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By JOHN BALZ
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 27, 2001
Hastings is in the market for a larger House
For more than 85 years, the House of Representatives has had 435 members. But Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, doesn't think that's enough voices. Or maybe he thinks Congress would be more effective if it followed the electoral system of some European legislative bodies.
Last week, Hastings circulated a letter among members trying to gain support for a bill that might overhaul the chamber's makeup. Hastings proposal, introduced in February, would create a commission to examine the size of the House and how representatives are elected.
Hastings hasn't said how big he thinks the House should be. Its size was established in 1913 when the U.S. population was about 92-million. The 2000 census counted a number close to 275-million people. Every state in the 2000 census gained residents, but 10 states lost seats.
Hastings' bill also suggests that other election alternatives, including proportional representation, which is found in some European nations, would yield a more accurate and democratic outcome of who voters want representing them.
Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, will get a taste of St. Petersburg this week. St. Petersburg, Russia, that is.
It seems the young congressman's lessons in foreign leaders and foreign travel are moving into more advanced stages. After traveling to Quebec, Canada, for the summit of the Americas in April, Putnam was in New York City on Monday with about 20 House members for a meeting with Taiwan's president. And this week he'll travel to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and then to St. Petersburg and Moscow, where he'll visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putnam said the trip to New York to see Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-bian was a "historic opportunity that I felt I should take advantage of."
He was surprised by Chen's "bold" suggestion that Taiwan should be allowed in the World Trade Organization, even if China is not. Chinese officials have protested Chen's U.S. visit but Putnam said his office did not receive any correspondence.
Putnam and a congressional delegation will meet with Putin to discuss foreign aid and Russia's commitment to democracy. President Bush will hold a summit with Putin in June.
From the Democratic Party's standpoint, this could be the best thing Sen. Bill Nelson has done in the five months he's been in Washington.
The Florida Democrat played a small but important role in the decision of Sen. James Jeffords to leave the Republican Party, Democratic aides and Nelson say. About a month ago, Nelson spoke with Jeffords about his unhappiness with the Republicans. Nelson won't discuss the details of that conversation, but acknowledged that he alerted Democratic leaders that Jeffords might be ready to jump ship.
"My role was a very minor one," Nelson said Friday. "It was simply that I knew Jim from the House. I had a conversation with him."
After the conversation, Nelson told Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle "it's worth it for you to follow up."
Daschle did and, within a month, he helped to persuade Jeffords to leave the GOP, giving the Democrats control.
- Staff writer John Balz assembled this column.