Bid to keep Arkansas primary in March fails in Senate vote

     (AP) – An effort to keep Arkansas' primary in March has
failed before the state Senate after opponents said they were concerned it would effectively create nonstop campaigns for political office in the state.
     The proposal of Senate Bill 122 was to permanently move the state's primary from May to the first Tuesday in March. It failed on a 17-13 vote.
Local Senators Scott Flippo, Missy Irvin and Linda Collins Smith all voted in favor of the bill.
     Even though it failed the Senate approved a motion that would allow Republican Senator Gary Stubblefield to bring his proposal back up later for another vote.     
     The state temporarily moved its primary last year to March for the
presidential nominating contest, and Stubblefield said making the move permanent would help keep the state relevant in presidential campaigns. The move would also apply to midterm election years.