Former secretary of state Katherine Harris ponders U.S. Senate

The Sun-Sentinel ^ | November 7, 2003 | By Mark Silva

[Tank-FL]

U.S. Rep Katherine Harris -- whose role as Florida's Secretary of State during the 2000 presidential election made her a hero to Republicans and a villain to Democrats -- said Thursday she is "seriously" considering running for Florida's open U.S. Senate seat next year.

A lightning rod for controversy, Harris' ruling helped end a recount during the closest election in Florida history and secured a 537-vote victory for George W. Bush. The international notoriety gained from the 36-day battle could instantly propel Harris to the role of Republican front-runner in the bid to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.

"I'm still testing our temperature," Harris said, calling it a tough choice for her and her family. "My husband and I will seriously consider this and give it some thought. Yes, we will. ... My whole family will."

With her name, political and family history in Florida and ability to raise money nationally, Harris could leapfrog any of the Republicans running or considering running for a seat that could help decide which party controls Congress. She would also provide a ready target for Democrats eager to avenge Al Gore's 2000 loss. "She would automatically become the Republican front-runner," said Dario Moreno, political scientist at Florida International University.

"In a general election, she'll be a polarizing figure," Moreno said. "Whether you love her or hate her, she became the symbol for the 2000 election debacle. ... In a way, I think the Democrats would almost love to run against her."

[ClintonBeGone]

Dude you got my picture beat with that!

[KantianBurke]

"the goal is to get as many people as possible investing and caring for their own home"

They won't or cannot invest or take care of their own home if it's given to them gratis. Larry Elder once had a pretty good analogy about how teens who were given cars for free by their parents tended to smash them up as if the vehicles were just a silly toy whereas the kids who worked hard at after school jobs to pay for their car insurance, gas and so on took much better care of them. This giveaway will end in a similar manner in addition to it being legal theft from the taxpayers.

[KantianBurke]

false choice. the alternative is for them to do what every other American does to get their own home: WORK AND SAVE FOR IT.

[KantianBurke]

Prove it.

[ClintonBeGone]

Don't know the specifics of the program. Anyone?

Here you go Chiller. Much to KantianBurke's chagrin (I'm sure), the skin color of the family in this article is lilly white. http://www.coshoctontribune.com/news/stories/20031024/localnews/512494.html

[scarab9]

Thank-you Sloth!!

[ClintonBeGone]

Just to remind the readers of KB's claim:

"If you are white or asian tough luck. Stolen taxpyer monies can only be used for helping those who have the "correct" skin color. "

Proof KantianBurke lied

And just for the other readers on this thread, I'll post the picture of this family.  They sure look white to me.

 

[KantianBurke]

Leave it Ron Paul to be a voice of reason:

"The American dream, as conceived by the nation's founders, has little in common with H.R. 1276, the so-called American Dream Downpayment Act. In the original version of the American dream, individuals earned the money to purchase a house through their own efforts, oftentimes sacrificing other goods to save for their first downpayment. According to the sponsors of H.R. 1276, that old American dream has been replaced by a new dream of having the federal government force your fellow citizens to hand you the money for a downpayment.

H.R. 1276 not only warps the true meaning of the American dream, but also exceeds Congress' constitutional boundaries and interferes with and distorts the operation of the free market. Instead of expanding unconstitutional federal power, Congress should focus its energies on dismantling the federal housing bureaucracy so the America people can control housing resources and use the free market to meet their demands for affordable housing.

As the great economist Ludwig Von Mises pointed out, questions of the proper allocation of resources for housing and other goods should be determined by consumer preference in the free market. Resources removed from the market and distributed according to the preferences of government politicians and bureaucrats are not devoted to their highest-valued use. Thus, government interference in the economy results in a loss of economic efficiency and, more importantly, a lower standard of living for all citizens.

