Election notebook

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 5, 2000

Congress moves to split transition offices, money

WASHINGTON -- So why not split the federal fund for the presidential transition right down the middle, and divide the office space for the transition, too?

It might be a choice worthy of Solomon, but it's a no-go under current law, as members of a House subcommittee learned listening to testimony Monday from administration witnesses and outside experts on presidential transitions.

The House Government Reform subcommittee still entertained the idea of an even split of transition resources between Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore, or a future pair of close finishers if one doesn't emerge as the apparent winner within 10 days after a general election.

And the panel reached a quick consensus to try to write the fix into law fast, a flash of bipartisan consensus rarely seen on any significant issue in this Congress.

"We will try to do something in the next 24 hours," vowed Rep. Stephen Horn, R-Calif., chairman of the subcommittee on government management.

Rep. Jim Turner, D-Texas, the panel's top Democrat, agreed: "We certainly could amend the statute immediately . . . and I think we should do so."

The plan for a legislative fix was also endorsed by the hearing's witness on the hot seat, General Services Administration chief David Barram, who has withheld $5.3-million in federal funds and the keys to the transition office from both contenders. He lent his support to finding "some way both camps can begin presidential transition activities."

Even moving speedily by congressional standards, the panel's proposal might be overtaken by events, depending on the legal battles over the presidential balloting in Florida.

The barest outlines of the proposed legislation were sketched during the hearing. Rep. Horn's spokeswoman, Bonnie Heald, said both Bush and Gore would get access to half of the transition funds and the eventual winner would be reimbursed for expenses financed by private contributions.

The transition headquarters set up by the GSA in downtown Washington would also be evenly divided, if the campaigns agreed. "I'll go out there with a Magic Marker, and I'll draw a line down the middle of the room. Somehow we got to break this," Rep. Doug Ose, R-Calif., said.

Judge to hear case on excluded military ballots

PENSACOLA -- A federal judge will hear arguments today in a Republican effort to pad George W. Bush's slim lead with a few more overseas ballots, mostly from military voters.

Republicans have sued canvassing boards in seven counties that rejected undated overseas ballots. Bush led Democrat Al Gore by about a 2-1 margin among overseas voters.

GOP lawyer John Stargel of Lakeland said the undated ballots should be counted because ballot envelopes that must be signed by voters lacked a specific place for a date. More than 250 overseas ballots were rejected for various reasons in the counties being sued.

"If every vote should count, then all military votes should count," Stargel said.

Overseas ballots were supposed to be dated or postmarked by Nov. 7, Election Day, and received on or before Nov. 17. Many military ballots, however, were not dated or lacked postmarks because they were mailed free through the military postal system.

Some counties accepted such ballots but others did not. The Republicans are suing Okaloosa, Walton, Hillsborough, Polk, Orange, Pasco and Collier counties.

GOP to view impounded ballots in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE -- Republicans planned to send volunteers to inspect New Mexico's impounded presidential ballots before a Friday deadline for requesting a recount of returns that gave Al Gore victory in the state.

Republican National Committeeman Mickey Barnett said he hoped to have 12 teams of volunteers in place by Monday. GOP officials weren't sure how many counties the volunteers could visit this week.

"If (the volunteers) find ballots that were not counted, like the situation in Roosevelt County, we want to know it," Barnett said Sunday.

Republicans questioned the returns in Roosevelt County because it appeared that 10 percent of voters had not cast ballots in the presidential race. A computer programming error was uncovered, and George W. Bush picked up votes after a hand recount of the county.

Barnett said the inspection teams would begin asking for court orders Monday to allow them to inspect the early vote and absentee vote paper ballots. Republicans went to court to get the ballots impounded statewide less than a week after the Nov. 7 election.

Gore's Web site appeals for donations

WASHINGTON -- With the fight over recounting Florida's presidential ballots entering its fourth week, Vice President Al Gore's campaign has begun a new fundraising effort.

The Gore campaign took in $3-million within a few days after Election Day, then stopped its fundraising. But the campaign's Web site now features a plea for more money, its first fundraising on the Internet for the recount battle.

George W. Bush's campaign already has raised more than $6-million for its recount expenses, and its Web site asks supporters to keep giving.

In seeking contributions, the Gore Web site says the money "helps us pay for legal representation as well as the hundreds of monitors and support staff needed to oversee the recount effort."

Orange ribbon protest seeks ballot recount

TALLAHASSEE -- Democrats unveiled their newest weapon Monday in the fight for the White House: the orange ribbon.

Styled like yellow and red ribbons used to welcome soldiers or promote AIDS awareness, the orange ribbon is supposed to convey a desire to count more ballots and to stop Republican legislators from holding a special session. Republicans, whose demonstrations may have had a role in halting a ballot recount in Miami-Dade County two weeks ago, have not announced plans to counter the Democratic ribbon campaign.

Vice President Al Gore's supporters held a half-dozen media events around the state Monday -- including one in West Palm Beach -- in conjunction with the ribbon campaign. Democrats said they chose orange because it's synonymous with the Sunshine State.

Today, 300 residents are expected to fly or drive to Tallahassee to lobby legislators and present a "Democracy Wall of Ribbons" collected from voters around the state. Wednesday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson is scheduled to lead a rally of Gore supporters.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright