Florida League Calls Proposal 97 “Worst of the Worst”

Mon, Mar 19 2018 by Paul Jacob

The League of Women Voters of Florida calls Proposal 97 “the worst of the worst,” and contends that it will “make it close to impossible for the constitution to be changed by initiative, by the Legislature or by any commission in the future.”

Proposal 97, one of more than 30 constitutional amendmsnts Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission is considering placing on the 2018 ballot, would count voters who vote neither yes nor no on a ballot measure as a NO vote against the meassure. Already, Florida requires a supermajority 60 percent vote to pass a ballot measure.

“The commission’s failure to adopt rules in a timely manner and a continuing tendency to ignore their own rules of procedure are a serious concern,” complained Florida LWV Pres. Pamela Goodman. “But even more concerning at this point is a very clear agenda unfolding for the CRC that mirrors the legislature.”

It is not surprising that the CRC mirrors the legislature and the capitol more generally. The Senate president and the House speaker each pick nine members, who constitute half (49 percent) of the 37-person body. The governor picks 15 members, the chief justice of the state supreme court chooses three and the attorney general is automatically a member.

Moreover, the CRC can directly place as many amendments on the ballot as it wishes, even combining several different measures into one, thereby forcing a single vote on a mulit-faceted amendment. No other state has a similarly empowered body.

 

PROPOSAL 97 — Text:

https://www.flcrc.gov/Proposals/Commissioner/2017/0097/ProposalText/Filed/PDF

AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION – FOR THE WORSE? League of Women Voters Florida, coalition partners highlight worst of the worst proposed amendments before the CRC
https://www.lwvfl.org/amending-constitution-worse-league-women-voters-florida-coalition-partners-highlight-worst-worst-proposed-amendments-crc/

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Contact the CRC

http://flcrc.gov/PublishedContent/ADMINISTRATIVEPUBLICATIONS/HowToSubmitComment.pdf

 

 

MORE INFO: http://www.citizensinchargefoundation.org/floridaCRC

 

 

 

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