Florida Legislature to Pick Electors

They announced there would be a special session Friday of both houses of the legislature to begin considering a resolution to name the slate.

"We're protecting Florida's 25 electoral votes and its 6 million voters," said McKay.

"I believe deeply ... that we have a duty to protect Florida's participation in the Electoral College," said Feeney, who had been urging a special session for days.

The event that will "drop the checkered flag" and result in actually naming electors is the coming and going of Dec. 12 without a slate for Florida, McKay said. That would occur if the litigation swirling around this issue is not resolved by that date.

The House, under Feeney's leadership, has already held hearings on the matter.

The press conference and the demeanor of McKay and Feeney appeared to resolve a reported rift between them, as Feeney had expressed frustration with the Florida Senate's cautious approach to the matter. McKay reiterated at the press conference the need for caution, but indicated that they must now proceed in order that Florida not come up to Dec. 18, the day the Electoral College votes to choose the president, without Florida casting its 25 votes.

Democrats denounced the action as a mistake of historic proportions, wire services reported.

"It is very strange that on the eve of arguments to the Supreme Court [Gov.] Jeb Bush and the Republican Party would send such a strong partisan message," said Democratic spokeswoman Jenny Backus.

"It seems like they aren't just content not to count the votes of 14,000 Floridians, they are willing to jettison the votes of 6 million Floridians in order to ensure victory for the governor's brother," she claimed.

Florida House Minority Leader Lois Frankel, one of the state's most left-wing Democrats, claimed that a decision to hold a special session would be illegal and unconstitutional.

"All that's missing is a postmark from Austin, Texas," said Frankel. She gave no evidence to back up her charge.

Bush's campaign defended the lawmakers' call for a special session.

"The Florida Legislature made this decision on its own. It's a separately elected body. We have not participated in their making their decision," said spokesman Dan Bartlett.

Asked whether the session could be viewed as an insurance policy for Bush should the courts rule in Gore's favor and order a recount, Bartlett said, "We believe that the certified vote showing Governor Bush the winner of Florida will be upheld."

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