Florida
Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi filed suit Monday seeking to undo controversial requirements imposed almost three years ago that make it harder to bring voter ballot initiatives in a move that — if successful — could pave the way for a recall effort of embattled Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez. The suit, filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, comes a day after a Miami Herald/CBS 4 poll found 58 percent of registered voters favor the recall of Alvarez.
A nationwide anti-abortion group launched an effort in Florida today to outlaw all abortions and certain types of birth control, including oral contraceptives and the morning-after pill. The religion-infused movement, called “Personhood Florida,” would define conception in Florida’s constitution at the “biological beginnings,” supporters said — when the sperm meets the egg. The group, Virginia-based American Life League, filed its amendment today but the exact ballot language is still going through the approval process, said Secretary of State Spokeswoman Jennifer Krell-Davis.
Forget that the governor’s office, a U.S. Senate seat and every other statewide office are open this election cycle. The 2010 campaign that could have the farthest-reaching implications for Florida is a redistricting ballot initiative that would change the way congressional and legislative districts are drawn.
Banning kegs on the beach in Treasure Island will most likely happen in the coming weeks. In the coming months, a total ban on alcohol could take place. That was the result during a special Treasure Island commission workshop on Aug. 5 to discuss the Sunset Beach situation.
The Florida Supreme Court says a revised financial impact statement on how much a proposed growth management amendment could cost taxpayers now complies with state law. That decision came in an advisory opinion Thursday to Attorney General Bill McCollum. “Local governments will incur additional costs due to the requirement to conduct referenda,” the court wrote, adding “the impact on state government expenditures will be insignificant.”
During his more than eight years on the Sarasota County Commission, Jon Thaxton has consistently warned of the impact of overdevelopment on the region’s quality of life. But Thaxton’s quest for less development is not so strong that he would advocate what could be one of the most restrictive growth management measures ever. A group calling itself Hometown Democracy won approval for a ballot measure in 2010 that would amend the constitution to prevent any changes to a county’s land use plan without a countywide vote.
Other new laws tighten the leash on local governments and law enforcement agencies. One prohibits “crash taxes” — fees for causing wrecks. City and county officials, facing declining property tax revenues, say they needed the extra cash for police, ambulance and other emergency response expenses. Local governments also can no longer spend public money to sway voters on ballot issues.
The state of Florida has decided not to appeal a case in which a state law aimed at restricting ballot initiatives was struck down.
Constitutional referendums slated for Florida voters to consider next year will either kill development or ease developers’ tax burdens, legislators told a group of Orlando-area commercial real estate professionals Thursday.
The Florida Supreme Court struck down a law that allowed voters to revoke their signatures from petitions that the already signed. The ruling comes in a suit filed by supporters of the Florida Hometown Democracy Initiative, which had seen over 13,000 petition signatures revoked. Justices made the ruling Wednesday but will issue their full opinion at a later date.
The Florida Supreme Court ruled yesterday to strike down a law allowing voters to revoke their signatures after they sign a petition. The case against the law was filed by supporters of the Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment.
Charlotte County School Board members vocalized their support for an initiative to levy a tax increase for the 2009-2010 school year during a workshop meeting Tuesday afternoon. The increase, which is for a quarter mill, could generate approximately $3.6 million a year. A quarter mill is equivalent to $25 for every $100,000 of assessed value.
A Bradenton-based grassroots group is hoping an unorthodox interpretation of a federal law will help open Florida waters to oil drilling. FloridaOil.org Inc. said Monday it is planning a petition drive to amend the state constitution next year, hoping Florida voters will require the state to claim waters now under federal control for oil and natural-gas exploration.
A petition drive that would give voters a say in the development of their communities may lose even if sponsors win a favorable Florida Supreme Court ruling - if the justices don’t act soon. To prevent that from happening, Florida Hometown Democracy asked the high court Monday to expedite a decision on a new law that lets signers take back their signatures. The case has been before the justices for more than a year.
Several gay-rights groups from across the country are developing databases of names and address of people who signed petitions supporting traditional marriage measures. These searchable databases would be put on the Internet open to all interested parties.
A group called KnowThyNeighboor.org has already placed names of traditional marriage supporters on he Internet in states like Oregon, Florida and Arkansas.