http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2011/may/02/democrats-say-gop-lawmakers-passing-bills-to-grab--ar-203648/Democrats say GOP lawmakers passing bills to grab more power
By WILLIAM MARCH | The Tampa Tribune
Published: May 02, 2011
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Armed with veto-proof majorities, Republican legislative leaders are passing one bill after another that appears aimed at maintaining their own political dominance and undercutting Democratic voting strength.
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The moves, said Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich of Weston, are "part of a nationwide effort … to alter the electorate when we get to the presidential election of 2012," in which Florida could easily decide the race.
Rich contended some of the legislation is inspired by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative, industry-funded advocacy group that holds conferences for legislators and proposes model state laws.
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A spokeswoman for the council said Friday she wasn't able to discuss whether her group was involved in the legislation, and referred questions to Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, its Florida state chairman. He couldn't be reached for comment.
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So ALEC is still trying to deny its involvement. But there's entirely too much evidence that this is part of a national campaign by ALEC, and it's good that Democrats are identifying it as such and newspapers are starting to report on this.
The article also mentions that state Rep. Dennis Baxley, an ALEC member, denied this had anything to do with ALEC, but couldn't explain how a bill he sponsored was so suddenly expanded, growing "almost overnight from 14 to 157 pages after the House State Affairs Committee substituted a committee-sponsored bill for his original proposal."
You'll find more information in the compilation topic on the
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) about this legislation designed to suppress voting, and other harmful legislation ALEC is behind.