Good Move, Governor
I spend a good bit of time taking politicians to task. Why? The way they behave, they’re almost asking for it. Hey, they deserve far more.
But, just for balance’s sake, let me today congratulate one politician: Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Governor Crist has won awards for his support for transparent government. That’s important. But my tip of the hat goes to the Governor for his veto of Senate Bill 900.
The bill, proposed by Senator Bill Posey, would have made it much tougher for citizens to petition their government, specifically for volunteers collecting signatures. One editorial called the legislation “several high hurdles designed to block citizens’ proposed constitutional amendments.” One provision — to require petitioners to wear a state badge — had previously been ruled unconstitutional.
St. Pete Times columnist Howard Troxler warms my heart. In a recent column, he pointed out that the whole idea behind this legislation was to make the citizen petition process impossible for citizens. A twist he didn’t seem very fond of. Florida has already severely restricted voter initiatives, which now require a 60 percent YES vote to prevail.
So, Troxler urged the governor to do more than just veto SB 900; the headline of his column read: “Heck, tear it up and torch it.”
No report of any tearing or torching, but Crist did veto the bill. Thanks, Governor.
And thanks should also go to Save the Voters Voice, a coalition that mobilized the public.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
