Say Goodbye To Miami?
MIAMI (AllPolitics, Jan. 8) -- Backers of a plan to abolish Miami's financially troubled city government and fold it into Metro-Dade County have gathered enough signatures to force a public vote in the spring. The city, which some critics have called "the Detroit of the South," faces a $68 million budget shortfall and a credit rating on par with junk bonds. The city, with a population of 375,000, would still be called Miami but would become an unincorporated part of Dade County. The county government already operates the area's libraries and public schools.
Why Johnson Missed The Speakership Vote
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Jan. 8) -- Rep. Sam Johnson's (R-Texas) delayed airline flight and the tradition of not voting for yourself denied Newt Gingrich an absolute majority in Tuesday's House speaker election. Gingrich, who received 216 votes of the 435-member House, fell two votes shy of a 218-vote absolute majority. Johnson, whose district includes parts of Dallas, entered a statement on the House floor affirming that he would have voted for Gingrich had he been present. The speaker, by tradition, was also officially declared "not voting." Their two votes would have given Gingrich the 218 votes necessary for an absolute majority. A spokeswoman for Johnson said that he was returning from a personal trip and a delayed connecting flight stranded him in New York.
Justice Thomas Withdraws From Banquet Appearance
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Jan. 8) -- Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas has withdrawn as a speaker at a youth banquet in Maryland next week, after the NAACP threatened to organize a demonstration on the day of the event opposing Thomas' appearance. George Krupanski, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware, whose group is a beneficiary of the banquet, expressed disappointment at Thomas' announcement but said that he "respects and appreciates Judge Thomas' concern for the children we serve and for the atmosphere of the festival." In December, Hanley Norment, president of the Maryland state conference of the NAACP, met with sponsors of the Festival for Youth, an event organized to benefit children in the community, to "question the wisdom of civic-minded people to invite someone who is divisive and polarizing." The local Delaware and Maryland chapters of the NAACP decided at a Dec. 14 meeting to "do all we could to organize a demonstration" opposing Justice Thomas' involvement. In a letter faxed to Mr. Krupanski Tuesday afternoon, Judge Thomas explained, "I do not think that it is prudent or wise to put these children in that position, even though I do not personally object to peaceful demonstrations by those who have contrary views or opinions."