NWAOnline’s Legislative Coverage

The Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK — A bipartisan group of senators filed legislation Tuesday to move Arkansas’ presidential primary back to May.
Sen. Paul Miller, D-Melbourne, and seven other senators filed Senate Bill 56, which would repeal a 2005 law that moved the state’s presidential primary to the first Tuesday in February. The Senate bill is similar to House Bill 1021 prefiled by Reps. Nathan George, D-Dardanelle, and Jon Woods, R-Springdale, in December.
The Legislature in 2005 voted to move the presidential primary from May to February to make the state a bigger player in the 2008 presidential nominating process. However, more than 20 other states also moved their primaries to early February.
Secretary of State Charlie Daniels has said moving the primary back to May would save the state money. Cost of holding the primary in February last year was about $1.7 million.
Miller’s co-sponsors are Senate President Pro Tempore Bob Johnson, D-Bigelow, and Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, Sen. Gene Jeffress, D-Louann, Sen. Percy Malone, D-Arkadelphia and Sen. Sharon Trusty, R-Russellville.