Eye On Boise

‘Keep known political operatives from participating in another party’s primary’

Posted by Betsy

March 30, 2011 8:14 a.m. • 4 comments

Senate Minority Leader Edgar Malepeai, D-Pocatello, asked why party-affiliated people would have to switch their party affiliation by the end of the filing period in March or not at all for that year's primary, under the bill. “You may not even know what the roster is at that date,” said Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum.

Sen. Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, said, “If you are previously affiliated with a party, hopefully by mid-March you know whether you want to continue to be affiliated with that party. … By doing it this way, you keep individuals who are known political operatives from participating in the primary of another party if that party chooses to exclude them. And that is a freedom of association right, that I think Judge Winmill is trying to protect. So that's why that suggested date is included in this bill.”

Davis said Stennett was assuming a non-affiliated mindset, but that part of the bill deals with those who consciously affiliate themselves with one party or another. “Certainly as a member of the Republican Party, I hope that someday we can get you into the Republican Party,” he told Stennett, adding, “You'll need to change your vote on a few things to do that.”

Four comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Sisyphus on March 30 at 8:20 a.m.
“known political operatives”—gimme a break. Like two dozen votes are gonna sway a primary.
DCR on March 30 at 11:23 a.m.
They should be forced to name the “known political operatives” if they’re so sure they exist. Wonder if I could be on the list if I keep my “R” registration and continue to vote my conscience against hacks, IACI shills and wingnut idealogues in the primaries?
slfisher on March 30 at 12:32 p.m.
Some Republicans keep bringing up this claim. But if you look at the past several years’ worth of elections, conservatives are generally beating moderates in the primaries. Is it Sen. Davis’ contention that Democrats are voting for conservative Republicans in an attempt to throw out moderate Republicans?
fortboise on March 31 at 8:41 a.m.
Not mentioned in this post is the fact that independents (and “independents” alike) would be cut out too. They’ll have to guess which party has candidates worth voting for (or against, as the case may be—and as it so often is in the Republican primary).

It’s just theater having the good old boys trot out their rationalizations for having taxpayers support them. Working to ensure their continuing prophecy that “government is broken” is self-fulfilling.