TA L L A H A S S E E R E P O R T
Protecting Florida’s Fundamental Law By Adam Basford, Director of State Legislative Affairs
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or too long the Florida Constitution has been used like a grocery list instead of receiving the respect it deserves. Look, I understand amending my grocery list. Too often I have walked into the grocery store with my wife’s list (which she lists in order from the back of the store to the front, by the way) and made a few strategic amendments. It is one thing to get a little fast and loose with my grocery list, but it is quite another to amend indiscriminately the charter document of the third most populous state in the nation. Since the current Florida Constitution was passed in 1968, 181 amendments have been proposed with 133 of the amendments passing. And while I know the comparison is not entirely fair, I cannot help but contrast that with the 27 amendments to the US Constitution in 241 years. You can chalk that difference up to the five separate ways that are prescribed to amend the Florida constitution.
One is a constitutional convention, which has not been used in recent times. The second is the legislature can send an amendment to voters by a three-fifths vote of both chambers.
balloon with 12 amendments (11 of which passed). It is time for us to start making it more difficult for Florida’s constitution to be amended. That is why I am very happy to see several proposals moving forward in the legislature that would do It is time for us just that. One proposal seeks to start making to eliminate the CRC. it more difficult Another would ensure that all proposed amendments for Florida’s are restricted to a single constitution to subject. The threshold to pass an amendment would be be amended. increased from 60% to 66.6% in a third proposal. Then there is a citizen Finally, a fourth proposal initiative process that allows would protect against outvoters to place amendments of-state interests having on the ballot through petition. access to the ballot while also There is also the Constitution highlighting the economic Revision Commission (CRC), impacts of any amendments. which is appointed by state All four of these proposals leaders and meets every 20 meet Farm Bureau’s policy years. of supporting proposals The Tax and Budget that make the constitutional Reform Commission, which amendment process more meets between the CRC deliberative. We are working meetings, is limited to fiscal hard in Tallahassee to see each matters. of them pass. The legislature, citizen For legislative updates, initiative and CRC all placed subscribe to AgWatch under amendments on the ballot in the Publications menu at 2018, causing your ballot to www.floridafarmbureau.org. FLORIDAGRICULTURE | APRIL/MAY 2019
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