I think Levin makes the case for not chasing half-measures.
If the people still elect senators, it is doubtful the state legislators will ever seriously consider recall.
State Legislators can get a sense of the will of the People in their state like no other. If people want a recall without having to organize a referendum vote, it can be easier and faster to have the state legislature get it done.
There have been many attempted recalls of US Senators by voters using whatever means at their disposal. But voters are prohibited from recalling a US Senator.
One example was democrat Senator Franck Church who faced a very viable recall campaign in 1967 but escaped because federal courts ruled that political recalls did not apply to US Senators and that the recall against Senator Church violated the US Constitution.
Therefore, an amendment to recall US Senators is in order.
The way it plays out is like this:
* A State Legislature opens a channel of communication with a US Senator from their state.
* Demands are made on the US Senator to support or propose legislation that benefits the state and the people of the state.
* AS OF NOW the US Senator cares not a wit about what state legislators demand. They care only about the image that their campaign marketing managers are able to set in the minds of the voter, about pointing out the negatives of political competitors and about buying off power players in the state they represent. Basically if they contract all the big hitters, they win the ball game.
* AS OF NOW recalls of US Senators are not allowed by federal courts.
* AS OF NOW voters unhappy with a US Senator will first call the office of the US Senator and if there is no sincere response, where do they go? How would they know how many other voters are of the same mind? Will the local press inform them? The answers are mostly in the negative. They do not contact their state legislators because there is nothing the state legislature can do.
* WHEN an amendment is ratified allowing recalls of US Senators, THEN everything changes. Voters can EITHER organize a recall referendum OR call their state legislatures and demand a recall be put in motion. Getting state legislatures involved in recall efforts unites the people of their state with their state legislators. That is a good thing.