Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorSeptember 17, 2018

Education reform requires thick skin. I cringed as the League of Women Voters cheered the end of Amendment 8 and their success in disenfranchising Floridians. Voters deserved to have a say in whether to allow the school district monopoly over schools to continue, but activist judges decided otherwise. The LWV patted themselves on the back […]

Scott PowersSeptember 8, 2018

The Florida Supreme Court on Friday deep-sixed a contentious proposed constitutional amendment dealing with schools from the November ballot, agreeing with a lower court that the proposal’s intentions toward charter schools were poorly worded. As a result of the Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision Friday, Amendment 8, which covers several education matters, will not be presented […]

Michael MolineSeptember 5, 2018

A critic of Florida’s proposed victims’ right amendment suggested Wednesday that the Florida Supreme Court should block the Constitution Revision Commission from combining multiple proposals into single revisions to place before the voters. Such “bundling” gives voters a choice to swallow provisions they don’t like to enact those that they do, litigator Harvey Sepler said during […]

Staff ReportsAugust 28, 2018

Two friend-of-the-court briefs by “groups with distinct interests” have now been filed in an attempt to save a proposed constitutional amendment on education from getting trashed from the November ballot. The Florida Supreme Court on Monday said it will hear arguments Sept. 5 at the 4th District Court of Appeal courthouse in West Palm Beach. Justices face […]

Drew WilsonAugust 25, 2018

The political committee backing a contentious education amendment raised another $100,000 as the Florida Supreme Court prepares to consider whether it should be on the November ballot. 8isGreat.org brought in the new cash via a single check Philadelphia real estate investor Howard Rich, who has a proclivity for funding term limits and pro-charter school initiatives. […]

Danny McAuliffeAugust 21, 2018

Saying the Constitution Revision Commission was infiltrated by special interests and proposed amendments that will deceive voters, former elected officials Tuesday encouraged Floridians to reject the panel’s eight proposed changes this November. The all-Republican group, “Save My Constitution,” said voting against Amendments 6-13 will help resolve “serious objections” about the CRC process. Members said that […]

Drew WilsonAugust 20, 2018

Leon County Judge John Cooper on Monday ordered a contentious education amendment removed from the November ballot. Amendment 8 bundled three education issues of varying popularity. It would set eight-year term limits for county school board members; require “civic literacy” to be promoted in public schools, and would strip school boards of their sole authority […]

Drew WilsonJuly 12, 2018

For-profit charter school companies are footing most of the bills for a committee backing Amendment 8, which would impose eight-year term limits on school board members, among other things. According to recent campaign finance reports, 8isGreat.org has taken in $54,532 in contributions since mid-May, with a majority of that money coming in from charter school […]

Jim RosicaJuly 12, 2018

Calling it “affirmatively misleading,” the League of Women Voters of Florida is seeking to have a proposed constitutional amendment on education tossed off the ballot. At issue is a section that would let organizers of charter schools avoid having to get an OK from local school boards to open. The League itself, President Patricia M. […]

Drew WilsonJune 4, 2018

A trio of school board members on Monday announced the launch of a new political committee backing Amendment 8, which would impose term limits on county school board seats among other changes to the K-12 education system. The committee, “8isGREAT,” is headed up by Collier County School Board Member Erika Donalds, who sponsored the proposal […]

Tag: Amendment 8
Image via AP.

Erika Donalds: Roadblocks re-energize reformers

Charter schools amendment stricken from November ballot

Florida Supreme Court hears arguments over Amendments 6, 8

Groups file legal briefs to support education measure under challenge

Pro-Amendment 8 committee adds $100K as Florida Supreme Court considers its fate

Vote ‘no’ on all CRC amendments, group urges

Education amendment struck from November ballot—for now

Charter schools dump cash into school board term limits amendment

League of Women Voters sues over education amendment

Conservative school board members launch committee backing term limits amendment