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Florida Legislature 2005 (click for ongoing coverage)

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House approves limits on petition drives

Proponents call it a clampdown on abuses. Foes call it an effort to snuff out citizen efforts to amend the Constitution.

By ALISA ULFERTS
Published April 27, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida House approved a series of bills Tuesday intended to clamp down on citizen initiatives, setting off a heated debate over the need to curb election fraud while preserving voters' rights to amend the state Constitution.

The bills include restrictions on signature gathering and three proposed constitutional amendments to limit the subjects of those initiatives and increase the votes needed to approve them.

The four bills now await Senate action.

Supporters say the measures will curb fraud and preserve the integrity of the state Constitution.

"This bill doesn't make it tougher for citizens to collect signatures. What this bill does is make it tougher to commit fraud," said House sponsor Dudley Goodlette, R-Naples.

Opponents say the measures ensure that only monied interests can change the Constitution, leaving true grass roots groups out in the cold.

"I am drawing a line in the sand. You either stand with the people of Florida or against the people of Florida," said Rep. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa.

The most controversial change would add restrictions to the petitioning process, including criminal penalties for failing to wear an ID badge while collecting signatures, prohibiting most high school students from volunteering for a constitutional amendment campaign by mandating that signature gatherers be at least 18, and restricting signature gathering to Florida residents. Paying people for each signature also would result in a criminal charge.

The petition regulations don't need voter approval. The three proposed amendments would go before voters in November 2006.

Rep. David Simmons, sponsor of the proposed amendments, said voters' rights to amend the Constitution already are in peril. "Their right was stolen from them, and it was stolen from them because it was hijacked by special interests," said Simmons, R-Longwood.

One proposed amendment would ask voters to require 60 percent approval for all constitutional amendments. The second would require two-thirds of voters to approve any amendment that would cost at least two-tenths of 1 percent of the state's general revenue. The third would limit citizen initiatives to basic rights, government structure or items already in the Constitution.

Some Democrats unsuccessfully objected.

"Democracy without people might be easier, but it wouldn't be democracy," said Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach.

Times staff writer Carrie Johnson contributed to this report.

[Last modified April 27, 2005, 00:47:14]