Saturday Morning News

Rep. Alcee Hastings Discusses His Objection to the Florida Vote

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KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In a few hours from now, Congress is due to formalize the results of the tumultuous presidential election by ratifying the Electoral College vote. Al Gore will preside over the joint session and declare challenger George W. Bush the victor and president-elect.

In a fitting sidebar, the long-disputed election will end on a contentious note. At least two Democrats will contest the results, but their objections are expected to be nothing more than symbolic.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Speaking of those two Democrats, a closer look at those challenges. Congressman Alcee Hastings, backed by the Congressional Black Caucus, will present that formal objection based on the voting problems in his home state of Florida.

He is joining us now live from Capitol Hill.

Congressman Hastings, thanks for being with us.

REP. ALCEE HASTINGS (D), FLORIDA: Thanks, Mr. O'Brien. Good to be with you.

O'BRIEN: All right. Well, give us a sense of what is planned today, what you will be saying and what you hope to accomplish.

HASTINGS: It's rather direct. Through the rules, the only thing that I can say is that I object when the Florida certificate is opened. And the vice president will ask if I have a United States senator. I'll respond that I do not. He will then ask, Is it in writing? And I'll submit it to the parliamentarian in writing. And the parliamentarian will advise him that it's out of order.

What we intend to accomplish is to make sure that history records that we did not go silently, and I perceive that silence is consent. And I feel in Florida there was substantial disillusionment and frustration and there is outrage in the constituency, particularly of Corinne Brown (ph) and Representative Meek (ph) and myself, and therefore we feel very much constrained to go forward as we are in objecting.

And regrettably, no United States senator has seen fit to come forward with us. O'BRIEN: Well, yes, and that's a point we probably should pick up on here, because for folks who are not as well versed in the Constitution as you are, the question of why a senator needs to participate in this in order for it to be a formal objection, explain that briefly for us.

HASTINGS: Right. When the House convenes, it's a joint session of Congress. Two tellers from the U.S. Senate and two from the House are appointed. In order for the objection to require the joint session to dissolve, both a House and a Senate member must file what is referred to as a concurrent resolution.

Without that, then you cannot have the two hours' debate that would have been possible, and you can't have the vote in both houses that would have been possible had a United States senator joined hands with us in objecting.

O'BRIEN: Well, Congressman Hastings, give us a sense of what has undoubtedly been a fairly intense lobbying effort on your part and some of your colleagues. What sort of response have you met with on the other wing of the Capitol as you've tried to enlist a senator in all this?

HASTINGS: Very good question. Lukewarm, but sympathetic. Various offices were contacted by a group, www.voter.com and www.democrats.com. They made contacts with several offices. And Congressman Peter Deutsch and myself contacted several offices. We talked with Senator Feingold, with Senator Wellstone, with Senator McCulsky, Senator Harkins' office we reached out to, Senators Graham and Nelson on a staff level.

And what we found was that there Washington no stomach for the senator to enter into this. I think they collaborate in silence. I think it is, in my view, a tactical political mistake that the Democratic Party makes.

I also might add Vice President Gore did not want a challenge to the electors. And when I said to those that offered that he felt that way is that Al Gore needs to understand that what happened in Florida is not necessarily about him.

We suffered serious infractions and irregularities and discrepancies and disparities, and the fact is that if nothing more, the residual from this should be election reform.

O'BRIEN: All right. Congressman Alcee Hastings, whose home state is Florida, where a lot of all this controversy was centered upon, we wish you well in your efforts, and thank you very much for being with us...

HASTINGS: Thanks, Mr. O'Brien.

O'BRIEN: ... on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Our pleasure.

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