IVP Files a Second Amicus Brief in Support of Level the Playing Field Against CPD

On September 22, 2017, the Independent Voter Project and 6 individual signatories filed an amicus curiae brief in support of a legal challenge brought by Level the Playing Field (LPF) against the debate commission and its exclusionary presidential debate rules. The brief argues that the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debate’s (CPD) 15 percent rule exacerbates the political divide in the US, leaves millions of voters unrepresented in presidential elections, and undermines fundamental democratic principles in order to protect the two-party duopoly.

The six individual signatories are notable, credible, and qualified candidates for president that would consider running absent institutional barriers like the 15 percent rule that kill their candidacies before they can even begin:

• Admiral James Stavridis, a retired Navy admiral;
• Sen. Joseph Robert Kerrey, former governor and senator of Nebraska;
• Sen. Joe Lieberman, former senator of Connecticut;
• Hon. Clarine Nardi Riddle, first female attorney general of Connecticut and co-founder of No Labels;
• Hon. David M. Walker, seventh comptroller general of the US and co-founder of No Labels; and
• Hon. Christine Todd Whitman, former governor of New Jersey and administrator of the EPA

“These highly qualified Americans represent the tip of the iceberg,” the amicus states. “It is impossible to know how many others whose ideas, energy, and hopes for America’s future are held captive by the arbitrary and impenetrable barrier to participation presented by the CPD’s 15% rule.”

The Independent Voter Project and joining signatories specifically filed the amicus brief in support of LPF’s motion for summary judgment on a second complaint against the FEC in May. LPF says the FEC continues to ignore the “mountain of evidence” against the debate commission, and is acting “arbitrarily and capriciously and contrary to law.”

Read the full article on IVN News