Florida ballot news
From Ballotpedia
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| Propositions • | Recall | • Law |
Here you'll find a collection of ballot news stories from Florida.
Florida personhood amendment approved for circulation
TALLAHASSEE, Florida: This month the Florida Secretary of State approved petition language for the proposed Florida Personhood Amendment for the 2010 ballot.[1] The amendment is supported by Personhood Florida (PF) and is part of a nationwide effort to place the measures on 2010 ballots. The Florida effort is also supported by American Life League.[2]
Approved petition language reads:[3][4]
SECTION 28. Person Defined: (a)The words "person" and "natural person" apply to all human beings, irrespective of age, race, health, function, condition of physical and/or mental dependency and/or disability, or method of reproduction, from the beginning of biological development of that human being. (b)This amendment shall take effect on the first day of the next regular legislative session occuring after voter approval of this amendment.
Florida GOP leader calls for stop to fair district proposals
TALLAHASSEE, Florida: Late last month at a Florida GOP conference House Majority Leader Adam Hasner addressed two proposed 2010 ballot measures: Florida Congressional District Boundaries Amendment and Florida Legislative District Boundaries Amendment. Both measures propose amending the current practice of drawing legislative district boundaries in such ways that they establish "fairness," are "as equal in population as feasible" and use "city, county and geographical boundaries." However, in August Hasner said, "It is a stealth agenda funded by the left to do in the courts what they can't do at the ballot box. This is the top priority of Democrats in 2010 and it must be stopped."[5]
In order to place the measure on the ballot supporters must gather 676,811 signatures for each ballot measure. Just last month, state campaign finance reports revealed that Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has contributed a total of $225,000 to Fair Districts Florida, a group advocating for both district proposals.[6]
Florida lawsuit calls for new petition forms
TALLAHASSEE, Florida: Late last month a lawsuit, Striving Towards a New Daytona v City of Daytona Beach, was filed calling for the use of colored-code carbon paper petition forms so that voters can simultaneously sign three petitions. The new proposed method, said advocates, would save time. The proposal would still leave room for voters to sign petitions separately. The suit, no. 2009-33119, was filed in Volusia County Circuit Court on July 30, 2009. According to the group, Striving Towards a New Daytona, the lawsuit was filed because they feared the rejection of their three-page carbon paper petitions, which they circulated earlier this year. A similar idea was proposed in 2008.[7]
SEIU backs Florida fair district proposals for 2010
TALLAHASSEE, Florida: In the latest financial reports of two proposed 2010 ballot measures - Florida Congressional District Boundaries Amendment and Florida Legislative District Boundaries Amendment - the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) appears as the largest contributor. According to state campaign finance records SEIU has contributed a total of $225,000 to Fair Districts Florida, a group advocating for both district proposals. "Our goal is really just to establish some fairness standards when the Legislature begins drawing congressional and legislative boundaries. If you look at the state of Florida, there are some crazy districts out there," said Mark McCullough, a spokesman for SEIU.[8]
In order to place the measure on the ballot supporters must gather 676,811 signatures for each ballot measure.
Politicians blame budget woes on ballot measures
The United States is in a recession. Since the beginning of 2009, states have struggled to pay their bills as tax revenues have declined, leading to frequent state budget deficits.
Some state politicians say they believe that voters should be blamed for their budget problems, asserting that voters have approved expensive ballot measures.[9] A total of 24 states currently have the initiative & referendum process. Some states, like Oregon, are imposing new restrictions on the process. Citizens in Charge Foundation calls the restrictions a "blatant attempt to hamper and obstruct the petition process and citizen initiatives."[10]
In Florida, lawmakers delayed enacting the Florida Monorail Initiative (2000) after it was approved by a 52.7% vote in favor of the project. Construction was scheduled to begin in 2003 but state analysts estimated the state would save up to $25 billion over 30 years if the project were delayed. In 2004, voters voted in favor of Florida High Speed Rail Initiative (2004) which repealed the state constitutional statute that required the state proceed with the project.[11]
In California, the Center for Governmental Studies, agrees with concerned lawmakers and advocates the reform of California’s initiative system. Robert Stern, president of the group, said that citizens are voting on "too many things," some of which "cost the state a lot of money."[11]
A total of 19 states are currently considering initiative process changes.
Defendants reviewed in Playhouse referendum
PALM BEACH, Florida: At a hearing on July 30, 2009, Palm Beach Circuit Judge David Crow heard arguments from Preserve Palm Beach attorneys, who insisted that in order for the proposed referendum language to be reviewed, some of the more than 800 voters who signed the petition must be named as defendants. Otherwise, the court's decision would not be binding to the town's electorate A decision on the defendants has not been made, but is expected soon.[12]
The hearing comes after Preserve Palm Beach submitted a petition, containing over 800 signatures, to save the Royal Poinciana Playhouse from demolition. The Town Council asked a judge to review the proposed ballot language after Town Attorney John Randolph cited vague wording that may conflict with state comprehensive planning law. The defendants listed are the Preserve Palm Beach group and founder Patrick Flynn. Without a judge's order blocking the referendum, the town will then have to place it on the ballot, allowing voters to have the final say on the issue.[13]
Lawmakers introduce bill to ban federal health care in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Florida: Last week, state legislators introduced House Bill 37, also known as Florida Health Care Freedom Act (2010), a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. The bill, introduced by Rep. Scott Plakon and Sen. Carey Baker, proposes barring the federal government from mandating that a "person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system." The bill is a reaction to current talks in Washington, D.C. about federally mandated health care; reform supported by President Barack Obama.[14] In order to be placed on the 2010 statewide ballot the bill requires a three-fifths majority in both the state Senate and House of Representatives. Bill sponsors Baker and Plakon said, "We believe this unprecedented power-grab by President Obama and Congress is clearly not in the best interests of the citizens of Florida."[15]
Florida judges strike signature law, freeing development initiative
TALLAHASSEE, Florida: On Wednesday, June 17, in the case of Florida Hometown Democracy v. Browning, the Florida Supreme Court said that the state's signature revocation law is unconstitutional. This court ruling will allow the Florida Hometown Democracy Land Use Initiative (2010) to move forward.[16]
The law allowed citizens who signed a petition to revoke their signature at a later date. Signatures in Florida are valid for four years.
The initiative is headed to the November 2010 ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment to the Florida Constitution. The initiative proposes to require voter approval of all changes to local comprehensive land-use plans, in order to "give voters more say over development." Currently, county and city commissioners make land-use decisions.[17]
Dueling development initiatives push forward in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Florida: Two competing initiatives to change local land-use rules are fighting for places on the 2010 ballot.
The first, the Florida Hometown Democracy Land Use Initiative (2010), sponsored by Leaders of the Florida Hometown Democracy, would require local approval for all changes to comprehensive land-use plans. The group believes they've collected the required 676,811 valid signatures to be placed on the 2010 ballot.
In response to this initiative, businesses and local chambers of commerce have formed Floridians for Smarter Growth, which supports an alternative initiative, Florida Smarter Growth Land Use Initiative (2010) that would "require voter approval of changes to local land-use plans only if 10 percent of local voters sign a petition calling for the referendum." So far, the campaign has collected 443,510 signatures.[18]
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