Florida's delegation slow to act on election reform

By JOHN BALZ

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 16, 2001

WASHINGTON -- Individually, members of the Florida congressional delegation say that America's voting systems have flaws that must be remedied. But collectively, the delegation is not aggressively leading the fight for election reform on Capitol Hill.

Lawmakers have submitted nearly 25 bills addressing improvement of election procedures. Only two have been submitted by Florida members, one by Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, and one by Sen. Bill Nelson.

Nine of Florida's 10 Democrats have co-sponsored pieces of election reform legislation, but only one Republican, Rep. Mark Foley of West Palm Beach, has attached his name to any proposal.

"There doesn't seem to be any enthusiasm coming from the delegation," said Hastings, who noted that he had "more than enough enthusiasm to make up for the rest of them."

Foley said that reaching a consensus has been particularly difficult because of the fierce language invoked by Democrats during the Florida recount, accusing Republicans of stealing the election.

"Some of the emotions were so highly charged, some of the rhetoric was so carelessly tossed around, that folks are loath to get engaged," he said. "Adding your name to a bill will give credence to this stolen election concept."

The most positive sign for election reform hopefuls may have come Tuesday, when four influential senators agreed to introduce a bill that would provide states and local governments with $2.5-billion over five years to purchase new voting machines. The funds would arrive in time for the 2002 elections, and local governments would be responsible for providing 25 percent of the costs.

Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sam Brownback, R-Kan., pieced together a group of already existing ideas for their bill. They hope to set up a bipartisan commission to examine election issues and establish a permanent independent federal agency, made up of four members of each party that would rule on the commission's recommendations.

In Tallahassee, Gov. Jeb Bush already has signed a $32-million plan to update voting equipment, redesign ballots and clarify state voting procedures. But members of Congress say it's too early to expect them to pass a bill.

While Florida Democrats have harshly criticized President Bush and the Republican leadership for failing to make election reform a top priority, they have been far gentler in their comments about Republicans from their own state.

And many think the burden of pushing election reform should not fall to the Florida delegation any more than it should fall to the delegations of other states. Without the president's support, Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, says there is almost nothing the delegation can do to re-energize the issue.

"It's very difficult to do from the bottom up," Wexler said. "You have to do it from the top."

Democratic lawmakers speak passionately about the need for election reform and some, such as Rep. Jim Davis, D-Tampa, have worked behind the scenes crafting legislation. But most have barely made an effort to bring their Republican colleagues on board their proposals. Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fort Lauderdale, the chairman of the delegation, said no Florida members have broached the subject with him.

Unlike many Republicans, Shaw expressed support for some federal matching funds to upgrade voting equipment.

"This is something the delegation should talk about and try to get behind," he said.

Other Republicans argue that all voting systems will have some flaws and are worried about spending between $3-billion and $5-billion nationwide for a solution that fixes only part of the problem.

Democrats, including Reps. Peter Deutsch of Fort Lauderdale and Carrie Meek of Miami, have also testified at Congressional Black Caucus hearings, but no one has appeared before a bipartisan panel to discuss their experiences in Florida.

Perhaps because Democratic nominee Al Gore lost, House Democrats across the country have been especially concerned about the 2000 presidential election. They organized a 12-member Special Committee on Election Reform to come up with legislative solutions that will prevent a repeat. Texas has three representatives in the group. Hastings is the only one from Florida.

The Florida congressional delegation's split on nationwide election reform is surprising because this group often rallies behind issues of special interest to Floridians.

In the past, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to pass bills that help Florida and kill those that hurt it.

"We're on a different sort of time frame than the Legislature," Deutsch said. "I don't think we are susceptible to criticism collectively. If at the end of the day we don't pass legislation, I don't think I would particularly criticize our Republican members as much as the Republican leadership."

Lawmakers generally speak in civil tones about each other, regardless of their political affiliation. So for every poor word directed toward House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., there is an equally polite one for in-state Republicans.

So while Wexler says that the Republican leadership and the president have not "exhibited even the smallest credible interest in electoral reform," he also praises Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Largo, chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee.

Young's position puts him in excellent position to help appropriate money for new machines or more poll workers, and he has indicated a willingness to appropriate funds if the House Administration Committee asks him to do so. Wexler adds, however, that Young bears no extra responsibility for bringing about change in the election system.

"I'm not in the business of assigning roles," he said. "Clearly he has the ability to deliver if he so chooses. And this is not an attack on Bill Young. He does a tremendous job. My hat goes off to him. But he'd have to buck the president and the Republican leadership. I don't know if that's possible, even for Bill Young."

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