Civil Rights Commission Will Continue Hearings On Florida Voting Problems

Jet, March 26, 2001

Because Congress and the Florida legislature have not ordered any intensive probes, the Civil Rights Commission will hold more hearings on why Florida failed to count thousands of minority votes during the past November election.

In a crucial announcement, Mary Berry, the commission chair, warned that at the coming hearings in Florida, Gov. Jeb Bush and other state officials might be subpoenaed to testify.

Such a step would put the volunteer commission in the center of a major controversy.

The commission, which makes recommendations to Congress, has no enforcement authority and little power other than compelling witnesses to testify.