ENCOURAGE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO STAND BY THE CONSTITUTION

[WAGCEVP]

>
> December 8, 2000
>
> ENCOURAGE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO STAND BY THE CONSTITUTION
>
> The Florida State Legislature has the constitutional right to insure that
> the will of the voters is guaranteed. Thankfully, both the State House and
> State Senate have chosen to fulfill this constitutional right and have
> opened a special session today. This will begin the process of reaffirming
> the slate of electors duly certified under the Florida constitution. Who
> better to represent the will of Florida voters than the officials elected
> to do that very thing?
>
> URGENT ACTION NEEDED
>
> Contact the Florida leadership in both Senate and House of Representatives
> today. Encourage them, thank them and assure them that as the nation
> watches their actions, that you will be watching and praying for them to
> have the courage to stand by their convictions.
>
> Below is the contact information for the leadership of both the Florida
> State House and Senate. For additional member information, go to
> http://www.leg.state.fl.us.
>
> LEADERSHIP OF THE FLORIDA STATE SENATE
>
> John McKay
> President of the Senate
> 941/727-6349
> 850/487-5078
> mckay.john.web@leg.state.fl.us
> mailto:mckay.john.web@leg.state.fl.us
>
> Ginny Brown-Waite
> President Pro Tempore
> 352/544-2344
> 850/487-5040
> brown-waite.g.web@leg.state.fl.us
> mailto:brown-waite.g.web@leg.state.fl.us
>
> James King, Jr.
> Senate Majority Leader
> 904/727-3600
> 850/487-5030
> king.james.web@leg.state.fl.us
> mailto:king.james.web@leg.state.fl.us
>
> LEADERSHIP OF THE FLORIDA STATE HOUSE
>
> Tom Feeney
> Speaker of the House
> 407/977-6500
> 850/488-0468
> feeney.tom@leg.state.fl.us
> mailto:feeney.tom@leg.state.fl.us
>
> Mike Fasano
> House Majority Leader
> 727/848-5885
> 850/488-8528
>

 

[David Scott]

Got news for you. Lots of people vote Republican at the State level and Democrat at the Federal, or vice versa. So there's no guarantee that the Legislature will reflect the will of the people.

More news: It's questionable whether they can actually get away with appointing electors without regard to votes already taken. They're leaning on a Constitutional provision that gives state legislatures the power to decide how electors are selected. However, holding a statewide vote and then saying, "never mind, we'll pick our own", may not be defensible. The votes are in, and a court-ordered recount is under way. Changing the rules at this point sounds like an ex post facto action to me, and could also be interpreted as an attempt to subvert a court decision.

Last bit of news: This is my state's legislature we're talking about here, and if they try to pre-empt the will of the people as expressed in the voting booth, I will consider it a betrayal of enormous and disgusting proportions and will campaign against anyone who voted to take that action.

 

[George Hill]

I think we should encourge them to get fire insurance... the bastartds.

 

[bookkie]

The people of FL voiced their opinion on Nov 7th. The result was for GW. The recount by machine was for GW. The FL SC is now changing the rules after the fact in a clear attempt to substitute their opinion for the will of the people. It is not only the right but the sworn duty of the FL legislature to uphold the will of the people.

Is this not a different way to look at the same subject? See this is the problem that we have gotten ourselves into. Each side will look at things differently depending upon their beliefs. Human nature being as it is, this can not be changed. That is why we have a written constitution. To define the rules that we live by.

The above is why Chief Justice Wells' in his Dissent stated that the ruling by the FL SC creates a constitutional crisis. The rules have been thrown out the window. The only way that the rules can be preserved is by taking a step back to a time when there was a clear intent of the voters will... ie.. after the machine recount.

The FL legislature delegated their duty to the people to select the electors. The people through the courts have failed to do so. According to the Constitution the ultimate responsibility to select the electors rests with the state legislature. If the people fail to select them, then it reverts back to the state legislature. This is all that the FL legislature is doing, protecting your right to have your voice heard in the presidential election.