Although the odds that the Florida Legislature will pass St. Pete House Democrat Rick Kriseman's bill that would allow for the recall of state officials are, in the words of Kriseman himself "about 1 percent," activists in St. Pete this Friday will rally to advocate for such legislation.
Kriseman's legislation (which he coincidentally announced on the same day that Governor Rick Scott initially rejected the $2.4 billion in federal funds for high speed rail), would would allow for a petition to recall a statewide official by requiring signatures be collected from each of the 67 counties, and the signatures equal 15 percent of the total votes cast in the last election for the office. A petition to recall a member of the Florida Legislature would require signatures from 20% of the total votes cast in the last election for the office.
And again, in the overwhelmingly GOP-led Legislature – the bills have really no chance whatsoever.
But why spoil a fun party? So this Friday afternoon between 4-6 p.m. in St. Pete's Williams Park, there will be a rally for Kriseman's bill.
As the rally organizers write on their Facebook page,
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2011.