Authored by Alice Paul and first introduced to Congress in 1923, the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress in 1972.

It failed to become the Twenty-eighth Amendment after three states of the needed 38 states failed to ratify it.

Berman, elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2010, has set out to make Florida the 36th state to ratify it — despite uncertainties over whether too much time has passed for the proposed amendment to still be viable.

“There is precedent for it going on,” Berman said. “I’m sure if that if Florida was one of those states we could make sure that it could become an amendment to the Constitution.”

Earlier this month, Berman filed HCR 8001, legislation that would provide for Florida to ratify the ERA.

“The Equal Rights Amendment will offer Constitutional protection to a woman’s right to equality,” she said. “I have always been a strong advocate and proponent for women’s rights in all arenas and this is an inherent part of being an American.”

Berman said President Abraham Lincoln, who pushed for the end of slavery in 1864, used the Thirteenth Amendment to lock in the end of slavery.

Supporters said the ERA would improve conditions for women in the workplace and, possibly, guarantee equal pay.

In 2011, women — on average — earned 77 percent of what men made, according to the U.S. Census.

Sheila Jaffe, a South Florida resident and retired nurse, said discrimination was common in the workplace.

“It was very acceptable for employers to discriminate against women, saying, “well, they’re going to leave the workforce and they’re going to have children and that’s why we can pay them less,” she said. “It would be better for our country if women were given equal rights.”

For all the progress the United States has made as a nation, Tom Duncan, the president of Northwood University, said the push for equality could lead to unintended consequences.

“A lot of people are going to look at that and say, “well, you know, we want equality when it comes to pay, to jobs, to employment, to lending — across the board — [but] if you ask people in the United States, “do you want to draft women in case of a major war,” you might get a different answer on that.”

This week, a petition was created on The White House Web site, to encourage the administration to campaign for the ratification of the ERA.

– Alex Sanz

Scott, who is running for re-election in 2014, announced the challenge on the campus of St. Petersburg College — the pilot for the program.

“As I travel the state, families tell me that they care about three things – getting a good job, a quality education, and enjoying a low cost of living,” he said. “As a former community college student myself, I know how important it is for us to keep costs low while working to connect students with degree fields that prepare them for great careers.”

It was unclear how each state college would shape the program but Ricardo Martinez, vice chairman of the State Board of Education, warned Scott that challenge was not serious policy.

“It will be perceived as a gimmick pretending to be a policy used as a sound bite and merely copying the plan announced last year by Governor Perry of Texas,” he told Scott in a letter. “At a time when students are realizing that the only way to become part of the middle class is by getting a college education, the State of Florida has continued to disinvest in higher education during the last few years.”

At Palm Beach State College, for example, a four-year degree costs about $13,000 — one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation.

“I have a few friends that pay out of pocket for everything,” said Michael Capriglione, a Palm Beach State College sophomore studying to become a paramedic and firefighter. “Everything starts with education. If you can make it cheap enough for somebody to educate themselves that gets them out on the workforce quicker.”

Amy Shepard, a financial aid manager, said she was unclear how the college would move forward but agreed it was important to increase access to higher education.

“We’re seeing a lot of families that are co-habitating together to make ends meet so that students can receive their education,” she said. “[It is] difficult but not necessarily impossible [to do this]. I think it’s getting the right entities together to make it a reality for students.”

Seven colleges – Broward College, College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Santa Fe College, Seminole State College of Florida, St. Petersburg College and Valencia College – said they had identified programs to be offered for $10,000 or less.

The programs were in high-demand areas that included information technology, business and organization management, education and engineering technology.

– Alex Sanz

Issues of discussion for the Secretary’s meetings with supervisors will include wait times at polling places. Detzner will also seek information on why certain counties such as Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties were unable to report their preliminary absentee results in a timely manner, and why St. Lucie County needed to retabulate their election results several days after Election Day.

From Scott’s release:

Governor Rick Scott said, “We need to make improvements in our election process. If even one Floridian has lost confidence in our voting process, we need to do whatever we can to make sure that confidence is restored. Florida has 67 independent, elected or appointed election supervisors who run elections in their counties and most of them did not have excessive lines or other problems tabulating votes.

“I have asked Secretary Detzner to meet most immediately with those election supervisors who experienced lines in excess of four hours and those who took several days to tabulate votes and report results. Floridians should not have to wait several days for the results of a major presidential election to be tabulated because of the delays in a few counties when the majority of counties – including major metropolitan areas – have been counted.

