Word: weeks
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Dates: during 2000-2000
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...state legislature hasn't disregarded its popular vote and sent its own electors to Congress since 1876. But by joint proclamation with state senate president John McKay, Feeney can summon all state legislators to Tallahassee for a special session to do just that, even as early as this week. That could precipitate an almost unimaginable series of constitutional nightmares, from a divided U.S. Congress fighting over what to do with the Florida electors to the U.S. Supreme Court having to choose our next President...
Moderates in both houses recognize the likely collateral damage, and are urging patience. "The legislature taking action would be a pretty heavy hand," admits Republican state representative Jerry Maygarden. Due to term limits, nearly 40% of the legislature is made up of new members, sworn in just last week. Committee assignments have yet to be made, and many members have just figured out where their offices are. This is no time for Armageddon...
...TIME interviews with both Democratic and Republican legislators show a growing concern that the continuing legal challenges might prevent Florida from meeting its Dec. 12 deadline for choosing electors. If court contests are still unsettled by the end of next week, the legislature may have little choice but to act on its own. "No one is gung-ho about calling a special session," says state representative Bob Allen, a freshman Republican, "but if the situation is still in stalemate, we are willing to take action...
Since his angry press conference last week, Feeney has softened his tone. Legislative veterans were quick to tell him that he was not risking just his own political hide but the careers of his colleagues too. So while stressing that he is keeping all options open, Feeney's focus now is on the lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court. He had the legislature hire three constitutional experts, including Harvard's Charles Fried, to argue that the Florida Supreme Court unconstitutionally rewrote Florida law and usurped executive power. He has also set up a joint task force made up of eight...
...heart of the shift in Palestinian tactics is Arafat's desire to see an international observer force stationed along the Green Line between Israel and the Palestinian territories. Though Arafat made moves at week's end to restart peace talks, aides say he is really aiming for a multinational presence to guarantee Palestinian security. And something else: an observer force would give Arafat a chance to mark a favorable border for a Palestinian state. That's just one reason Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is opposed to the idea...