Appeals Court rejects Michigan primary

[babylonsister]

Appeals Court rejects primary
Judges rule that releasing voter lists to two parties violates state constitution.
Gordon Trowbridge / The Detroit News

Michigan's hopes of playing a key role in the presidential nominating contests took another blow Friday when a state appeals court refused to reinstate the Jan. 15 primary.

By a 2-1 vote, the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that the law setting up the primary violates the state constitution by handing over voter lists from the election to the state's two major political parties. The state could appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court, or the Legislature could reverse course and amend the law to address the legal challenges -- something advocates of the primary were pushing for anew in the aftermath of the ruling.

"We're talking to the appropriate people about the Legislature addressing the issue," said Debbie Dingell, a Democratic activist and one of the prime movers behind the primary. Sen. Carl Levin, another proponent of an early nominating contest, issued a statement calling a legislative fix "the next step" in the process. And state Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis accused Democrats in Lansing of "playing games" by blocking a previous attempt to mend the primary law.

"There is strong bipartisan support for a presidential primary on Jan. 15, but time is running out," Anuzis said.

Rusty Hills, a spokesman for state Attorney General Mike Cox, said legal experts were reviewing the ruling and would consult with election officials from the Secretary of State's office before deciding whether to appeal.

more...

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071117/POLITICS/711170396

[Windy]

1. they should have left well enough alone... voters are now being disenfranchised. N/t