National popular vote

The Vermont Press Bureau examines the NPV bill that appears to be “gaining steam” with House lawmakers:

Jill Krowinski, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party doesn't see the legislature-approved National Popular Vote bill going very far.

"I'm going to be realistic," Krowinski said, "The governor is going to veto it."
While Gov. Jim Douglas has not "come straight out about [a veto], it's been pretty clear," Krowinski said.

Meanwhile, Rob Roper, the state Republican Party Chairman, said the plan was “bad for Vermont", but is less certain about a Douglas veto. "I know [Douglas] doesn't like the bill," said Roper, "but I haven't heard him utter the word".

The Vermont Legislature needs to realize that they are reducing the power small states hold in the Electoral College system. If the country moves to a solely popular vote, candidates will ignore small states and focus on the larger states. Vermont is the size of one Congressional district and as resources are allocated in the general election, small states will simply be ignored. New Hampshire, with four electoral votes, was a deciding factor in Bush’s 2000 victory. Both candidates fought hard for those votes.

The Vermont Senate approved a bill Friday that will put the state’s electoral support behind whichever candidate wins the popular vote in all 50 states.