Green Party Watch

The Green National Committee (GNC) is responsible for decision making between Annual National Meetings.  Over the holidays they have been busy, and several proposals are now in the voting phase.

In the not too distant past, some proposals and appointments have failed due to a lack of a voting quorum. To address that problem it has been proposed that four states be assigned a “temporary inactive status”. They include Alaska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Vermont.

All these proposals were submitted by the Accreditation Committee. This committee is headed up by Nannette Garrett of Georgia and Roger Snyder of New York.

So far there have been only “Yes” and “abstain” votes cast, but only a few of those. Voting began today and ends on the 10th.

As reported earlier here and here and here at GPW, The GNC has had several issues in the voting queue. The results are now in.

Resolution 382, which restates the GPUS opposition to the death penalty in light of recent support for the death penalty by the Mexican Green Party was passed with a vote of 80 in favor, 35 opposed and 17 abstentions

Resolution 383, which would allow annual meeting delegates not at the meeting in person to vote on party leadership via the Internet failed with a vote of 56 in favor, 48 opposed and 14 abstentions. While a majority of GNC members voting yes or no supported the proposal, the rules required a 2/3 super majority to pass.

Proposal 385 was a re-vote on the election of members of the Green Senatorial Campaign Committee. With seven seats and seven candidates, all were elected. The re-vote was required because an earlier vote didn’t meet the quorum requirement.

Similarly, Proposal 384 was a re-vote on the election of the Green House Campaign Committee. One difference however is that there were but three candidates on the ballot while the committee is a nine member group. The final outcome saw those three elected,, along with four write-in candidates. Lou Novak, as noted here earlier, won many write-in votes while Brian Good, Ron Hardy and Gregg Jocoy won far fewer write-in votes. Even so, the rules would place each of these Greens on the House Campaign Committee if they should accept the position.

The Green National Committee is voting on a resolution opposing the death penalty. The proposal was sponsored by the California Green Party.

Resolution 382 would put the Green Party of the United States on record opposing the death penalty. While the Green Party of the United States is already on record opposing the death penalty (PDF, look for section 18, pg 36), recent actions by El Partido Verde Ecologista de México in support of a death penalty for that nation have inspired the GNC to consider this resolution.

As of now the vote stands at 54 in support, 23 opposed, and 5 abstentions, with representatives of 35 states or caucuses voting. The quorum requirement has been met and a majority vote is needed for passage.

The Green National Committee has finished voting on Proposal 379, which elects members of the Green Party’s Senate Campaign Committee, and Proposal 378, which elects members of the Green House Campaign Committee. The Green Party is the only non-corporate political party with Federal Election Commission recognized Senate and House Campaign Committees.

The results of the voting is unclear. In the case of the Senate Committee, 70 votes were cast by 32 states. No write-in votes were cast, and 7 candidates sought 7 seats. In the case of the House Committee, 70 votes were cast by 33 states . One write-in vote was cast, and three candidates sought nine seats. According to an email from Phil Huckelberry, floor manager for both proposals, the write-in vote would be counted, and assuming the write-in candidate agrees to serve, s/he would be considered elected. The rules under which the House Campaign Committee was created would seem to indicate that the Green National Committee must now undertake a new election to fill the rest of the seats on the House Committee.

To muddy the waters even further, since neither the House Campaign Committee nor the Senate Campaign Committee elections secured votes from 34 or more of the eligible states and caucuses, neither proposal can be said to have passed. The quorum requirement for both these proposals is .66 participation in voting, or 34 of 50. None of the party’s caucuses cast a vote on either proposals, and absentee votes are accounted for.

In a webcast at Green Party Watch Radio, California Green Mato Skadiscussed Proposal 380, which says

Protecting water is a priority for the Green Party at the national, state and local levels

During the discussion, Mato Ska explained the reasons behind Proposal 380, how he and the rest of the EcoAction Committee see it benefiting state and local Green Party chapters and candidates, and gives real life examples of how this proposal will both separate the Green Party from the corporate parties and connect our own friends who may not normally think of one another as allies. Family farmers who need water for crops and city dwellers who want a reliable source of safe clean drinking water both have a shared interest in water conservation, re-use and recycling.

More under the fold as I find the time to write it up, but don’t wait, listen to the show now! read more »

The Green National Committee is considering a new budget for the national party. This proposed budget calls for a basic budget just over $400,000. The GNC will have to begin voting on this proposed budget on the 9th of this month, with a one week time frame for votes to be cast.

A quick review of the budget shows that Emily Citkowski is asking for a reduction in hours to half-time, and Richard Scott, online fundraising director, has left that post, with independent contractors and other staff set to take over those responsibilities.

The Proposed 2009 Budget, Line Item notes and Fundraising narrative can be found through this link.

The Committee on Bylaws, Rules, Policies and procedures is the sponsor of the proposed Presidential Nominating Convention rules. As noted in the article below this one, this proposal seems headed for defeat by the Green National Committee. This begs the question, what happens in Chicago?

To answer that question I might suggest two things. First, take a look at this link and see if you recognize any of the names of committee members. If you know them personally, contact them and ask what they think the next step is.

In addition, the committee has set up a wiki which has loads of information about the BRPP’s deliberations, plans and ideas. Kick that around for a bit and you may find the perfect solution we all hope for. If ya do, share it here!

The Green National Committee is considering 3 proposals, including Proposal 355, which would elect members of the Green Party House Campaign Committee, and Proposal 354 which would elect the tabulations committee responsible for counting the votes in the election of the Steering Committee at the Nominating Convention. Both of these proposals is a repeat of earlier proposals, both of which went to a vote, but were cut off from voting early.

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