“Florida’s election supervisors are experts in their fields and many of them demonstrated tremendous expertise in running their elections. We want to hear their ideas. Sec. Detzner will meet today with the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections to get their feedback and insight. He will then meet with any election supervisor, all of whom are elected by voters in their county or appointed, who want to give their input into our election process.

“Additionally, we encourage legislators to have a bipartisan, open and vigorous discussion about what changes may need to be made to current Florida election law in the upcoming session. This election was conducted in accordance with Florida law, which was passed by the legislature last year. The law was then found by the US Department of Justice and federal courts to be in compliance with the Voting Rights Act. But, we should now evaluate whether additional statutory changes need to be made after this election is complete. The House and Senate’s bipartisan committees on elections should begin to publicly discuss this topic at their first opportunity,” Governor Scott said.

Issues of discussion for the Secretary’s meetings with supervisors will include wait times at polling places. The Secretary will also seek information on why certain counties such as Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties were unable to report their preliminary absentee results in a timely manner, and why St. Lucie County needed to retabulate their election results several days after Election Day.

Nearly 8.5 million votes were cast in Florida’s 2012 General Election, including nearly 2.4 million absentee votes and more than 2.4 million early votes. Both the overall vote total and the absentee vote total were state records for Florida. The Election Canvassing Commission will meet on November 20, 2012, to certify the returns for federal, state, and multicounty offices.

From a release:

Gathering at press conferences held simultaneously in Miami and Orlando were representatives of the League of Women Voters of Florida, AARP, National Congress of Black Women, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Florida Institute for Reform and Education, Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Lawyers Committee For Civic Rights Under Law, SantLa Haitian Neighborhood Center, South Florida Jobs with Justice, Florida Votes Count, Equality Florida and the Hispanic Coalition.

Outlining the many problems voters experienced during early voting and on Election Day, League of Women Voters of Florida President Deirdre Macnab said, “A week ago today, Florida voters saw the culmination of a general election process that can be summarized in one word: Unacceptable.”

The group called today for immediate and joint action by the Legislature and the governor: “We are formally calling on the governor and the Legislature to follow the example of 2000 and appoint a multi-partisan task force chaired by trusted leaders.” The group recommended appointing a cross-section of knowledgeable stakeholders with expertise in elections, supported by adequate budget and staff, to develop a blueprint for successful election reform.

Speaking with one voice, the group urged: “We must finally put Florida’s shameful election disasters behind us. We ask that this task force begin its work quickly and deliver its final recommendations to the 2013 Legislature at least two weeks before the 2013 session begins, allowing time for bills to be filed.”

The groups cited a litany of problems:

• Cuts in early voting days and lack of standardization in early-voting hours across Florida’s 67 counties

• Insufficient election budgets, facilities and equipment throughout the state

• Expanded use of provisional ballots and ill-conceived voter purges

• A record-length ballot overloaded with complex, confusing amendments

• Lines requiring waits of up to 6 or 7 hours, inconveniencing many and excluding many others, including the elderly, disabled citizens, and voters who didn’t have the time or stamina to wait in hours-long lines

• The four-day delay in knowing the results.

Cathy Kerns, representing the AARP said, “Voting is one of our most important rights. Florida’s elected officials have a responsibility to act to lighten the burdens and lower the barriers that many voters encountered on Election Day 2012. Those barriers were especially high for older voters. Lowering those barriers is important for all, regardless of age or ability.”

According to up-to-the minute research, the burden on minority voters was disproportionate. University of Florida Professor Michael C. Herron and Dartmouth College Professor Daniel A. Smith looked at the racial/ethnic and partisan composition of early voters in Florida, along with details about voters who were forced to wait in line on Saturday night in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, and who ended up casting their ballots after midnight. They found that that minority voters, and in particular black voters, suffered disproportionately from this year’s unfair practices and that minority voting was suppressed.

Victor Sanchez from the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, said, “Latino voters in the State of Florida deeply cherish the right to vote. When faced with unparalleled voter suppression efforts, we have chosen to respond by condemning efforts to place obstacles and impede free and fair elections.”

Voter activist LaVon W. Bracy added, “The entire nation is again looking at the State of Florida. The voting process from October 27 – November 6 was embarrassing and unacceptable. What Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature did under the guise of protecting the vote is immoral. The total disregard for democracy must be challenged and changed.”

