Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

TAMPA, Fla. (WACH, AP) -- The Republican National Committee has rejected a plan to impose tougher sanctions on states that jump ahead in the presidential primary calendar.

The measure would have stripped VIP passes and desirable hotel accommodations from states like Arizona and Florida, which are considering late January primary elections. That's a violation of RNC rules, and some Republicans say it could cause chaos.

But the RNC Rules Committee voted Thursday to postpone action on new sanctions until next year.

Republicans from states like New Hampshire and South Carolina called out Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer by name Thursday, pushing her state to wait its turn. Any significant change, they say, could force their states to move primaries to December or January.

“South Carolina’s ‘First in the South’ primary plays a critical role in the American political system," said SCGOP Chairman Chad Connelly in a release. "Our diverse, informed voters are a bellwether for campaigns both large and small, given South Carolina’s size and cost of campaigning. It is no surprise that South Carolinians have picked the eventual Republican presidential nominee in every cycle since 1980 and I expect the tradition to continue in 2012."

Arizona Republicans say an earlier primary would highlight issues important to Western voters.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)