By Mr. Kaufman of Lexington, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 667) of Jay R. Kaufman relative to establishing a special commission (including members of the General Court) to make an investigation and study concerning methods to encourage debating by candidates for public office.  Election Laws.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Jay R. Kaufman

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act to establish a commission to encourage candidate debate and informed voting.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Section 1. A voter education and voter empowerment commission is hereby established to consider legislation and non-legislative actions to encourage candidate debates and more informed voting. Commissioners shall include 2 members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house (1 of whom shall serve as the co-chair of the commission), 2 members of the senate appointed by the president (1 of whom shall serve as co-chair of the commission), 2 members appointed by the governor, the secretary of state or his designee, the president of the league of women voters of Massachusetts or her designee, the executive director of common cause of Massachusetts or her designee, the head of Massachusetts voters for fair elections, the chairs of the Massachusetts democratic and republican parties or their designees, 2 representatives from the Massachusetts broadcasters association, 2 representatives from the state house press corps, and 2 representatives from other print medias. The commissions shall report its finding and recommendations to the clerks of the house and the senate by March, 2008.