 Maribel Balbin, president of the Miami Dade League of Women Voters, added, “It is clear that Florida’s 2012 election process was shameful and unacceptable. Miami Dade was one of the worst, with some of the longest lines and most lengthy delays in counting ballots.”

League President Macnab said, “The state simply can’t afford to be in the national spotlight once again–as a punch line for late-night comedy–as this could have a profound and damaging impact on our ability to compete for jobs and new businesses moving to Florida.”

After the election fiasco in 2000, a bipartisan task force similar to the group’s proposal was assembled by then-Governor Jeb Bush, with almost all of its recommendations implemented under Governors Bush and Charlie Crist.

All this changed in 2011 after the Legislature passed HB 1355, which reduced early voting hours and instituted the other provisions that led to this year’s problems.

Macnab stressed that immediate attention is necessary: “We must move forward together to put Florida’s election disasters behind us.”

NAPLES — The 2012 presidential election may be over, but that doesn’t mean Floridians are getting a break from politics.

Instead, all eyes are on 2014, and many of them are on Gov. Rick Scott. His first term is up in 2014; Scott said he plans to seek a second term in office.

After their best election year in more than two decades, Florida Democrats are hopeful their success in 2012 will translate into electing a Democratic governor in 2014.

With two years before the gubernatorial election, the Naples Republican already has competition. State elections records show nine people, including Democratic outgoing state Sen. Nan Rich of Weston, have filed paperwork declaring their intention to run for governor. And political experts said the next two years likely will bring a flood of contenders hoping to knock out Scott.

“Rick Scott has a huge target on his back,” said Kevin Cate, a Tallahassee-based political consultant and veteran of several Democratic campaigns. “There’s a good opportunity to take the governor’s office.”

This isn’t the first time Democrats are feeling a postelection glow. They felt the same after a good election in 2008, then suffered what may have been their worst election in 2010. Two years ago, Floridians gave Republicans the governor’s office, three cabinet seats, a U.S. Senate seat and a supermajority in the state Legislature.

This year the election shook out differently. The state will fall into President Barack Obama’s column, voters took away Republicans’ supermajority in the Legislature and are sending four new Democrats to Congress.

“The Democrats are emboldened by the results,” said Susan MacManus, a political-science professor at University of South Florida in Tampa. “It just builds on 2008.”

Building on successes year-over-year may be exactly what Democrats need, Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith said.

“Sometimes (to win) you have to prove to people you can win,” Smith said. “I think we have proved … what many people didn’t think we could do.”

To do it again, Cate said, officials in the state Democratic Party will need to learn from the Obama campaign. That means running up large margins in South Florida and the Interstate 4 corridor, as well as keeping minority voters, like Hispanics and blacks, in the Democratic column.

But Republican officials said they too plan to apply the lessons learned from the Obama campaign to Scott’s re-election bid.

“We’re obviously going to look long and hard at how they did it and apply some of those lessons to our own model,” said Brian Burgess, communications director for the state Republican Party.

Rick Hartley, a Republican state committeeman from Duval County, said the party will refocus its efforts on neighborhood politics. That means a lot more door-to-door efforts and voter outreach.

Hartley said the party also will take a “good hard look” at outreach programs in the Hispanic, Jewish and black communities.

“We’ve got a lot ahead of us,” Hartley said.

One of the issues ahead for Republicans is turning around Scott’s approval rating. A Daily News/Scripps poll conducted by Public Policy Polling in October showed Scott had an approval rating of 36 percent.

The poll — commissioned by E.W. Scripps television stations in West Palm Beach and Tampa, the Treasure Coast Newspapers and the Naples Daily News — showed 57 percent of Republicans approved of Scott’s performance, while 69 percent of Democrats disapproved of the governor.

Independent voters were split, with 38 percent giving him a favorable rating and 36 percent giving him an unfavorable rating.

“I’ve gotten to know our governor … and I believe our governor is almost totally devoid of charisma,” Hartley said. “But he is competent and I will take competent over charisma almost every day.”

Scott is keeping quiet about whether the outcome is a sign that his own re-election bid may be in trouble. When asked Tuesday in Naples about how the results would affect his 2014 run, Scott said the state has taken the right steps under his leadership and he’s worked to cut the size of government and taxes.

“What I know is I travel the state every day, I talk to families every day,” Scott said later in the week. “I know what they care about. It’s what I’m focused on.”

