Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorMay 1, 2018

The 2018 Constitution Revision Commission, also known simply as the “CRC,” recently completed the once in every 20-year task of reviewing our state constitution. The purpose of the review is to ensure that our governing document reflects the values of our modern society and meets the needs of our growing state. The CRC finalized eight […]

Peter SchorschApril 30, 2018

Ban Assault Weapons NOW on Monday announced the first wave of members for its steering committee as it ramps up efforts to put an amendment banning assault weapons on the 2020 ballot. U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch and Coral Springs Mayor Skip Campbell will serve as campaign co-chairs, while nine individuals – four with ties to […]

Michael MolineApril 23, 2018

Florida’s 39-member Constitution Revision Commission is catching flak for “grouping” items among the eight proposals it has voted to place before the electorate. For example, the first item combines victims’ rights, a judicial rule of statutory interpretation, and the judicial retirement age. Brecht Heuchan, the businessman-lobbyist who chaired the CRC’s Style and Drafting Committee, believes […]

Drew WilsonApril 18, 2018

The Florida Petroleum Council on Wednesday “raised strong objection” to the Constitution Revision Commission combining offshore drilling and workplace vaping bans into one proposal on the 2018 ballot. “Monday’s decision will force Florida’s voters to vote for or against two completely unrelated, but important, issues at the same time. Bundling these issues is mixing apples […]

Jim RosicaApril 17, 2018

The group that represents the state’s racing-greyhound breeders and owners will challenge a proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw dog racing, its spokesman and lobbyist told Florida Politics Tuesday. Jack Cory, who represents the Florida Greyhound Association (FGA), said former Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and former appellate judge Paul Hawkes, who also now represent the group, are working on […]

Danny McAuliffeApril 16, 2018

The ‘revolving door’ of elected officials and lobbyists could soon get jammed. A proposed constitutional amendment that would mandate a six-year lobbying ban on all elected officeholders, agency heads and judges cleared the Florida Constitution Revision Commission in a 30-4 vote on Monday. If approved by 60 percent of voters in November, public officers will […]

Drew WilsonApril 16, 2018

Voters in Florida’s largest county are in favor of a constitutional amendment to require county constitutional officers be elected, a new poll found. The poll, commissioned by Constitutional Officer Resource Experts (C.O.R.E.), found more than three quarters of likely voters in Miami-Dade County were in favor of electing constitutional officers such as county sheriffs or […]

Peter SchorschApril 16, 2018

One can’t have a conversation about the 2018 elections nowadays without answering one not-so-simple question: How big will the “blue wave” be? It’s no longer a debate about whether it exits. We got our first hints, in Florida at least, with Annette Taddeo’s election to SD 40 last year. Margaret Good’s win in the February […]

Peter SchorschApril 15, 2018

Dozens of businesses sent a letter to the Constitution Revision Commission Friday urging it to drop a plan to add an employment eligibility check requirement to the state constitution. Proposal 29, sponsored by CRC Commissioner Rich Newsome, would prohibit undocumented immigrants from working in the state and have the legislature establish a verification process for […]

Guest AuthorApril 15, 2018

This week members of the Florida Constitutional Revision (CRC) will meet to examine proposals to amend the Florida Constitution and make recommendations to voters. The constitutional revision process is unique to Florida. No other state has such a body, one that meets every 20 years and takes recommendations for amendments directly to the voters, without […]

Tag: Constitution Revision Commission
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Brecht Heuchan: Grouped CRC amendments benefit voters, offer transformational ideas

Group pushing assault weapons ban in wake of Parkland picks steering committee

The CRC’s Brecht Heuchan defends ‘grouping’ in proposals sent to voters

Petroleum group against bundling drilling, vaping bans on ballot

Greyhound owners plan legal challenge of dog racing ban

Voters will decide on lobbying reform this fall

Miami-Dade voters in favor of electing constitutional officers

CRC should think twice about putting drilling ban on the ballot

Businesses voice opposition to E-Verify proposal

M. Stephen Turner, Leonard Collins, Christine Dorchak: Let Florida voters decide fate of dog racing