Saturday, April 9, 2011

Florida House Bills

There was no action this week on the massive elections bill (HB 1355) passed last week by the House Governmental Operation Subcommittee of which Jeff Clemens is the Democratic Ranking member. He voted "no." (I think he got it right this time). There were 9 Yeas and 4 Nays and 1 Missed.

The Bill would bring back many of the same restrictions on 3rd Party Voter Registration groups that the League of Women Voters successfully challenged in federal court in 2006 through 2009.

It’s a very broad bill encompassing everything from giving the Secretary of State the power to issue directives and advisories to the Supervisors of Elections, voting issues and campaign finance requirements and restrictions on the citizen initiative process. It’s expected the bill will be rewritten when when it makes its next committee stop in the House State Affairs Committee. (From: Capital Report 2011)

On an entirely different Bill, Governor Scott is trying very hard to eliminate the Department of Community Affairs, reducing that department from 600 employees down to 40 and reducing its budget 700%. He doesn't want to let anything get in the way of his promised job creation. Read Andrew Marra's excellent article in today's Palm Beach Post.

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