Politics

Veto thwarts attempt to limit ballot initiatives

By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published June 27, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed three bills Tuesday, including one pushed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce that would have shortened the deadlines for citizens and groups seeking to amend the state Constitution.

The Chamber, which has aggressively sought to narrow the ability of what it calls "special interests" to get proposed amendments on the ballot, has had much success in recent years in tightening the rules for ballot initiatives. But Crist decided that the latest Chamber-backed change went too far.

The bill Crist vetoed would have imposed a 30-day deadline for the submission of voters' signatures on initiative petitions to county election supervisors for verification. The bill, SB 900, was sponsored by Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge.

"This provision significantly burdens the right of Florida citizens to propose amendments to the Florida Constitution, " Crist wrote in a veto message.

"I think it's a recognition that enough is enough, " said Ben Wilcox of Common Cause, one of several organizations that lobbied Crist to veto the bill. "I think Governor Crist has come to the rational decision that if we're going to have an initiative process, it's got to be something people can realistically use."

Two other bills Crist vetoed would have overhauled administrative rules that govern bureaucratic decisionmaking by state agencies, and modified violations and penalties for activities in state parks. While Crist vetoed the parks bill, he also issued an executive order implementing a provision in the bill that he supported, which will allow active National Guard members and their families into parks at half price.

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

[Last modified June 27, 2007, 07:16:23]