House task force to start Florida Congressional District 13 talks

[eomer]

Group to start District 13 talks

By DUANE MARSTELLER
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MANATEE

- A congressional task force created to investigate the disputed 13th Congressional District election will meet for the first time next month, with or without a Republican member, its chairman said Thursday.

U.S. Rep. Charles Gonzalez, D-Texas, said the task force will have an April 17 organizational meeting "to consider how the panel can orderly and expeditiously investigate this matter."

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Rep. Vernon Ehlers of Michigan, the committee's ranking Republican, has said he doesn't want to fill the GOP seat until the Florida courts decide on Jennings' legal challenge. The case is in an appeals court, but it's unknown when it will issue a decision.

Gonzalez said his decision to schedule the meeting wasn't specifically meant to prod Ehlers, but said the task force needs to get started.

"This was something that sooner rather than later was going to happen," he said. "This (meeting) is their (Republicans') opportunity to help establish the process. I would be very disappointed if they decided not to be a part of the process."

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http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/16997273.htm