Marijuana Policy Project's list of eight most outrageous anti-marijuana legislators of the year cites Rep. Baudler's opposition to medical marijuana bills and claim that it would be the 'top one or two or three stupidest bills' to pass the legislature in more than 50 years

** List countdown video at  http://youtu.be/cb1iR7peoXE - Video image attached **

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Iowa State Rep. Clel Baudler (R-Greenfield) is ranked seventh in a list of the country's "Worst State Legislators of 2013" released Friday by the nation's largest marijuana policy organization, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP).

The list of "Worst Legislators" is below, along with a brief explanation of why each is included. A video countdown of the list is available at  http://youtu.be/cb1iR7peoXE

The seven state representatives and one state senator were selected based on their legislative efforts to maintain or expand marijuana prohibition policies, as well as statements they made, during the 2013 legislative sessions. The list includes Rep. Baudler because he helped defeat a bill that would have allowed people with serious illnesses to use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it, claiming it would be the "top one or two or three stupidest bills" to pass the legislature in more than 50 years.

"Unfortunately, there are still many elected officials in this country who cannot let go of their antiquated beliefs about marijuana," said MPP director of communications Mason Tvert. "These are just the most outrageous examples.

According to a February Des Moines Register poll, 58% of Iowa adults support such a law, and similar laws are in place in 20 states and Washington, D.C. A Pew Research Center poll conducted in March found three out of four Americans believe marijuana has legitimate medical benefits.

"Most people are seeing through the reefer madness," Tvert said. "Despite some legislators' efforts to hold back progress, most Americans now agree that marijuana prohibition has failed and that it is time to adopt a more sensible, evidence-based policy."

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The Marijuana Policy Project, the nation's largest marijuana policy organization, has been responsible for changing most state-level marijuana laws since 2000. For more information, visit  http://www..

The Marijuana Policy Project's Worst Legislators of 2013

1. Colorado Sen. John Morse (D) - Tried to sneak a bill through in the final hours of the session that could have resulted in the repeal of a voter-approved initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol. Source: Associated Press, 5/6/13

2. Idaho Rep. Luke Malek (R) - Helped pass a resolution opposing the legalization of marijuana "for any purpose" because he thinks medical marijuana is a "farcical predatory scheme." Source: Associated Press, 3/27/13

3. Arizona Rep. John Kavanagh (R) - Proposed repealing a voter-approved medical marijuana law, falsely claiming that "no medical authority" would agree that marijuana has legitimate medical benefits. Source: Arizona Daily Sun, 1/25/13

4. North Carolina Rep. Paul "Skip" Stam (R) - Killed a medical marijuana bill because he felt "harassed" by the large volume of calls and emails he and his colleagues were receiving about it. Source: WRAL-TV, 2/20/13

5. Florida Rep. Darryl Rouson (D) - Sponsored a successful bill to ban the sale of pipes and bongs, which he referred to as "utensils of death." Source: Broward-Palm Beach New Times, 3/7/13

6. Montana Rep. David Howard (R) - Helped defeat bills that would have improved access to medical marijuana, calling it "the most dangerous drug there is" and a "poison" that "makes [users] delusional." Source: Helena Independent Record, 2/15/13

7. Iowa Rep. Clel Baudler (R) - Helped kill a medical marijuana bill, saying it would be the "top one or two or three stupidest bills" to pass the legislature in more than 50 years. Source: Des Moines Register, 1/31/13

8. New Hampshire Rep. John Cebrowski (R) - Voted against a widely supported medical marijuana bill because he "[did] not want to be part of the cultural and social disintegration of [New Hampshire]." Source: New Hampshire Union Leader, 3/20/13

Illinois Becomes 18th State to Move Democratic Process into 21st Century and Allow Online Voter Registration, One of Quinn's 2013 Priorities

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation revising the Illinois Election Code to give residents the ability to register to vote online. First proposed by Governor Quinn during his 2013 State of the State address, Illinois is now the 18th state to allow online voter registration. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to increase participation in our democracy and ensure that every voice is heard in Illinois.

"Democracy works best when as many voters as possible raise their voices at the ballot box," Governor Quinn said. "Online voter registration will encourage more people to fulfill their civic duty by making that first step of registering to vote easier and more accessible. This new law will boost registration rates, cut costs and move Illinois' democratic process into the 21st century."

The 17 states that currently offer online voter registration have realized its benefits which include higher voter registration rates - particularly among young people - and lower processing costs.

"Online voter registration is the biggest advancement in expanding the electorate since Motor Voter passed 20 years ago," Cook County Clerk David Orr said. "I've long supported online voter registration because it's a convenient, secure way for voters to get registered and start participating."

"Online voter registration brings Illinois' election process into the 21st century," House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) said. "Making it easier for people to exercise one of our most fundamental and significant rights - the right to vote - is good for democracy."

"This law will increase participation in our democracy," State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) said. "But it will do more than that. It will also save the state money. Processing a paper registration costs 83 cents. Processing an online application costs 3 cents."

Online voter registration is part of House Bill 2418 - the "Omnibus Elections Bill" - which includes other provisions, such as:

·         Changing the hours for early voting on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. -  Noon, to Noon -  3:00 p.m., to enable broader participation;

·         Requiring the State Board of Elections to post precinct-by-precinct totals for all of the state's precincts, and,

·         Codifying that votes cast for a candidate who drops out before Election Day but remains on the ballot will not be counted.

States that offer online voter registration include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Four more states - Delaware, New Mexico, New York and Ohio - have modified versions. Online voter registration is expected to be in place in Illinois by the 2014 General Election.

Earlier this month, Governor Quinn signed a law to allow 17-year olds who will turn 18 by the time of the general election to participate in that cycle's primary election. According to FairVote, 20 other states permit 17-year-olds to vote in the primary election.