Lieu Supports Early Presidential Primary

South Bay Assemblymember is One of Two Assemblymembers to Co-author SB 113

Sacramento, CA  - Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) today supported the effort to move California’s Presidential Primary from June up to February.  The South Bay Assemblymember was one of only two members of the Assembly to co-author the bill, SB 113, which passed off the Assembly Floor Tuesday afternoon.  The bill was joint authored by the South Bay’s State Senator, Jenny Oropeza.

Currently, California holds its primary concurrent with all other offices, on the first Tuesday in June.  With so many other states moving up their primaries, the nominees for both parties are usually decided long before the calendar flips to California’s date. 

To add insult to injury, California is the first place candidates come to raise campaign funds.  “They treat us like a giant ATM,” Lieu said.  “They come here, get their money, and then we never see them again.”

Lieu believes it is particularly important to move the 2008 Primary, as next year will be the first presidential election since 1968 where neither the incumbent President nor the sitting Vice President will be running for the nation’s highest office.  Hence, both parties will have contested primaries.

California’s move mirrors other states, which are also moving their primaries up to gain more influence.  These states hope to create a second “Super Tuesday,” like the one that a group of Southern States currently hold.  The move, however, conflicts with the longstanding tradition of Iowa and New Hampshire being the first states to move.

“For too long, Iowa and New Hampshire have gained an importance way out of line with their size and economic power, simply because of their protected position,” Lieu added.  “This is a pushback against an unfair system.”

Lieu cited statistics that, for every dollar California sends to the Federal Government, the State receives 79 cents in return.  Iowa receives $1.04.  If California just receives its fair share of Federal spending, the State would reap an additional $50 billion, more than enough to fix the State’s difficult budget situation.

SB 113 will now go to Governor Schwarzenegger for a signature.