Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonMarch 21, 2018

The Constitution Revision Commission on Tuesday withdrew from consideration a controversial change to Florida’s privacy laws, much to the delight of pro-choice and privacy rights advocates. Proposal 22, sponsored by Commissioner John Stemberger and drafted by former Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell, sought to change the privacy provision already found in the state constitution in a way many have […]

Scott PowersFebruary 20, 2018

Guns, greyhounds, and privacy. Two of the three most commonly- and passionately-discussed topics at Monday’s first public hearing for the Florida Constitution Revision Commission’s proposed amendments weren’t even among the 37 active propositions. Yet dozens of speakers at the Maxwell C. King Center in Melbourne Monday spoke of their desire to see a Florida Constitution […]

Scott PowersJanuary 30, 2018

A national group called #VoteProChoice has announced its endorsement of Democrat Anna Eskamani in the Florida House District 47 race. Eskamani, of Orlando, is senior director of public affairs and communications for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, managing a team across 22 counties, including the Tampa Bay and Orlando areas, and a high-profile […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 30, 2018

Legislation aimed at reducing the divorce rate by having couples read a marriage guide before their nuptials is making its way through the Legislature — though at least one Democrat has raised concerns about conservative ideology tainting the document. The “Healthy Marriage Guide” (HB 1323) is sponsored in the House by Republicans Clay Yarborough of Jacksonville […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 25, 2018

A proposed Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) amendment on “privacy” for the 2018 ballot could unravel protections guaranteed to Floridians, according to one of the lawmakers who wrote the state’s 1980 privacy amendment. The proposal, sponsored by Constitution Revision Commissioner John Stemberger and drafted by former Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell, would add 10 words to […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2017

Placing a constitutional amendment up for a vote can be problematic when the proposal itself might be unconstitutional. That’s what Lisa Carlton, the chair of the Constitutional Revision Commission’s Declaration of Rights Committee, concluded on Tuesday, when she said she could not support expanding the rights of grandparents to visit their grandchildren. “I think that […]

Ana CeballosNovember 1, 2017

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A proposed amendment to the state constitution tweaking the right to privacy sparked a debate over abortion when pro-choice advocates argued the new language would weaken access to the procedure. The issue came up Wednesday during a committee meeting of the Constitution Revision Commission, which is reviewing and considering changes to the state’s governing document. The […]

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2017

The Tallahassee-based First Amendment Foundation, the state’s public records and open meetings watchdog, is giving a thumbs down to a proposed Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) amendment on “privacy” for the 2018 ballot. Foundation President Barbara Petersen, in a letter this week to Lisa Carlton, chair of the CRC’s Declaration of Rights Committee, said her group […]

Guest AuthorNovember 1, 2017

I read with great interest the letter by First Amendment Foundation (FAF) President Barbara Petersen to Lisa Carlton, chair of the Declaration of Rights Committee of the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), regarding her concerns over the proposal written by former Florida Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell, and which I am sponsoring, entitled the “Florida Privacy Restoration Act.” […]

Jim RosicaOctober 27, 2017

A proposed constitutional amendment would ensure that future governors could appoint new judges and justices up to their last day in office. But John Stemberger, the member of the Constitution Revision Commission who filed the amendment Thursday, said he was temporarily withdrawing the proposal to correct a drafting error. The amendment would make certain that judicial terms […]

Tag: John Stemberger

Planned Parenthood, ACLU cheer withdrawal of CRC proposal

Guns, greyhounds and privacy dominate constitution hearing

Pro-choice abortion rights group endorses Anna Eskamani in HD 47

Ideological dispute erupts as ‘Healthy Marriage Guide’ passes House committee

Privacy expert says CRC proposal could lead to government intrusion in Floridians’ lives

Proposal to expand grandparents visitation rights temporarily postponed

Constitutional amendment on privacy piques abortion-rights advocates

Open government watchdog barks at privacy measure

John Stemberger: Constitutional privacy fix will protect Floridians

Proposal would assure governor’s power to name justices