Michigan and Florida Put Caucus-Killing Plan On Table

Michigan and Florida Put Caucus-Killing Plan On Table

Iowa caucus enemies from Florida and Michigan Thursday proposed a presidential nomination calendar plan that they hope would end the traditional early roles of Iowa and New Hampshire in 2012.

The plan, HR 1523, is sponsored by Rep. Sander Levin, D-MI, and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL. It calls for rotating regional primaries on six primary dates between March and June. A similar bill in the Senate, S1905, is sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, and two former presidential candidates -- Republican Lamar! Alexander of Tennessee and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut who labels himself "independent Democrat." But the Klobuchar bill has an exemption allowing Iowa and New Hampshire to go early. Levin's bill has no exceptions.

Rep. Sander Levin is the brother of Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, long the most outspoken opponent of Iowa and New Hampshire's early roles. Sen. Carl Levin also spoke at Thursday's announcement of the plan and was direct about the intent: "It is unconscionable in a democracy that any state such as New Hampshire can have that kind of access to candidates and have candidates consider their issues almost to the exclusion of most other states," he said. "It’s wrong."

The plan is not on the table for 2008, but supporters hope to have it in place for 2012.

"If we keep going this way, we’re going to end up with caucuses and primaries before Thanksgiving of the year before the election,’’ said Rep. Levin. ‘‘That makes no sense at all."