Citizens in Charge

Political opposites unite to protect citizen initiative process

As Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) convenes in Tallahassee today, one proposal is drawing fire from both ends of the political spectrum. Advocates of term limits and tax cuts and advocates of water and land conservation have banded together to urge the defeat of CRC Proposal 97.  While these groups have been on opposite sides of many issues, they share at least one important thing in common:  they have led campaigns to enact important changes to the Florida Constitution through citizen petition initiatives.  Today these groups are kicking off a campaign to alert voters about CRC Proposal 97, and urge CRC members to defeat it (see links to ads below).

Proposal 97 would make it harder for Florida voters to approve proposed constitutional amendments, by essentially recording a “No” vote any time a voter skips voting on a statewide ballot issue.

“Proposal 97 is a brazen effort by Tallahassee special interests to silence voters,” said Citizens In Charge President Paul Jacob.  “It’s plain to see that politicians and lobbyists don’t like it when voters enact term limits, cut taxes or make other policy changes by empowering ordinary citizens.”

“Florida voters have a good track record of enacting sensible changes when politicians ignore the will of the people,” said Aliki Moncrief, Executive Director of Florida Conservation Voters.  “When Tallahassee didn’t act, ordinary Floridians were able to take matters into our own hands to protect our water, land, and wildlife. Constitution Revision Commissioners should recognize Proposal 97 for the power grab that it is, and defeat it.”

Citizens in Charge is a 501 (c) (4) citizen-powered advocacy organization that serves as a partner to Citizens in Charge Foundation in protecting and expanding the initiative and referendum process.  Its President, Paul Jacob, serves on the Board of US Term Limits, which he led during the 1990s when voters in many states, including Florida, imposed term limits on politicians.  He writes a weekly column for Townhall.com and his short radio commentary feature, “Common Sense,” is syndicated by the Citizens in Charge Foundation on over 120 radio stations around the U.S.  For more information, visitwww.citizensincharge.org.

Florida Conservation Voters started as a coalition of Florida’s conservation community united towards passing Amendment 1, the Water and Land Conservation Amendment. Now its mission is to elect pro-conservation candidates to public office. For more information, visit www.fcvoters.org.

Florida Conservations Voters Ad:       https://youtu.be/_FXhZoRUJds

Citizens In Charge Ads:                    https://youtu.be/rDtmIAxczkk https://youtu.be/Jy84OJw725k