Politics

Crist may veto bill making amendments more difficult

By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published June 21, 2007

TALLAHASSEE -- Amid heavy lobbying on both sides, Gov. Charlie Crist now says he has concerns about a business-backed bill that would impose new limits on people who solicit voter signatures for ballot initiatives.

"I'm reviewing it right now," Crist said Wednesday. "I read some more about it last night, and I have concerns."

Asked to elaborate, he said, "I really don't want to now, but I will once I make a decision."

The bill has drawn fierce opposition from grass roots political groups because of a provision that would require signed petitions to be submitted to election supervisors within 30 days.

Under current law, a petition is valid for four years from the date of its signature.

The bill is a priority of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which has lobbied for several years to change the system for amending the state Constitution through petition drives, which it says has been "hijacked by special interest groups."

"It creates transparency in the signature-gathering process," said David Daniel, the Florida chamber's governmental affairs director. "It gives voters certainty that their signature is counted."

The chamber's broad goal is to thwart a proposed ballot initiative known as Hometown Democracy, which would require voter approval for most land use changes.

Daniel said much of the opposition e-mail to Crist's office has been generated by Lesley Blackner, a West Palm Beach lawyer.

Blackner's cut-and-paste e-mail "alert" says that Crist, as the self-proclaimed "people's governor," should remember that the U.S. Constitution gives citizens the right to "petition the government for redress of grievances."

Through Wednesday, Crist's office reported 874 e-mails in opposition to the bill and 58 in support, and 334 phone calls in opposition and four in support.

Some opponents say that, contrary to claims by businesses, Florida's rules for citizens to initiate amendments already are difficult, including a new 60 percent majority threshold.

The opposition includes the Florida AFL-CIO, People for the American Way Foundation, ACORN, Common Cause and League of Women Voters.

Crist has until Tuesday to sign the bill, veto it or allow it to take effect without his approval.

The bill SB 900, sponsored by Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, also gives voters 120 days to revoke their signatures from petitions. Another bill, already signed by Crist, has a 150-day revocation clause.

A third bill, also awaiting action by Crist, would give private property owners the right to evict petition gatherers from their premises.

Steve Bousquet can be reached at bousquet@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.

[Last modified June 20, 2007, 20:55:29]