H.R. 1276 takes resources away from private citizens, through confiscatory taxation, and uses them for the politically favored cause of expanding home ownership. Government subsidization of housing leads to an excessive allocation of resources to the housing market. Thus, thanks to government policy, resources that would have been devoted to education, transportation, or some other good desired by consumers, will instead be devoted to housing. Proponents of this bill ignore the socially beneficial uses the monies devoted to housing might have been put to had those resources been left in the hands of private citizens.

Finally, while I know this argument is unlikely to have much effect on my colleagues, I must point out that Congress has no constitutional authority to take money from one American and redistribute it to another. Legislation such as H.R. 1276, which takes tax money from some Americans to give to others whom Congress has determined are worthy, is thus blatantly unconstitutional.

I hope no one confuses my opposition to this bill as opposition to any congressional actions to ensure more Americans have access to affordable housing. After all, one reason many Americans lack affordable housing is because taxes and regulations have made it impossible for builders to provide housing at a price that could be afforded by many lower-income Americans. Therefore, Congress should cut taxes and regulations. A good start would be generous housing tax credits. Congress should also consider tax credits and regulatory relief for developers who provide housing for those with low incomes. For example, I am cosponsoring H.R. 839, the Renewing the Dream Tax Credit Act, which provides a tax credit to developers who construct or rehabilitate low-income housing.

H.R. 1276 distorts the economy and violates constitutional prohibitions on income redistribution. A better way of guaranteeing an efficient housing market where everyone could meet their own needs for housing would be for Congress to repeal taxes and programs that burden the housing industry and allow housing needs to be met by the free market. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to reject this bill and instead develop housing policies consistent with constitutional principles, the laws of economics, and respect for individual rights."

[ClintonBeGone]

Can you point out the passage where the wise Ron Paul says the program is not available to white people? The rest of us seem to have missed that part.

[Tree of Liberty]

Here's her voting record and interest group ratings according to Vote-Smart.org

[chiller]

Agreed that a giveaway won't create one bit of pride of ownership, but it didn't sound like a giveaway to me. As I understand, it diverts wasted welfare dollars to initially assist in home ownership process...partial down payment and such.

It kinda' smells like a feel good idea, but an innovative one with at least some potential. On balance, I'd favor it.

What's the status of the legislation. Has it passed?

[KantianBurke]

"The grants also would help more minorities buy homes, bill supporters said. According to census data, fewer than 50 percent of African-American and Hispanic families are homeowners in Ohio as well as nationally."

Please. What planet are you living on? This bill, like many others, is designed for minorities. Of course the govt isn't going to come right out and say no whites or asians allowed. But its oreintation and what its' defenders proclaim say it clearly. Notice what your article said for example.

[gulfcoast6]

My goodness, if whe were to run and win there would be more state funerals in Washington than could be counted with all those democracts falling dead from shock.

[Sloth]

H.R. 1276 takes resources away from private citizens, through confiscatory taxation

Confiscatory taxation is a big part of the reason such people can't afford a downpayment in the first place.

[Lancey Howard]

I'll vote for her. And her path will be that much easier once they find Graham wrote the "Memo of Treason" recently.

LOL, if the Republicans are smart that memo will, at some time or another, be blamed on every Democrat who is up for election this year.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Hope she has some very thick skin.

[ClintonBeGone]

"The grants also would help more minorities

Do I need to dig up the definition of 'also'?

Of course the govt isn't going to come right out and say no whites or asians allowed.

Thanks for admitting your inaccurate statements. Are you just offended because it DOES help minorities? That's not a libertarian issue, or a political issue. That type of mindset its way beyond either of those lables.

[KantianBurke]

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR01276:@@@L&summ2=m&#status

"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs."

This is the latest update I could find.

[KantianBurke]

I'm offended first off that money is being stolen from hardworking folks such as myself and given to those who do not deserve it. As another poster mentioned, owning a home would be easier for us if our hard earned dollars weren't stolen and given away to the shiftless. Second it's offensive to know that the distribution of our tax dollars has a priority on those of a specific skin color. Just as its wrong to discriminate against those who look different than us its wrong to reward them for that very same reason.

[PJ-Comix]

But...but how will she be able to overcome a tough primary challenge by David Osbourne?