Damoign Legislature Fails To Pass Constitutional Amendment

NAT-backed effort to change Senate appointment procedure fails in both houses

MATTINOW, DMG--An NAT-backed proposed constitutional amendment that would have affected procedure for governor appointments to the Senate has failed to the two-thirds vote needed in both houses of the state legislature.

The amendment, proposed by State Sens. Rick Liettle (N-Arneillson) and Jamie Farrher (N-Mattinow), would have required the state's governor to fill a vacancy in the state's House delegation by appointing someone of the same party as the previous office-holder. The current law allows the sitting governor to appoint anyone from any party to fill a vacant seat. The proposal would have placed the power in the state parties' hands, which would, under the proposed law, nominate three people from their party, of which the governor would have to choose one.

But on Friday, the measure failed to pass in both houses of the state legislature. In the State Assembly, the amendment passed 174-163. In the State House, it also passed 54-46. However, neither house was able to garner the two-thirds vote necessary for ratification.

The proposed amendment came under heavy fire from Conservatives, who argue the Nationalists tried to change the law because federal Sen. Brian Altamont (NAT) will likely leave the House of Delegates in a few weeks to serve as Secretary of the Treasury. Altamont's departure would leave a vacancy for incoming Gov. Sid Hoffa (CNS) to fill. With Hoffa making the appointment, it's likely he would select a fellow Conservative instead of a Nationalist.

"The only reason this amendment came to a vote is because Brian Altamont is leaving the House of Delegates, and the Nationatlists want to keep the seat in their hands," said State Rep. Bryan Boboore (C-South Grassadella City).

Adding to the complication, many Nationalists feared the passage of the amendment would anger Conservatives in the federal House of Delegates, who might then in turn vote against current Damoign Gov. Jim McCaren (NAT), who is expected to be nominated for Secretary of State or National Intelligence Director by President-elect Brenton Menuhaeo.

"I was opposed to this amendment because I think it would have jeopardized Jim McCaren's nomination, and I just did not want to risk that," State Sen. Jim Garley (N-Grassadella City), told GNN.

Unlike many of his colleagues in the legislature, Gov. McCaren said last week he would sign the amendment into law if it was passed.

"I will sign it, if it is approved by the legislature, because that's the way it should be. If a senator vacates their seat, that seat should be filled with someone of the same party. That's the only fair way to go about it," McCaren said.

Still, the NAT is desperately holding on to all the Senate seats they can get, as the party tries to take control of the House of Delegates for the first time since 2004. Currently, there are 36 Nationalists and 35 Conservatives in the House, as well as 3 Democratic-Reformists and 1 Traditionalist. However, special elections scheduled for next week in Biereland, East Deschire, and Wellington, as well as a run-off election in Armana, could over-turn the slim NAT majority.

"Right now, both parties have about the same number of members in the House. So every seat matters because it could be the difference between holding the majority or being in the minority," says Dr. Jeff Zakin, professor of government studies at Deedrick University. "So, the CNS is trying to retain every seat it can so it can stay in the majority, while the NAT is trying to capture as many seats as it can to take over the majority."

As of today, Sen. Brian Altamont has not formally been nominated by President-elect Brenton Menuhaeo, however, it is widely expected he will be nominated sometime next week. The senator's office had no comment on the matter. Incoming Gov. Sid Hoffa also would not comment on any candidates he may be considering for the vacancy, but a spokeswoman did say he is considering "many candidates from all parties." State NAT party leaders say they will not make a second attempt to change the state's constitution.