Tell Gov. Crist to Protect Your Rights!

It's All Up to You...And Governor Crist!

The Florida Chamber of Commerce and their allies in the Florida Legislature waited until the Special Session on property taxes to send SB 900 to the Governor. They were hoping that with everyone's attention focused on the session that the people would forget about the BIGGEST ASSAULT ON OUR RIGHTSin years.

WE MUST NOT DROP THE BALL ON THIS!

SB 900, which will essentially make it impossible for grass roots groups like unions to exercise their constitutional right to organize constitutional ballot initiatives. Governor Crist has publicly stated that he is not sure whether or not he will sign the bill. The Florida Chamber of Commerce is pulling out all the stops - now it is our turn. Dozens of statewide groups, representing over 2 million voters, are joining this effort - we need your help. Contact the Governor's Office and tell the "People's Governor" to look out for the people, protect their right to amend their constitution and VETO SB 900!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Please VETO SB 900
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing to add my voice to a broad coalition of organizations representing over 2 million of my fellow voters to encourage you to veto SB 900. I believe that this is yet another attack on the people's right to amend their constitution through the ballot initiative. Over the past four years powerful special interest groups have been working to kill that right through a thousand small cuts, without ever giving the people the chance to vote up or down, yes or no, whether or not they want to give up their ability to propose constitutional amendments. Florida's process is already the most difficult in the nation among states that allow people's initiatives. It requires more signatures, a geographic distribution of signatures, a Supreme Court review and an unprecedented 60% threshold for passage. Also, the elections bill you have already signed places new burdensome restrictions on petition gathering. Enough is enough. You ran as the "People's Governor" and many of us have been pleased with your performance as a careful and deliberative leader who is willing to stand up to the powerful in favor of the people. You have also publicly stated that you did not want to do anything to weaken the citizen's initiative. Please honor that pledge and veto this misguided attack on my rights. Many of our state's largest newspapers have already called on you to veto this bill and I am adding my voice to that call. I hope I can count on you.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 14, 2007

Background Information

SB 900 is a blatant attempt to eliminate the citizen?s ballot initiative without ever going to the voters to see if they want to give up that right. It is being pushed by the same people who opposed the amendments to reduce class size, raise the minimum wage, eliminate smoking in restaurants and protect the Everglades.
Opponents of the people's right to amend the Constitution have already succeeded in pushing the new 60% threshold for amendment passage and decreasing the time period grass-roots groups have to qualify for the ballot, making Florida's constitution the hardest to amend among states with an initiative process according to numerous studies. Now, they want to change statutes to make the process of gathering petitions impossible - the final piece in a three part strategy to take the right of Florida's citizens to amend their constitution away from them.
SB 900 dramatically reduces the amount of time volunteers have to turn signed petitions in to their Supervisors of Elections to 30 days. Numerous volunteer based groups including the League of Women Voters, American Cancer Society and ACORN have testified in committee that this time frame is prohibitive for their volunteers.
SB 900 creates a revocation process. Well funded special interest groups, the same groups pushing this legislation, will be able to come behind groups getting signatures with expensive campaigns targeting those who signed petitions in an effort to get revocations. Floridians could be bombarded with targeted phone calls and house visits until they agree to revoke their signature. The best course of action for someone who has changed their mind on an issue after they have signed a petition is to simply vote no at the ballot box.
This revocation process has a 120 day time limit. Groups working to secure ballot placement on an issue will only have 30 days to submit signed petitions, while groups working against them will have up to 4 years to get signatures revoked.
The changes outlined in SB 900 will have a tremendous fiscal impact on our local Supervisors of Elections by requiring them to do much more work, but there is no indication as to how these costs will be covered.
There is no need whatsoever for the provisions contained in SB 900. In the past, supporters have claimed they want to reduce fraud in the process, even though there was never any evidence whatsoever that there was any significant fraud taking place. There is no mention of fraud in this bill - none