Douglas vetoes presidential vote bill

May 17, 2008

MONTPELIER -- Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed his fourth bill Friday -- his third election-related rejection of the just-adjourned session.

In his veto letter, Douglas argued, "S.270 would fundamentally alter the presidential election method prescribed in the U.S. Constitution" and "contribute to the undoing of the delicate balance that the Electoral College maintains among the states."

Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, disagreed with Douglas' contention that the current system protected Vermont's interests."The state wouldn't be ignored if the number of votes you could get out of Vermont mattered," Burns said.

"You now have a governor who has vetoed every pro-voter bill that has been put to him this year," Burns said.

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