Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 30 april 2018

Democrats strive to tighten their hold in several states

By ANDREW SELSKY The national Democrat-
Associated Press ic Legislative Campaign
INDEPENDENCE, Ore. (AP) Committee is also targeting
— Unfazed by signs ban- other key chambers like the
ning soliciting and dogs Maine Senate. Democrats
that barked at her in almost in Maine need only one
every home she visited, a seat to establish a majority
political newbie knocked in both chambers - if they
on doors, handed out maintain control of the
campaign flyers and asked House. “We are harnessing
voters to elect her to the the incredible momentum
Oregon Senate. we’ve seen from volunteers
Deb Patterson, who can- and activists all over the
vassed in the riverside town country and we’re mobiliz-
of Independence on a re- ing record numbers of door
cent Saturday, hopes to knockers, volunteers mak-
win the May 15 primary and ing phone calls, and doing
unseat four-term Repub- everything we can to elect
lican Sen. Jackie Winters more Democrats,” said
in November. A win could Mara Sloan of the cam-
propel Democrats into a paign committee.
“supermajority” in the Leg- Having a supermajor-
islature, with the ability to ity doesn’t always translate
increase state revenue In this Nov. 3, 2015, file photo, the gold-covered dome on the state Capitol shines in the late into unity, though, as both
without Republican sup- afternoon sun in downtown Denver. Democrats and Republi-
port. Democrats buoyed Associated Press cans discovered in Illinois
by anti-Trump political ac- In Oregon, Democrats threatened the Affordable areas,” said David James and Kansas.
tivism want to wrest control need just one more seat in Care Act, Patterson was so of the Republican State Illinois Democrats want at
of legislatures from Republi- the Senate and one in the upset that she decided to Leadership Committee. least four more House seats
cans, but they’re also striv- House to reach a three- enter politics. In New York, Democrats to reach the 71 needed to
ing to tighten their hold in fifths supermajority in both “I’m running for office be- dominate the state As- overturn vetoes by the gov-
states where they have an chambers. That would give cause the last election took sembly. On Tuesday, they ernor. They’ve had a super-
edge — or where control is them a better shot at in- me by surprise, and I real- won two Senate seats in majority in the Senate since
split — in order to pass leg- creasing corporate taxes in ized that people had to get special elections, leaving 2015. But from 2015-2017,
islation ranging from gun a state where corporations active and get involved,” them one short of control- they also had that magic
control to health care and pay one of the lowest rates Patterson said after spend- ling that chamber. In the- number of 71 in the House,
from taxation to campaign in the nation. ing a morning knocking on ory they have a one-seat yet had little to show for
finance reform. “We continue to have a doors. “We have to stand advantage, but a Demo- it because three party
Republicans also consider pattern where families pay up at the state level to push crat consistently sides with members refused to get in
these states battlegrounds. more into the tax system to back against the changes Republicans. If Democrats lockstep with Democratic
In Oregon, a political ac- support state services than that are coming at the fed- gain another Senate seat in House Speaker Michael
tion committee called No do corporations and busi- eral level.” November, they can more Madigan.
Supermajorities has re- nesses,” said Jeanne Atkins, Heading into the 2018 elec- easily push liberal priorities It wasn’t until July 2017,
ceived a $5,000 contribu- chair of the Democratic tions, Republicans con- like gun control, advance when the Democrats’ con-
tion from Koch Industries, Party of Oregon. “With a su- trol 32 state legislatures, voting and campaign fi- trol slipped to 67 seats, that
the Kansas-based energy permajority maybe there’s Democrats 13, and four nance reform. In Colora- they managed to break
conglomerate of billionaire a better chance, but of are split between the par- do, Democrats control the a two-year budget stale-
brothers Charles and David course the devil is always in ties, according to the Na- House and are one seat mate with Republican Gov.
Koch who advocate for the details.” tional Conference of State away from flipping the Sen- Bruce Rauner by persuad-
conservative causes. Atkins called Patterson “a Legislatures. Nebraska, ate. If they succeed, and ing five House Republicans
“If even one Republican serious candidate” who’s unique among U.S. states, hang onto the governor- to join them in overriding
loses re-election in Novem- among those who might is unicameral and offi- ship, health care would be his veto of an income-tax
ber 2018, there is no tell- take seats from Republi- cially nonpartisan. For their a priority, with single-payer increase.
ing what kind of new taxes cans. Patterson is a pastor part, Republicans hope to or Medicaid for all at the Illinois Democrats also di-
Democratic leaders might at a rural church who has snatch seats away from top of the agenda. They verged on social issues. For
push through,” the PAC’s worked as a health care Democrats in November. would also try to strengthen instance, some Democrat-
website proclaims. advocate and never held “Republicans have proven gun control legislation and ic senators voted against
A supermajority is a level elected office. But after with the right candidate undo several constitutional a plan to set up a state li-
that exceeds the threshold Donald Trump was elect- and right policies they can amendments that severely censing system for firearms
to produce a majority. ed president in 2016 and win in historically adverse restrict spending. dealers.q