Tampabay.com
MARCH 07, 2008

Seat delegates or get off Nov. ballot?

Another idea that just got mentioned on national news in a Fox News interview with Sen. Nan Rich a few moments ago: Pass a law that says any party that doesn't seat Florida's delegates doesn't get to have their nominee on the ballot in November.

It's not just idle chatter. Rep. David Rivera told the Buzz this afternoon that he has the House election's committee staff researching the idea, and so far he thinks the Legislature could have the legal standing to pass it. Although, House Speaker Marco Rubio said the idea makes him "nervous."

Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller told the Buzz today that while it's not his favorite idea, it may be a lesser bad idea compared to a whole lot of other bad ideas. He added that it may be unconstitutional.

House Minority Leader Dan Gelber called it absurd and "a waste of the ink being used to report it."

Sen. Rich said she had mixed feelings about the idea. “It’s of some concern to me that the Republicans have no problem because their delegates will be seated. I would want to see the bill and see some safeguards in there, because I certainly would not want to end up in the situation where we the Democrats didn’t have a nominee on the ballot."

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For Florida political news today, the Buzz is your can't-miss-it source. Tampa Bay Times writers offer the latest in Florida politics, the Florida Legislature and the Rick Scott administration. Keep in mind: This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the Tampa Bay Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.

E-mail Times political editor Adam Smith: asmith@tampabay.com

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