April 21: Florida Legislature Is Trying For Permanent Damage To State Democracy

By Sylvia Gurinsky

The clock is ticking. And leaders in the Florida Legislature know it.

How else to explain their dictatorial bent toward Committee Substitute For Senate Bill 956, innocently titled "Relating To Elections"?

The April 16 St. Petersburg Times features all the damage it would do:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/article992793.ece

Today's Miami Herald mentions the sneakiness in which legislative leaders are trying to pass 956 and a partner-in-crime in the House:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/1009388.html

And here's a direct link to the bill, in all its lack of glory:

http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb0956c1.html&Directory=session/2009/Senate/bills/billtext/html/

Republican legislative leaders are in a race against the clock and Florida's shifting demographics. The state is becoming more moderate and voted for Barack Obama last November. Once the results of the 2010 Census are complete, district gerrymandering will likely end many of the good times Florida's G.O.P. has enjoyed since the mid-1990s. That's why they want this so much, and why they're stifling public debate.

Gov. Charlie Crist was typically wavering in his statement about the bill.

Don't waver, Governor. If this bill gets to your desk, veto it - loud and clear. It is bad for democracy.