Friday, September 23, 2011

Missouri GOP calls on senate to pass presidential primary legislation

(From the Missouri Republican Party)

Missouri Republican Party Chairman David Cole today enlisted the help of GOP activists across the state to win passage of the presidential primary bill that is currently being held without a vote in the State Senate. (Note: please find the Chairman’s memo below.)

Cole’s rare call to action on a bill being considered in the Missouri General Assembly comes as legislative leaders reportedly consider adjourning without passing a critical bill meant to ensure that Missourians’ voices are heard in the upcoming election.

In 2008, more than 1.4 million Missourians voted in the state’s presidential primary.

“Across the country, state legislatures are acting to ensure their presidential nominating contests comply with RNC & DNC rules. Now, the eyes of the national media have turned towards Missouri. Sadly, a few Senators may be willing to throw the entire national nominating process into disarray,” said David Cole, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party. “We are confident that the majority of Senators—Republican and Democrat alike—want this bill to pass, so we call upon the legislative leadership to bring it to the floor for an up or down vote.”

New rules jointly agreed to by the Republican and Democratic National Committees require that states move their presidential nominating contests later in the year. In Missouri, this is a change that can only be made by the General Assembly. Failing to do so has a variety of negative consequences—from the state’s loss of influence in the nominating process to a likely boycott of the state by the presidential candidates.

During the regular session, a bill to change the Missouri’s primary date from February to March was passed overwhelmingly by both chambers of the General Assembly as part of a larger elections bill—but the governor unexpectedly vetoed the legislation. The new bill, with language agreed to by the governor, has already been passed by the House by a 147-2 margin and is being held up in the Senate.

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