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The Invertebrate Florida Democrats

Guest Column by Phil Gailey

Florida Democrats are being treated like dirt by Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and the party's presidential candidates, and how do they respond? By writing checks to the party and the candidates who are boycotting the state. In effect, they are helping finance their own ostracism from the political process. I don't get it.

Dean was in Tallahassee last week to attend a fundraiser at a local law firm. Apparently, it didn't matter to his hosts that Dean led the campaign to strip Florida of its convention delegates because the state moved up its presidential primary to Jan. 29, which outraged four little states - Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina - that believe they have a divine right to cast the first presidential votes of the primary season.

Property Tax Special Session to Begin Friday After Budget Cuts

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida lawmakers will get a 10-minute break after a special session on budget cutting ends Friday before beginning another one to deal with property tax relief.

Legislative leaders Thursday formally called the fourth special session of the year - the second on property taxes. They expect to complete it by the middle of next week but the call extends through Oct. 29.

That's the deadline for getting a new proposed state constitutional amendment on the Jan. 29 presidential primary ballot. A judge removed a proposal the Legislature passed in June after finding the ballot summary was misleading and inaccurate.

Florida Dems File Suit Against Own Party

WASHINGTON — Comparing their fight to a family squabble, Florida's top congressional Democrats dismissed the idea that their lawsuit against their own party will hurt the state's chances of delivering a victory to their eventual presidential nominee.

"We're going to win Florida," pledged Rep. Alcee Hastings, Democratic chairman of Florida's congressional delegation. "One thing about Democrats, we're a lot like families that have disputes. But when the deal goes down, we're together."

After threatening legal action for weeks, Hastings and Sen. Bill Nelson filed suit Thursday against the Democratic National Committee over their state's right to help pick a presidential candidate.

Nelson/Hastings Suing DNC over Presidential Primary

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- In a "monumental irony," the Democratic Party is violating the Constitution and federal law by stripping 4 million Floridians of their right to vote in the presidential primary, says a lawsuit Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings plan to file Thursday.

The suit will claim that the Democratic National Committee did not have the right to take away Florida's presidential delegates just because Republicans set the primary for Jan. 29 in violation of DNC rules. It will also say presidential candidates were pressured into boycotting the state, which takes away voters' rights to engage the candidates on issues important to them, according to a draft copy obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.

Parkland Republican Seeks Kiar's State House Seat

Party leaders have turned to the leader of the state's Young Republicans to challenge one of the youngest members of Broward's legislative delegation. Todd Goberville, of Parkland, filed paperwork Tuesday signaling his intention to take on state Rep. Martin Kiar, D-Davie, next year.