Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A Mid-Day Update on the Missouri Primary Situation

As FHQ discussed earlier this morning, the Missouri House last night amended and passed a substitute bill (SB 270) that would move the Show Me state's presidential primary to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March. As was the case late last week (with SB 282), however, the Senate refused to cooperate once the bill was returned in an altered form and requested that the House either recede the amendments or grant a conference committee.

Some in the House bemoaned the privileged position Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada receive and wanted to stand up to them:

As the Missouri House prepared to take its final vote Monday night, state Rep. Chris Kelly called for lawmakers to take a stand against "these two national monsters (who) have taken control of local politics."

Kelly, D-Columbia, complained that the national parties are wielding too much power, controlling money and mandating certain decisions that he said should be left up to local political activists.

"Why don't we stand up to these beasts!" Kelly shouted.

Representative Kelly also expressed some interest in the primary staying where it is: on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February. If this back and forth continues between the House and Senate in Missouri, the clock may run out (session adjourns on Friday, May 13), and Kelly may get his wish.


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