Lawmakers back higher threshold for ballot initiatives

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

A House panel Thursday approved a proposal that would make it harder for voters to change the Florida Constitution. The proposal (HJR 321), sponsored by Rep. Rick Roth, R-Loxahatchee, would require ballot measures to receive the support of two-thirds of voters before they could go into the Constitution. That would be tougher than the current requirement that 60 percent of voters need to sign off on constitutional amendments. Voters raised the threshold to 60 percent, from 50 percent, in 2006. Roth's proposal was approved by the House Oversight, Transparency & Administration Subcommittee. An identical measure (SJR 866), was filed this month by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala. Baxley said it is too common for groups to use the constitutional amendment process when they don't get the answers they want from lawmakers. "This is the village industry of how to go around the Legislature," Baxley said. "The answer is always, 'What do you do when they (lawmakers) are unresponsive?' Well, 'no' is a response. If it's not time, or we don't believe that is the way to go with an issue, you shouldn't be able to just go around and stick it in the state Constitution.”