There was some bad stuff in the bill that moved the Florida primary to January 29..

[madfloridian]

The one the Democrats say they had to vote for to excuse their confrontations with the DNC. They say they had to vote for the January 29th date because of the optical scan option on there.

There was much more to the bill than just the optical scans issues. Much more. From May of this year...Howard Troxler of the St. Pete Times covers some of the other parts of the bill that are not usually mentioned.

New Florida election law snuck in some iffy stuff.

The big elections law just passed by our Legislature, known as House Bill 537, is supposed to return Florida to a "paper trail" for elections. No more touch screen machines, just like Gov. Charlie Crist wanted. But I gotta tell you, the Legislature tacked so much extra junk onto this sucker that it looks like a frat-house refrigerator door - and the contents are just about as unknown and dangerous

Besides getting rid of touch-screen machines, the bill:

- Moves Florida's presidential primary from March to the end of January.

- Changes the "resign to run" law, so that Florida politicians can keep their state jobs and run for federal office at the same time.

- Cracks down further on citizen petitions, and creates a mischievous counterprocess in which opponents can get petition signatures revoked.

- Restricts complaints to the already-puny Florida Elections Commission to the point that rule breakers just about have to turn themselves in. (This is one of the worst parts. Restricting complaints?)

- Stacks the executive committees of political parties, and gives the state party bosses absolute power to remove local party officers.

- Deals with the ability of political committees to raise money under various names, and to conduct polling.

There is more at the Times page.

This is the bill that Florida Democrats hung their hats on to make what they did about moving the primary sound ok. The vote was 115 to 1.

Troxler's ending advice, which sounds pretty good to me.

If I were the governor, (a fate that a merciful providence has spared Florida), I would announce my intention to veto the bill. I would ask the Legislature to pass a "clean" voting-machine bill in the upcoming June special session, and deal with each of these election-related issues on its own merits, as befits a democracy.

[madfloridian]

1. "A generous rule for reporting free private air travel given to political candidates."

Here are more things in the bill:

"State party control over the names of political clubs.

The definition of when a county commissioner is "elected" (the subject of a dispute in Hernando County).

A generous rule for reporting free private air travel given to political candidates.

Detailed election-return reporting that mostly benefits consultants and candidates."

[babylonsister]

2. Where is Debbie Wasserman Schultz? I like her - a lot, so wonder

what she thinks about this.

[madfloridian]

3. I have not been happy with her on this issue. Here is something.

Wasserman-Schultz helps Nelson lead the battle against the DNC.

"They were quite insistent that the only option was to choose an alternative plan, and they, in our opinion, were totally unreasonable. They refused to really negotiate an acceptable alternative plan. A mail-in ballot done the proper way would cost $7 million, and they offered $800,000. We’re not Iowa or New Hampshire or a state where you can drive across in a matter of an hour. You can’t run, logistically, a caucus-style election in a state our size. We asked to sit down and have a reasonable discussion about how to maximize our voters’ participation. They were absolutely uninterested in sitting down and figuring that out with us. So based on everything I’ve said, it became clear that we should just stick to the Jan. 29 date so we make sure Florida voters are counted."

That last part is just not true. Dean had been working with the party for months and months. He offered money, not enough. The DNC offered help, not enough.

I was disappointed.

[babylonsister]

5. Damn. That sucks for me, living in TX and thinking she's working

for me/us, because she's been fearless on bigger things. Has anyone called her on it?

[madfloridian]

9. She always seemed that way to me as well.

But we have seen the more conservative side a few times. All Florida Democrats have that side to them. Right now too many are ingratiating themselves with Nelson.

[flyarm]

4. Debbie has tied herself to the DLC in this...eom

[aquart]

6. If we make Spain a substantial offer, think they'd take Florida back?

You'd get healthcare, membership in the EU...get to do business in the Euro instead of the dollar...Franco's gone...

What could be bad?

[FloridaJudy]

7. Great idea!

I'd better brush up on my Spanish.

We could also try getting our money back for the Louisiana Purchase. Then New Orleans might get some decent help rebuilding.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. So, basically, they're asking for mercy and consideration from the DNC,

because Florida's State politics is a sham, a mess, a joke, a scam, a shell game?