It’s Time for the House to Pick Up the Pieces in Florida’s 13th District

By Richard L. Hasen
Special to Roll Call

Dec. 6, 2006, 12 a.m.

Remember the infamous “butterfly ballot” of Palm Beach County, Fla., in the 2000 presidential election? Back then, poor ballot design appeared to have caused many supporters of Democrat Al Gore to vote for conservative third-party candidate Pat Buchanan for president, effectively allowing George Bush to win Florida’s electoral votes and the presidency. The courts said there was nothing that could have been done about the problems with the ballot even though there was strong evidence that more Florida voters came to their polling places intending to vote for Gore than for Bush.

Schumer Advocates for Many on Panel

Nov. 16, 12 a.m.

As Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Johnson once said of the Joint Economic Committee, “It’s as useless as tits on a bull.” But as that panel’s chairman during the 110th Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) seized the opportunity to elevate the traditionally low-profile post to the forefront of shaping policy. Read Full Article