Associated Press -- September 5, 2006 by Michael R. Blood and Peter Prengamant

During the spring protests that brought hundreds of thousands to the streets, Hispanic immigrants chanted a promise and a threat to politicians: "Today We March, Tomorrow We Vote."

So far, however, there is no indication that such a potent political legacy is developing.

The. U.S. District Court in Miami just blocked enforcement of the restrictive Florida Third-Party Registration law that had forced the shut down of many non-partisan voter registration drives. Here are key excerpts from the decision

". . . the Court finds that the Third-Party Voter Registration Law unconstitutionally discriminates in favor of political parties by excluding them from the definition of "third party voter registration organization . . . the Third-Party Voter Registration Law's combination of heavy, strict, joint and several liability fines is unconstitutional as it chills Plaintiffs First Amendment speech and association rights."

and concluded

"The Defendents are ENJOINED from enforcing the provisions of Fla. STat. S97.0575 (3)(a)-(c) that subjects third-party voter registration organizations for failing to submit voter registration applications in the manner prescribed by the law.

The Defendents are further ENJOINED from exclusing political parties from the definition of third party voter registration organization . . ."

full text of the opinion at -- http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/default.asp?file=cases/index.html#

Congratulations to the plaintiffs who courageously brought this suit and to the lawyers who so effectively argued it. Principals in the case should feel free to post additional information and/or correct my interpretation.

My guess is that the legislature and its lobbyist backers will appeal.