Cate said leaders in the state Democratic Party are doing the same, and are likely looking at precinct-by-precinct results to figure out a path to victory in 2014.

Experts said it’s too early to say who Scott will be up against in November 2014, but pundits are speculating that 2010 Democrat nominee Alex Sink could run again, as might Republican governor turned independent Charlie Christ. This much, both sides can agree on: 2014 won’t be an easy win for either party.

“Look at the results of every election. Florida is so evenly divided,” Hartley said. “It will be a close election.”

– Naples Daily News, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster

“The numbers in Florida show this was winnable,” Brett Doster said in a statement obtained by the Miami Herald. “We thought based on our polling and range of organization that we had done what we needed to win. Obviously, we didn’t, and for that I, and every other operative in Florida has a sick feeling that we left something on the table. I can assure you this won’t happen again.”

Obama campaign manager Jim Messina told reporters on a conference call Thursday that he believes the president will win Florida, giving him 332 electoral votes.

While Obama is officially ahead in the count, state officials are still counting ballots. Officials from Miami-Dade County say they have finished counting absentee ballots and will begin counting the county’s 2,800 provisional ballots on Thursday afternoon.

According to the Department of State, Broward, Duval, Miami-Dadeand Palm Beach Counties are still counting absentee and provisional ballots.

The final vote counts are due to the state by noon Saturday.

Currently, President Obama leads former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 4,173,275 votes to 4,120,025. He is widely expected to hold that lead.

If the president claims Florida’s 29 electoral votes, Obama would increase his victory margin in the Electoral College to 332-206.

Other Results:

Eight of the 11 amendments on the Florida ballot — including a massive property tax overhaul, abortion restrictions and a controversial “religious freedom” proposal — failed to get the requisite 60 percent vote.

More than 60 percent of voters approved targeted tax relief for veterans (Amendment 2), poor senior-citizens (Amendment 11) and spouses of military veterans killed in the line of action (Amendment 9). From the AP:

Amendment 1: Florida voters have rejected a proposal that would have banned government mandates for obtaining insurance such as required by President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

The proposed state constitutional amendment required 60 percent approval but didn’t even have a majority with most of the vote counted Tuesday. It was favored by 48 percent and opposed by 52 percent.

Amendment 1 wouldn’t have made a difference even if it passed, as the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the federal law.

Republicans pushed the amendment through the GOP-controlled Legislature saying that approval still would have sent a strong political message against what they derisively call “Obamacare.”

It also would have prevented a state law similar to one GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney signed as governor of Massachusetts.

Amendment 3: A proposed Florida constitutional amendment that would have capped state revenue has gone down to defeat.

At 42 percent, Amendment 3 was well short of required 60 percent approval with most votes counted Tuesday.

The measure would have limited revenue growth to match increases in population and cost of living.

It was proposed by the Republican-led Florida Legislature and patterned after Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR. Colorado suspended and modified its cap following sharp spending cuts for schools and other public services.

A laundry list of opponents ranging from AARP to public employee unions argued Florida would have faced a similar fate.

Supporters, including business interests, contended the Florida version had safeguards such as the Legislature’s ability to break the cap with a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

Amendment 4: A wide-ranging property tax relief proposal has been rejected by Florida voters.

Amendment 4 failed after receiving only 43 percent of the vote with most ballots counted Tuesday. All state constitutional amendments need 60 percent approval.

Real estate interests promoted Amendment 4 as a boost to Florida’s economy. Local officials opposed it, arguing the amendment would cut services and raise taxes for those who don’t benefit from the measure.

It included a 5 percent annual assessment cap for businesses and second homes and an additional exemption for first-time primary home buyers.

The proposal also would have let the Legislature undo a quirk that increases homeowners’ tax bill if their property value goes down. It’s part of the existing Save Our Homes provision, which caps annual assessment increases at 3 percent.

Amendment: 5: A Republican-sponsored proposal to give the GOP-dominated Legislature more control over Florida’s court system has been defeated at the polls.

The vote Tuesday for Amendment 5 was only 44 percent in favor. All state constitutional amendments need at least 60 percent to pass.

Amendment 5 would have given the Senate authority to confirm or deny the appointment of Florida Supreme Court justices by the governor. It also would have made it easier for the Legislature to veto court rules.

