By Regan McCarthy
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-970965.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Florida Governor Rick Scott traveled to The Villages to sign the budget Thursday where he struck more than 600-million dollars using his line item veto power, but Regan McCarthy reports that's not all he cut. A group of Democratic Party members were also removed from the signing.
Members of The Villages Democratic Club say they were escorted away from the town's central pavilion where the governor signed the 69-billion dollar budget. A Republican staffer told the group the event was private, saying the space had been leased by the Republican Party. Florida State University law professor Sandy D'Alemberte says the separation teeters of the edge of a legal gray area. D'Alemberte says it depends whether the locale would be considered a "public forum" under the Public forum doctrine.
"If this were held at a purely private place that has not been used as a public forum it's possible that people could be excluded without any kind of repercussions. On the other hand, if it's turned into a public forum by the fact that it's been used repeatedly for public events, then it may be a violation of first amendment law."
D'Alemberte says a place becomes a public forum through usage. A formal designation is not required.