California electoral reforms make primaries more competitive

Submitted by Collin Berglund on June 6, 2012
Tags: 
California
Eric Cantor
james inhofe
Thomas Friedman
Barack Obama
CALIFORNIA ELECTORAL REFORMS MAKE PRIMARIES MORE COMPETITIVE: Last night marked the first state-wide primary election in California since the state implemented nonpartisan redistricting and instituted a top-two primary process where the top candidates move on to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Even before last night's competitive primaries, the reforms were a key reason for the retirement of eight House veterans: Paul Kane for The Washington Post: New map, new rules shake up California primaries
 
SERIOUS LEGISLATING OVER, CANTOR SAYS: In recent weeks, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor began quietly reminding players in the Capitol that he wasn't in favor of a compromise. He wants to wait for the election to sort out what America wants. Are these guys paying attention to reality? Doesn't seem like it -- even if House Republicans hold on to their majority in the House and their presidential candidate wins the election (a toss-up at best at this point), it is all but impossible that Republicans will acquire a 60-vote majority in the Senate, which is what would be required to run a partisan agenda through our government. Any solutions must come from both sides, whether it's this week, next month or next year: Jake Sherman for POLITICO: Eric Cantor: Congress goes from policy to politicking
 

TROUBLES WITH TRANSPORTATION: As it becomes increasingly unlikely the House and Senate will be able to agree on a long-term extension to federal highway and transit programs by the time the current bill expires at the end of the month, some lawmakers are trying to find solutions. “It’s a mistake sometimes to draw a line in the sand ... instead of just sitting down and talking over a situation,” Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) said, explaining that he has sought to impress on House freshmen that as a conservative, “there is a conservative position in this. And that is to have a bill. Because if you don’t have a bill, there’s only one other choice — you have to do extensions.” Inhofe says that results in “throwing away a third of the money that should be spent on highways. And I just can’t let that happen.” John Stanton for Roll Call: Crucial Week for Highway Bill

IN TROUBLED WORLD, AMERICA MUST BE ROCK OF STABILITY: Europe, America, China and the Arab world have squandered dividends in recent years, Thomas Friedman writes. It's time for America to step up. "If I were President Obama, I’d focus my entire campaign now on an effort to reforge a “grand bargain” with Republicans based on a near-term infrastructure stimulus tied with a Simpson-Bowles long-term fiscal rebalancing. At a minimum, it would show that Obama has a sensible plan to fix the economy — which is what people want most from the president — and many in business would surely support it. We cannot wait until January to do serious policy making again. We, and the world, need America to be a rock of stability — now." Thomas Friedman for The New York Times: What the Locusts Ate

STAT OF THE DAY: A total of 52 percent of Republicans say that they have heard mostly bad news about the economy. Only 23 percent of Democrats say the same thing. For independents, the proportion is 37 percent. More evidence that partisanship is coloring people's judgment: Pew Research Center for People and the Press: Perceptions of Economic News Turn More Negative
 

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Written & edited by Collin Berglund, Joe Mansour, Lauren Gilbert and Jack McCullough

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