2024 Dreams and Nightmares II

by Jonathan Reisman

Shortly after I turned in last week’s column, the Veterans and Legal Affairs (VLA) Committee scheduled the public hearing for LD 1578, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact for Monday, Jan. 8, at 10 a.m. in the State House. I plan to drive down to Augusta in my soon-to-be-banned carbon dioxide-spewing gas-powered vehicle to deliver my opposition testimony in person, but I encourage interested readers to submit written testimony and/or sign up for Zoom testimony at the Legislature’s website -- https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/. A short note to Senators King and Collins and Representative Golden encouraging them to honor their oaths to support and defend the Constitution by submitting authorizing legislation for the NPV Compact would also be in order.

As the House Chair of the VLA Committee is a co-sponsor of LD 1578, I do not expect a particularly warm reception or any leeway on what is typically a time limit of 3 minutes. Here is my testimony:

Senator Hickman, Representative Supica, honorable members of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee: 

Thank you for accepting this testimony in opposition to LD 1578, an Act to adopt an Interstate Compact to Elect the President of the United States by National Popular Vote. My name is Jon Reisman. I am an emeritus professor of economics and public policy from the University of Maine at Machias, where I taught for 38 years. I am a Selectman for the Town of Cooper, a columnist (Freedom Studies) for two Washington County weeklies, and a Statler and Waldorf intern. In 1998, I was the GOP nominee for the 2nd Congressional District.

My opposition to LD 1578 stems from the following:

  • The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is a too clever by half effort to do an end run around the constitutional amendment process;
  • The Electoral College is an expression of federalism, a key element of our Constitution which parses power between the states and the national government and encourages and allows for a diversity of cultures and policy approaches amongst the various states;
  • The Compact is an attack on our Constitutional Republic, seeking to both weaken the Constitutional Amendment process and replace representative democracy with direct democracy;
  • The Compact would have the practical effect of disenfranchising every right-of-center voter in the 2nd Congressional District. If it had been in effect in 2016 and 2020, the 2nd CD’s electoral vote would not have gone to the candidate who won a majority in the 2nd CD but rather to his opponent. That is a clear threat to and subversion of democracy. While I can understand why left-of-center voters in the 1st and 2nd Districts think that would be great, I can assure you it will not be happily accepted;
  • Finally, there is the small matter of Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 in that cursed barrier to progress, the Constitution: “No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.” The title of LD1578 admits that the NPV is an interstate compact. Unless you are planning a second end run around the Constitution, it requires Congressional approval. I have explicitly asked Senators King and Collins and Rep. Golden to sponsor the constitutionally required approval. Senator King and Rep. Golden issued non-responsive responses suggesting they will do no such thing. Senator Collins has remained silent.
  • I would be glad to answer any questions.

I also gleaned some additional information regarding the upcoming Senate reelection bid of my old boss, Iran-appeasing, Russia-hoax-enabler, and climate alarmist, Angus King. There is an announced Democrat, David Costello of Brunswick, who is even further to the left than Angus. Mr. Costello has raised some $47,000, of which $30,000 is a personal loan to his campaign.

I am also told that a well-financed Republican will announce soon. Since signature collection must commence immediately, I can only assume that this mystery candidate must have both name recognition and some personal wealth. If I had to guess, it is 2018 gubernatorial nominee Shawn Moody, but I am not betting my gas-powered car on it.

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