Four years too late or four years too soon?
Governor supports clemency revisions for felons
BY JASON GROTTO AND DEBBIE CENZIPER
[email protected]
TALLAHASSEE - Thousands more felons could regain the right to vote in Florida under a series of changes supported Tuesday by Gov. Jeb Bush and members of the state Clemency Board.
Bush said the board plans to introduce revisions in early December, including easing restrictions in clemency rules so that more people can get their civil rights restored. He also said he may beef up the state's overburdened clemency staff so it can handle the thousands of cases waiting to be decided.
''It's not a science,'' Bush said. ``We sit up there in judgment of people and it's not an easy thing to do.''
Bush's comments Tuesday follow a four-part Herald investigation of problems in Florida's system for restoring the civil rights of felons. Though Bush previously declined to be interviewed by The Herald, he did answer questions Tuesday at a meeting of the Florida Cabinet.
Bush, who leads the four-member board, acknowledged that he wants to see more people regain their rights. Some of the changes were first suggested in September, two days after The Herald contacted Bush and Clemency Board members about its investigation.
''We're looking at reforming the rules,'' he said Tuesday. He did not provide specifics.
Florida is one of just seven states that permanently strip felons of their civil rights -- including the right to vote, serve on a jury and hold public office.
Those rights can only be restored by the Clemency Board, which is composed of the governor, Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist, Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.
