Pubdate: Fri, 07 Nov 2014
Source: Star-Banner, The (Ocala, FL)
Copyright: 2014 The Star-Banner
Contact:  http://www.starbanner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1533

AMENDMENT FAILURES

The Florida Legislature has asked voters to approve a dozen 
amendments to the state constitution in the last two general elections.

Nine of them failed.

The only three that gained the support of enough voters to warrant 
passage involved proposals with the appeal of mom and apple pie - tax 
relief for military veterans disabled due to combat-related injuries, 
low-income senior citizens and surviving spouses of military veterans 
or "first responders."

Translated into the terms of baseball, the Legislature and its 
leadership are batting a meager .250. The fact that the Legislature's 
record is so anemic is notable because:

* Legislative leaders like to talk about how they are elected to 
represent the will of the people, yet the failure of nine most recent 
initiatives suggests a disconnect between rhetoric and reality.

* It's easier for the Legislature to propose amendments than it is 
for members of the public. That's because legislators exempted 
themselves from the requirements that apply to citizen-initiated amendments.

In 2012, one of the failed amendments sought to expand the 
legislative branch's reach into the judiciary; it was rejected by 63 
percent of voters. Another attempted to undermine judicial 
independence; it was opposed by 55 percent.

Three proposed amendments were on the ballots for the general 
election that concluded Tuesday. The sole proposal by the Legislature 
also involved the courts.

Amendment 3 was designed and approved by the Republican majority in 
the Legislature to significantly change the way in which the state 
replaces Supreme Court justices and appeals court judges who do not 
qualify for merit retention.

Former Supreme Court Justice Harry Lee Anstead called Amendment 3 "a 
bizarre 'solution' searching for a non-existent problem." He also 
contended, with good reason, that the proposal was "just the latest 
in continuing efforts to politicize" the judiciary.

Fortunately, 52 percent of Florida's voters - including 53 percent in 
Marion County - rejected the amendment, yet another rebuke of the Legislature.

What's more, 75 percent of voters - including 72 percent in Marion 
County - supported Amendment 1. This citizen-led proposal requires 
the Legislature to spend a specific percentage of special tax revenue 
on land and water conservation programs. One frequently cited 
argument in favor of enshrining the requirement in the constitution 
is the failure of the Legislature and governor to adequately fund 
conservation and preservation efforts in recent years.

Similarly, Amendment 2 was initiated by citizens largely in response 
to the Legislature's refusal to consider and pass carefully crafted 
laws to allow the use of marijuana for certain medical conditions.

A solid majority of Florida voters - 57 percent, including 49.8 
percent in Marion - supported Amendment 2. But, because of an 
amendment endorsed by voters in 2006, the medical-marijuana 
initiative required at least 60 percent support to pass.

Although Amendment 2 didn't cross the steep 60 percent threshold, 3.3 
million Floridians voted in favor. Solid majorities of voters sent 
legislators three messages on the constitutional amendments: 
Adequately fund conservation, make room for medical marijuana, and 
stop interfering with the judiciary.

The question now is whether the Legislature and its leaders will 
listen to, and act responsibly toward, those strong signals.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom