At some point, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos is going to get the message that some Democratic lawmakers aren't going to stop pestering until he does something, anything, regarding state Senator Alan Hays remarks calling for 'Hispanic speaking' voters to prove they are American.
Hays sits on the Senate Committee on Reapportionment, which some Democratic lawmakers want him thrown off that panel for his comment that "before we design a district anywhere in the state of Florida for Hispanic voters, we need to ascertain that they are citizens of the United States.” He later added that "We all know there are many Hispanic-speaking people in Florida that are not legal,’’ he said. “And I just don’t think it’s right that we try to draw a district that encompasses people that really have no business voting anyhow,” he said.
Tampa House Democrat Janet Cruz wrote once again to Senate President Haridopolos today, who has so far remained mute when asked by her and other lawmakers to remove Hays from that committee.
"Well that's where my frustration lies," Cruz told Cl late Wednesday afternoon."It's been no response, no action taken."
This article appears in Nov 3-9, 2011.