TN State Legislators propose US Senate Primaries to be conducted by State Legislature, not voters
NASHVILLE — "During the last eight U.S. Senate primaries in Tennessee, an average of about 686,000 people have voted in each contest. Under a Republican proposal advancing in the state Legislature, the number picking nominees would drop to 132.
The bill, set for a state Senate vote on Monday, would shift that nominating power from primary voters to state lawmakers of either party.
“This is a way we can actually choose the candidate and make them more responsible,” said Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, who supports the plan. “The federal government is completely broken, and there’s got to be something to get their attention. And this could be it.”
Ramsey said the bill’s prospects for passage are about 50-50.
Republican state Sen. Frank Niceley of Strawberry Plains, the measure’s main sponsor, says it is aimed at returning Tennessee closer to the system used before 1913, when state lawmakers directly appointed U.S. senators. That corruption-marred system was replaced with direct election by the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Niceley’s bill, which would only apply to primaries and not to general elections, would go into effect after next year’s election, meaning it wouldn’t affect Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander’s efforts to be re-nominated for another term." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/mar/29/tenn-legislators-may-get-to-make-senate-choices/#comments
Republicans are by far the majority in both houses (R 70, D28, I1/R26, D7) and we have a Republican governor, so this crap really could pass. This is the same bunch of yahoos who made national news last week when they freaked out over a new Muslim footwashing vessel they discovered in a newly renovated Capitol bathroom. It turned out it was a mop sink. It was so good Colbert reported on it and then MSNBC repeated it from Colbert.
A little local disdain here: http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/letter-from-the-editor/Content?oid=3375095
Every time I think they can't get stupider, they get stupider.
I think we should be prepared to see all sorts of squirrely stuff coming from the Republican state houses across the country as they gloat over their newfound power. Tennessee is sure ready for the competition - stupid on steroids here!
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