The legal community was solidly against what critics called a power grab and threat to the judiciary’s independence. GOP lawmakers contended it would make the courts more accountable.

Amendment 6: A proposed Florida constitutional amendment that would have curtailed abortion rights has been defeated.

Amendment 6 garnered support from only 44 percent of voters on Tuesday with most ballots counted. All amendments require 60 percent voter approval.

The proposal was placed on the ballot by the Republican-majority Legislature. It would have prohibited taxpayer funding of abortions, which the state doesn’t do anyway.

The measure also would have exclude abortion from privacy rights protected by the Florida Constitution, which are stronger than those in the U.S. Constitution.

It was seen by supporters and opponents alike as a step toward requiring minors to get parental consent for abortions.

Voters have refused to repeal Florida’s ban on public funding for churches and other religious organizations, including parochial schools.

Amendment 8: The vote for Amendment 8 was

44 percent in favor with most ballots counted Tuesday. All proposed state constitutional amendments require 60 percent.

Besides the repeal, the amendment would have prohibited state and local governments from barring people from participating in public programs if they choose to receive those services through religious organizations.

Supporters said the amendment offered by the Republican-led Legislature would have advanced religious freedom. Opponents, including the state’s teachers union, said it would have done the opposite.

They also argued it would lift a potential legal barrier to new taxpayer-supported voucher programs for private schools.

Amendment 10: Florida voters have rejected an additional tax break for businesses on their furniture, equipment and other tangible personal property.

The vote Tuesday on Amendment 10 was 45 percent in favor with most ballots counted. As with all amendments, it needed 60 percent approval.

The proposal would have doubled the current exemption on tangible personal property taxes from $25,000 to $50,000 and let cities and counties increase it even more.

Supporters said the amendment offered by the Republican-controlled Legislature would help stimulate Florida’s economy. Lawmakers in the past two years also have cut corporate income taxes by increasing the exemption.

Opponents said the amendment would have forced local governments to further reduce public services or increase other taxes.

Amendment 12: Voters have rejected a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have slightly changed the way the student member is selected for the board overseeing Florida’s 12 public universities.

Amendment 12 had just a 41 percent favorable vote with most ballots counted Tuesday. All amendments need at least 60 percent.

The chair of the Florida Student Association, which consists of student body presidents from each school, will continue to serve on the Board of Governors. The amendment would have created a new council of student body presidents, with its chair serving as the student board member.

The Legislature offered the amendment after Florida State University pulled out of the Florida Student Association in a dispute over dues. Florida State later rejoined after the dues requirement was dropped.

Well, after countless handshakes, hundreds of millions of dollars raised, and thousands of speeches, it looks like the 2012 election is in the bag.  Here are five very preliminary takeaways -

1. It seems we are exactly where we were before the election. Obama is the president, the Senate remains in Democratic hands, and the House remains in Republican hands. As to how the “new,” old order will break the partisan gridlock in Washington remains to be seen.

2. The Electoral College map remains largely unchanged in that the Northeast and West coasts are Democratic and the South and heartland are Republican. America remains divided with two very different visions for who we are as a people, the proper role of government, and the values that define the nation.

3. If there is one clear outcome of this election it is that we need to reform the electoral system. From a confusing Electoral College to convoluted amendments on the Florida ballot to not being prepared to hold an election during a terrible storm, our system of elections leaves much to be desired.  As I write this piece it also appears that , while Obama has won the Electoral College vote, Romney might well carry the popular vote.

4. It will be nice to turn on the television and NOT see nasty political ads.

5. Let the 2016 presidential campaign begin…  get ready for Hillary Clinton/Julian Castro versus Chris Christie/Marco Rubio!

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In a move that will affect the final tabulation of votes in Palm Beach County, Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher has sent home the workers who were duplicating around 30,000 misprinted absentee ballots.

The workers were sent home around 8:40 p.m. Tuesday evening and were asked to return at 10 a.m. Wednesday to continue duplicating the remainder of the ballots.

It is unclear at this time how many of the ballots were duplicated before they were sent home.

Bucher said things are going well and she is glad people in Florida have had an opportunity to exercise their right to vote.

“The polls have been very busy and you know we’ve had the usual technical problems with some jams, with some scanners and that sort of thing. But other than that it’s gone fairly well,” Bucher said.

As of 9:09 p.m. Tuesday, 86% of the cartridges containing voting data from the precincts in Palm Beach County have been uploaded without any

–Web Team