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Pinellas senators stall NRA's voter bill

Today is Day 44 of the 60-day session of the Legislature.

By Times staff writer, Associated Press
Published April 19, 2006

Two Pinellas senators objected Tuesday to a bill that would require all outlets that sell fishing and hunting licenses to offer customers voter registration cards. The bill, a priority of the National Rifle Association, will be debated today by the full House, where passage is expected. The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee put off a vote on the bill after the Pinellas objections, and after a spokesman for election supervisors said the bill wasn't needed.

Sen. Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg, said elections supervisors can voluntarily designate bait and tackle shops as voter registration sites now. "I just don't think that it's necessary," said Sebesta, a former Hillsborough County elections supervisor.

Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island, a member of the panel, added, "I just can't see some of these rural county gas stations that sell bait getting involved in voter registration."

Continued opposition from Sebesta and Jones and from a Democrat, Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, would doom the bill on a tie vote on the six-member committee. But NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer said Tuesday's actions were due to confusion and she predicted it would pass next week.

-STEVE BOUSQUET

Debbie Johnston believes her 15-year-old son killed himself because he was taunted and called gay by a stalker at school and over the Internet. She urged a Senate committee Tuesday to help stop other children from being harassed, and the panel complied by approving legislation.

The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved the bill (SB 1384) requiring school districts to establish and enforce antibullying policies. A similar bill (HB 535) was approved 8-2 by the House Education Council later Tuesday.

Johnston's son, Jeff, hanged himself on June 29 in Cape Coral. She said his suicide is one of many that have resulted from bullying.

The Senate committee rejected a hotly debated amendment that would have allowed school districts to focus protection on certain groups such as gays and racial, ethnic or religious minorities. They are considered most likely to be harassed.

The bill has two more committee stops before it can reach the Senate floor.

The House passed a bill to give Floridians a 12-day break from the sales tax on many storm preparedness items, including batteries, generators and window shutters up to certain values. The bill (HB 47) could be taken up as early as today by the Senate. The tax break would run May 21 to June 1.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Last modified April 19, 2006, 01:57:07]