Did you join the Independence Party in New York State thinking you were becoming an independent Voter? Well, if you did, you may be glad to hear a local state lawmaker’s bill prohibiting state political parties from using the words “independent” or “independence” in their names passed both the Assembly and the Senate and now just needs the governor’s signature to become law. North Rockland and Orange County state senator James Skoufis says a study done by The Daily News revealed a fraction of Independence Party members were aware the group was not independent. Skoufis called the party a “sham organization” and many of their members were “conned into joining a shadow party.”