Deputy Senate Majority Leader Tom Libous today knocked the proposal introduced by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to move the state’s primary to June 26 in order to match the court-ordered date for Congressional primaries.

Calling the proposal “unfortunate,” the Binghamton Republican said Silver’s bill would compress the political calendar to the point of distraction for state lawmakers.

“To begin a political process now, it’s extremely disruptive and we think the primary date should stay pretty much where it is in September,” Libous said.

Senate Republicans had initially argued that August was the preferably date to hold a new primary at least on the federal level.

Silver announced the introduction of the bill Sunday afternoon as a means of avoiding three primaries in New York: April 24 for the GOP presidential contest, June 26 for Congressional primaries and Sept. 11 for state and local party primaries.

U.S. District Court Judge Gary Sharpe ruled last month that the state’s Congressional primary be held in June in order to comply with the federal MOVE Act, a measure that guarantees timely absentee ballot access to military and overseas voters. New York failed to receive a waiver from the law and the Department of Justice sued the state force compliance.

If Senate Republicans and Assembly Democrats fail to compromise on a date, the three primary scenario could be costly one for local governments.

But Senate Republicans insist on a September primary.

“I never want to say you can’t reach a compromise,” Libous said. “Doing it in June the way they want to do it just isn’t practical.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues to avoid taking a stand on the primary issue, perhaps because it’s becoming a bargaining chip in a possible compromise on redistricting this year.

Libous said in the interview that there’s no point for the governor to get involved.

“It’s really a legislative matter,” he said. “The governor will sign anything that’s sent to him at this point. I’m not sure he should step in.”

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