(NSF/January 11, 2022) — Legislation filed at the state capitol last week would restrict subjects that could be included in ballot initiatives. The measure will be considered during the 2022 legislative session that starts today. The proposal comes after years of attempts by the GOP-controlled Legislature to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments through the citizens’ initiative process.
Under the bill, initiatives would have to be limited to matters relating to procedural subjects or to the structure of the government. In recent years, a wide range of constitutional amendments have passed on issues such as legalizing medical marijuana and increasing the minimum wage.
House bill sponsor Mike Beltran says such issues do not belong in the state Constitution and should be decided by the Legislature.
“Most of the citizen initiatives are one of two things. They are either in-state special interests or out-of-state special interests that are heavily financing these campaigns. There are no checks and balances.”
But backers of the initiatives argue they have needed to take issues to the ballot because lawmakers ignore voters’ wishes.
If lawmakers approve the change, it would go on the November 2022 ballot because changing the initiative process would require amending the Constitution.
(From The News Service of Florida)