Senate committee votes to move up presidential primary
NASHVILLE — A Senate committee on Tuesday voted to hold Tennessee’s 2004 presidential preference primary in February, about a month earlier than scheduled, to give the state more of a voice in picking the party nominees.
The Senate State and Local Government Committee voted unanimously to move the primary from March 9 to Feb. 10. Sponsor Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, said the change would make the votes of Tennesseans ‘more meaningful in the national perspective.’
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Riley Darnell had suggested that eliminating the primary in Tennessee would save the state $3.5 million in tough economic times. He argued then that the primary had ‘ceased to be a factor’ in selecting nominees because of its timing.
A March 9 primary date would have Tennesseans going to the polls after 18 states and the District of Columbia have already voted on the presidential candidates.
Brook Thompson, director of the Tennessee Division of Elections — which Darnell oversees — said Tuesday for ‘Tennessee to have a chance to have an impact on the process, we certainly need to move it up.’
The House already has approved moving up the Tennessee primary.
At least one state, Virginia, has scheduled its primary for Feb. 10.
Also on Tuesday, the committee also approved a bill that would require entities doing business with the state or local governments to disclose consulting fees they pay to elected officials or their immediate families.
The bill also would apply to members of the state’s executive branch.
This is the third year in a row the legislation — already passed by the House — has been considered by the Senate. It was put off last session and defeated the year before.
‘It’s intended to cover an area … (we) don’t think is covered under the current ethics act,’ said sponsor Larry Trail, D-Murfreesboro.
Companies would be required to report to the Registry of Election Finance a list of officials receiving fees, the recipient’s government position, the amount paid, the day the services were rendered and a description of those services.
The committee voted down a measure that would have deleted a requirement that candidates be notified when someone inspects their campaign financial disclosure filings, which are public record.
‘It’s important to some of us that we get those mailings,’ said Sen. Thelma Harper, D-Nashville, who voted against the bill. ‘I like to know what’s happening.’
Harper was the only member voting against the bill, but three others abstained, making the measure fail by a 4-1-3 vote. The three abstaining were Democratic Sens. Joe Haynes of Goodlettsville, Don McLeary of Humboldt and Steve Cohen of Memphis.
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On the Net:
Tennessee General Assembly: www.legislature.state.tn.us
Tennessee Division of Elections: www.state.tn.us/sos/election.htm