August 27, 2008
Say this for Gov. Charlie Crist: He has an A-game for hype.
We've heard great things about property-tax reform and insurance relief. But those great expectations have yet to be met.
His latest empty promise comes after celebrating the restoration of civil rights for about 115,000 ex-felons in June. "We should welcome them back into society and give them that second chance," Mr. Crist said.
Agreed, Mr. Crist.
Now if only the state could find them.
Thousands of ex-felons have yet to get word of their newfound rights because the state sent notification letters to the wrong addresses. Others have been lost in the bureaucratic shuffle because county elections supervisors say they've been unable to access a state database to learn who is eligible to register.
The results are predictable. Only about 9,000 of those ex-felons had registered to vote by the end of July, based on an analysis by the Orlando Sentinel.
Not every ex-felon who is notified will register. We get that. But shouldn't the state at least make a genuine effort to notify them?
Mr. Crist had touted a policy change in June that streamlined the process for restoring rights. That was a good thing. But the process remains archaic because Florida is one of a few states that won't automatically restore civil rights to ex-felons.
One of the key problems is that the same state bureaucrats who are supposed to notify ex-felons that they can now vote are also poring through background checks from ex-felons who are applying for jobs that require a state professional license -- everything from hair-stylists to nurses.
That's chewing up a lot of time, but there's a simple way to solve that: The state's Board of Executive Clemency can simply readopt previous regulations that automatically restore civil rights -- including the chance to vote and serve on a jury -- once prisoners complete their sentences.
Then state agencies that provide occupational licenses could determine if an ex-felon is fit for a job. There are obvious red flags -- you wouldn't want someone convicted of embezzlement to become a mortgage broker -- but that system would address public-safety concerns.
That would free up the state's parole office to find those ex-felons. It's embarrassing that there are thousands of letters, marked "Return to Sender," stacked at its office. No one has even counted them.
We understand the state is in the throes of a budget crisis, but just about every public and private business is struggling to do the same work with fewer people. That's no excuse for inefficiency.
If you're going to pat yourself on the back for restoring civil rights, Mr. Crist, you may as well free up a few hands to finish what you started.
Say this for Gov. Charlie Crist: He has an A-game for hype.
We've heard great things about property-tax reform and insurance relief. But those great expectations have yet to be met.
His latest empty promise comes after celebrating the restoration of civil rights for about 115,000 ex-felons in June. "We should welcome them back into society and give them that second chance," Mr. Crist said.
Agreed, Mr. Crist.
Now if only the state could find them.
Thousands of ex-felons have yet to get word of their newfound rights because the state sent notification letters to the wrong addresses. Others have been lost in the bureaucratic shuffle because county elections supervisors say they've been unable to access a state database to learn who is eligible to register.
The results are predictable. Only about 9,000 of those ex-felons had registered to vote by the end of July, based on an analysis by the Orlando Sentinel.
Not every ex-felon who is notified will register. We get that. But shouldn't the state at least make a genuine effort to notify them?
Mr. Crist had touted a policy change in June that streamlined the process for restoring rights. That was a good thing. But the process remains archaic because Florida is one of a few states that won't automatically restore civil rights to ex-felons.
One of the key problems is that the same state bureaucrats who are supposed to notify ex-felons that they can now vote are also poring through background checks from ex-felons who are applying for jobs that require a state professional license -- everything from hair-stylists to nurses.
That's chewing up a lot of time, but there's a simple way to solve that: The state's Board of Executive Clemency can simply readopt previous regulations that automatically restore civil rights -- including the chance to vote and serve on a jury -- once prisoners complete their sentences.
Then state agencies that provide occupational licenses could determine if an ex-felon is fit for a job. There are obvious red flags -- you wouldn't want someone convicted of embezzlement to become a mortgage broker -- but that system would address public-safety concerns.
That would free up the state's parole office to find those ex-felons. It's embarrassing that there are thousands of letters, marked "Return to Sender," stacked at its office. No one has even counted them.
We understand the state is in the throes of a budget crisis, but just about every public and private business is struggling to do the same work with fewer people. That's no excuse for inefficiency.
If you're going to pat yourself on the back for restoring civil rights, Mr. Crist, you may as well free up a few hands to finish what you started.
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