New rules for 'fine print' has candidates seeing red
A state law taking effect July 1 bans the use of abbreviations in disclosures in political ads. But what about items already printed?
By JUSTIN GEORGE
Published June 16, 2004
A change in state law that will require candidates to write out a few words that can currently be abbreviated on campaign literature is causing great consternation statewide.
Many local candidates, who have spent thousands of dollars in printing, fear they may have to scrap bundles of political bumper stickers, brochures, yard signs and mailers because of the law, which surprised everyone and takes effect July 1.
The change in law requires the "fine print" or disclosure on political advertisements to say, word for word, in quotations: "Political advertisement paid for and approved for and approved by (name of candidate), (party affiliation), for (office sought)."
No longer will the words paid or political or advertisement be allowed to be shortened to pd., pol. and adv. Such abbreviations are permitted now.
While the changes are slight, the reaction has been fierce, particularly among candidates who have bought, distributed and ordered political literature under the current law as they gather support for elections in August and November.
"I think the whole thing is ridiculous," said Mike Gudis, a Democrat running for County Commission. "First of all, the candidates should be told of these things as soon as they happen. We've all spent a lot of money on signs."
"How can we make this retroactive?" he asked. "What are we supposed to do? Junk everything we have and start over?"
The answers are not clear. Supervisor of Elections Susan Gill said candidates should have received registered letters from her office by today spelling out the changes in state statutes.
"This is problematic to the candidates," Gill acknowledged. "We're notifying the candidates and hoping they don't shoot the messenger in the meantime."
Gill said she expects more clear instructions from the state on how to instruct candidates to follow the law. But in the meantime, she said, candidates need to make a "good faith effort" to follow it by July 1.
She said they should make sure all campaign ads ordered from now on will carry the new disclosure requirements, and they should try to alter older signs and literature - if possible.
For Joyce Valentino, a Republican running for County Commission, that won't be easy. She has printed 3,000 palm cards under the current law, 2,500 of which already have been circulated.
She also has printed 400 yard signs and 500 large signs. Luckily, she said, she hasn't yet printed the brochures she has ordered. They can be changed.
"Otherwise, I would have printed 25,000 mailouts with the wrong disclosure," Valentino said. "And who would be compensating me for that? I would like something done. I want it reversed."
Before people begin erasing and rewriting disclosure statements or trashing thousands of bumper stickers, state Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, said the state Senate plans to clarify the rule soon to help candidates.
Argenziano, who sits on the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, said the law originated from a campaign reform bill championed by Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, who wanted to expose "committees of continuing existence," or political groups that buy television advertisements and do not clearly identify their political alignments or funding sources.
"It's a very good bill," Argenziano said, because groups who name themselves as "People for the Elderly," for example, would be required to tell the public that they actually represent the nursing home industry.
"What we want to do is stop the type of advertising where you don't know who is really behind an ad," she said.
But the bill caused unanticipated impacts, which senators are dealing with now.
Argenziano the new law should not be applied to candidates' signs and work done before July 1 because they should not be punished for following a current law.
She said she thinks lawmakers will soon endorse an interpretation of the law that will only require literature or signs ordered after July 1 to carry the new disclosure statements.
If, after July 1, someone complains to the Florida Elections Commission about a candidate who is not following the new law in regards to old literature, Argenziano said, the candidate should present receipts showing that the sign or mailer was printed before July 1.
"That's okay," she said.
Still, that solution creates more questions and many more concerns with the law that need to be addressed, Argenziano said, including a requirement stating that disclosures should be displayed prominently.
Many candidates, she said, don't know what that exactly means.
