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TALLAHASSEE - Critics of proposals to make it harder for voters to change the Florida Constitution said Tuesday they'll fight to protect the citizen initiative process that brought class size reduction, a bullet train project and universal pre-kindergarten to the ballot - and into law.
The full Senate today will consider proposals designed to prevent massive projects - like class size and the bullet train, which could end up costing billions of dollars over a decade of implementation - from getting approval so easily, a measure some say will help ensure Florida's long-term fiscal health.
A House committee will hear a companion proposal Thursday.
Groups wanting to change the state Constitution by petition drive must limit the scope of their proposal to a single subject, clearly explain it in a ballot title and summary, and collect about 500,000 validated signatures. Under the proposals, they would also need a supermajority (60 percent) for passage and have their subject matter restricted to constitutional issues.
"The legislators are not serious about reform," said Charlene Walker of the League of the Women Voters, one of numerous groups opposed to changing the petition-drive process. "This is an attack on voters."
The cost of the class size reduction ballot proposal approved by voters in 2002 and the high-speed train project approved by voters in 2000 have fueled the push to change the process.
Gov. Jeb Bush, a vocal opponent of both measures, is still working to repeal the train project but has, for now, backed off his efforts to repeal class size. Business groups actively support the legislative proposals. Senate President Jim King, R-Jacksonville, said making constitutional change harder is a top priority.
If the changes are approved by the Legislature, voters could consider them this August.