On July 31, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Joe Lieberman (Independent Dem-Connecticut) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee) said they will introduce a bill, to determine when presidential primaries and caucuses should be held. The bill has not yet been introduced.

The bill would divide the U.S. into 4 regions (west, south, midwest and east). A lottery would be held in the year before presidential elections. The lottery would decide which region would have its primaries and caucuses in March, which in April, which in May, and which in June. New Hampshire and Iowa would be permitted to be earlier than March.

When the text of the bill is released, it will be interesting to see how it defines “political party”. Typically, members of Congress who write these bills never think about minor parties. There is also some doubt that the government can tell parties when to hold caucuses, since caucuses are organized and financed by the parties themselves, not the government.

OKIES (Oklahoma Coalition of Independents), the parent group of Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform (OBAR), is holding a meeting in Oklahoma City on Sunday, August 5, at 4 pm. The location is the Oklahoma City Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave., the Jim Thorpe Room. The proposed initiative to ease the ballot access laws will be discussed. Contributions to the initiative are being raised. If you wish to help, please send a check to OBAR, PO Box 14042, Tulsa Ok 74159-1042. A fund-raising letter is about to be sent to a large mailing list.