
One of the proposals would require all candidates who list a party preference to list the name of a recognized political party. Recognition would require a petition signed by at least 100 people.
If this had been in effect last year, candidates probably would have been able to list their preferences as “Democratic,” “Republican,” “Libertarian,” “Green,” “Progressive,” “Constitution,” “American Heritage,” “World Workers” or “Party in Commons” parties. However, those 25 Republicans who listed their party preference as “G.O.P.” or “Grand Old Party” probably would not have been able to use those preferences without getting those names recognized. Candidates who listed their preference as “Independent Party” would have listed “No Party Preference.”
The proposals would not affect the distinction between major and minor political parties. Major party status requires getting a certain percentage of the vote for a statewide office. It allows the party to get its presidential candidate on the ballot without filing petitions, to appoint observers for recounts and to have candidates for precinct committee officer on the ballot.
Another proposal would change the deadlines for registering to vote. Currently, the deadline to register by mail or online is 30 days before an election. Since that’s always a Sunday, the proposal would allow registration 29 days before an election. It would shorten the deadline for in-person registration at county elections offices from 15 days to eight. These people must vote on the spot.
Can we be buried with our pets?
While Reed wants to clarify elections laws, state Sen. Ken Jacobsen wants to clarify the law about people and pets being buried together.
When the Seattle Democrat’s cat died a few years ago, Jacobsen buried it in his yard, with the hope that when Jacobsen dies, the cat could be buried with him.
It turns out that the law is unclear. Some pet cemeteries allow people to be buried with their pets, but human cemeteries don’t allow pets. So, Jacobsen has proposed a law to require cemeteries to allow people to be buried with pets.
Some cemetery owners don’t like Jacobsen’s bill. One said it could open “a whole can of worms that people don’t really want to get into.”
That reminds me that my mother thought using worms from grandma’s backyard was the secret to caching fish in Lake Chelan. So, I want to be buried with a can of those worms.
Evan Smith is the Enterprise Forum editor. Send comments to entopinion@heraldnet.com
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