Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsFebruary 14, 2018

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“Leave it be until Amendment 3,” says a new ad from the group behind a constitutional amendment on voter control of gambling expansion that will be on November’s statewide ballot. Voters In Charge, the political committee backing the Voter Control of Gambling Amendment, on Wednesday announced “a 30-second television ad, a 60-second radio ad, as […]

Jim RosicaOctober 4, 2017

A Constitution Revision Commission committee on Wednesday began considering whether to change Florida’s primary election system, including buttoning up what’s known as the “write-in loophole.” That allows a write-in candidate to close a primary. The commission’s Ethics and Elections Committee heard from advocates and some of the state’s elections supervisors, but took no action. Here’s how […]

Jim RosicaJuly 13, 2017

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Former state Rep. Tom Grady will take Jimmy Patronis‘ place on the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday evening. In picking Grady, a Naples attorney and a friend of Scott’s, the governor passed over the three alternates he previously selected to fill an empty seat on the commission, which will review the state’s governing document […]

Jim RosicaJuly 5, 2017

The new president of The Florida Bar says the organization is standing by to offer “technical legal” support to the Constitution Revision Commission as it readies to amend the state’s governing document, which could include changes affecting the judicial branch. But Michael J. Higer, a partner in Berger Singerman’s Miami office, won’t say which public […]

Jim RosicaMarch 16, 2017

The Constitution Revision Commission has launched a website and announced an organizational meeting next Monday. The meeting will be 2-4 p.m. in the Capitol’s Senate chamber, with a brief agenda of “Welcoming Remarks, Oath of Office, Rules of the Commission, Ethics Briefing.” The panel, which convenes every 20 years, will review and suggest changes to the state’s […]

Drew WilsonMarch 9, 2017

A bill that would extend a constitutional amendment to stop large spikes a property’s taxable value is ready for a floor vote in the House. HJR 21 cleared the House Commerce Committee with a 24-2 vote, and previously made it through the House Ways and Means Committee with a 16-1 vote. Back in 2008, Florida […]

Michael MolineFebruary 23, 2017

A lively debate on governing principles broke out Thursday as a House committee voted unanimously to ask the voters to raise the threshold for amending the Florida Constitution. HJR 321 would require approval by 66 2/3 percent of the voters to change the state’s foundational document. At present, that requires 60 percent approval. Sponsor Rick […]

Mitch PerryNovember 3, 2016

In Florida, we have two constitutional amendments on the ballot that will be decided next Tuesday. The way it looks now, it would be a major upset if Amendment 2, the medical marijuana initiative, fails to get 60 percent of the electorate’s vote. Then again, conventional wisdom was that it would pass in 2014, and it […]

Jim RosicaOctober 31, 2016

A panel of state economists haven’t been able to figure out how much the Voting Restoration Amendment would cost the state. The proposed change to the state constitution would automatically return voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference is tasked with estimating costs of constitutional amendments. This one gave them a struggle. “It is probable […]

Michael MolineOctober 17, 2016

A state panel struggled Monday to figure out a price tag for the proposed Florida Voter Restoration Amendment, which would automatically restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference heard testimony from a variety of state criminal justice agencies indicating it might be hard to nail down what the […]

Tag: constitutional amendments

‘Leave it be’: New ad for gambling initiative out

Constitution review panel could tackle ‘write-in loophole’

Rick Scott names Tom Grady to constitutional review panel

Florida Bar will focus on ‘protecting the courts’ during constitutional revision process

Constitution Revision Commission to hold first meeting

Bill limiting property tax assessments ready for House floor

House panel votes to raise the bar for proposed constitutional amendments

Mitch Perry Report for 11.3.16 — Guns, pot, minimum wage measures to be voted on next week across the country

Cost of Voting Restoration Amendment? Experts unsure

Panel finds no easy answers on costs of voter rights restoration