The Arizona House has passed a bill that would repeal the state’s Presidential Preference Election (PPE). The PPE is the only election in the state not open to Independents. Secretary of State Michele Reagan says because Independents make up the largest group of voters in Arizona, the state shouldn’t pay for primaries that are closed to them. Reagan also says without state funding, Republicans and Democrats could decide how they pick Presidential Primary delegates.
The proposal by House Speaker David Gowan R-Sierra Vista, would stop state funding of the Primary. The new bill does set aside over $6 million to reimburse counties for this year’s election.
A PPE costs about $10 million. The legislature cut $6 million last year from the state’s Presidential Primary budget, and now officials are looking for alternatives.
Opponents of the Bill included Democrat Randy Friese of Tucson. He said if state funding ends, special interest groups could step in. “If the democratic party has a hard time finding money to run it’s own Presidential Preference Primary, could George Soros come in and give money? What’s his agenda? And the same on the other side,” Friese said.
A repeal would mean it would be up to political parties to raise their own funds to hold future Presidential Primaries.
If passed, the bill would apply to the 2020 Presidential election. Arizona residents have until February 22nd to register with a political party in order to vote in this year’s PPE.
The House passed House Bill 2567 on a 37-22 vote. The proposal now moves to the Senate.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
No comments:
Post a Comment