New Hampshire: legislature tries to lock up its #1 primary position
The Manchester Union Leader reports: In a move to protect New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation Presidential primary, the House yesterday passed a bill that lets the Secretary of State change filing deadlines any time he thinks it necessary.
In the second of a two-day session, the House passed the bill on a nearly unanimous voice vote.
The Democratic National Committee is studying the issue of front-loading, in which too many primaries are held too early in the process. But a DNC study commission has shifted its focus toward diversity issues, and many on the commission say New Hampshire is not diverse enough to warrant its first primary status. It has proposed adding caucuses or primaries early in the process to dilute New Hampshire’s power.
Rep. James Splaine, D-Portsmouth, who sponsored HB 1125, said the bill “will make it very clear to the national parties, but more importantly to other states that we are ready to do what we need to do.” -- House passes bill to protect first-in-the-nation tradition
Thanks to Political Wire for the link.