The Florida Legislature's 2009 session may be over, but it should not be quickly forgotten.
From budget woes to the fall of indicted former Speaker Ray Sansom, this year's extended session was one of the more memorable in recent history.
Around here, it would be easy to think the University of Florida's budget cuts were the worst thing to be debated, but smart voters will never forget a proposed bill equally as unnerving as the so-called "election reform" bill (HB 7149) that a group of self-interested legislative leaders attempted to ram through late in the session.
Touted as fraud reform, HB 7149 was actually designed to make it more difficult for Floridians to register and cast their vote. Instead of promoting true election reform to ensure that every voter and every vote counts, this proposed legislation was nothing more than a naked power grab.
We should all be thankful that a strong, unified response from civil rights and election protection groups, and an outpouring of public opposition, ultimately thwarted it. Supporters of the bill, including House Speaker and Ocala Rep. Larry Cretul and soon-to-be Senate President and UF lecturer Mike Haridopolos, made clear that they value their self-interest ahead of the best interests of Florida's voters. Haridopolos and the majority leaders of both houses have already made it clear that they plan to attempt a similar self-serving power grab next year.
Shame on them, and on all the legislators in Tallahassee who supported this bill, for trying to game our electoral system for their benefit.
