Comments on: Lawmakers Wants To Make It Harder To Pass Constitutional Amendments http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:49:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Laurie Bivona RN http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments/comment-page-1#comment-385319 Laurie Bivona RN Thu, 21 Mar 2019 20:21:21 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=345324#comment-385319 I agree that there should only be single subject amendments but I also believe in the will of the people. In November the people passed Amendment 4 allowing most felons to vote when their sentence is over. The Senate has just filed a bill that defines when a sentence is up...stating that it is up when all restitution is paid even if it is in a civil lien. Three problems here 1- a civil lien is civil and not criminal so it shouldn't matter, 2-people who have done their time and have $100,000-$500,000 court fees for ridiculous trafficking charges won't be allowed to vote ever because they can never pay that back and 3- this was not the intent of the people when they voted to alleviate the disenfranchisement of this population. Most importantly it's the people that put these legislators in power and it's time that they exercised their own discretion. I agree that there should only be single subject amendments but I also believe in the will of the people. In November the people passed Amendment 4 allowing most felons to vote when their sentence is over. The Senate has just filed a bill that defines when a sentence is up…stating that it is up when all restitution is paid even if it is in a civil lien. Three problems here 1- a civil lien is civil and not criminal so it shouldn’t matter, 2-people who have done their time and have $100,000-$500,000 court fees for ridiculous trafficking charges won’t be allowed to vote ever because they can never pay that back and 3- this was not the intent of the people when they voted to alleviate the disenfranchisement of this population. Most importantly it’s the people that put these legislators in power and it’s time that they exercised their own discretion.

]]> By: Apples and oranges http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments/comment-page-1#comment-377874 Apples and oranges Sun, 02 Dec 2018 14:13:22 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=345324#comment-377874 A direct and correlated “apple to apple” method of Florida amendment approval, if the US Constitutional amendment process were used, would have two thirds of both chambers of the Florida Legislature approve a measure. Then, 51 of the 67 boards of county commissioners would need to approve for adoption. That means citizens would have no direct means of approval or disapproval. That brings us to the current approval process of 60% of the voters (or, should I say 60% of those who vote on a given Election Day). This process means that 40% plus one vote can stop the passage that 60% minus one vote desires in the state. The proposal by Representative Roth would change this to 1/3rd +1 to 2/3rds -1 vote would sink an amendment. Rep. Roth’s bill sounds well and good when the voter who is in the minority, and all of their family and friends (or localized region, or religion, or socioeconomic, or dare I say race) is sour grapes on the outcome. But when the majority really desires a change to the Florida Constitution are stopped by 1/3rd +1 of the participating voters, everyone will be looking for a way to amend Rep. Roth’s proposal... and a way to end minority gridlock... when changes are needed. A direct and correlated “apple to apple” method of Florida amendment approval, if the US Constitutional amendment process were used, would have two thirds of both chambers of the Florida Legislature approve a measure. Then, 51 of the 67 boards of county commissioners would need to approve for adoption. That means citizens would have no direct means of approval or disapproval.

That brings us to the current approval process of 60% of the voters (or, should I say 60% of those who vote on a given Election Day). This process means that 40% plus one vote can stop the passage that 60% minus one vote desires in the state. The proposal by Representative Roth would change this to 1/3rd +1 to 2/3rds -1 vote would sink an amendment.

Rep. Roth’s bill sounds well and good when the voter who is in the minority, and all of their family and friends (or localized region, or religion, or socioeconomic, or dare I say race) is sour grapes on the outcome. But when the majority really desires a change to the Florida Constitution are stopped by 1/3rd +1 of the participating voters, everyone will be looking for a way to amend Rep. Roth’s proposal… and a way to end minority gridlock… when changes are needed.

]]> By: K http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments/comment-page-1#comment-377778 K Sat, 01 Dec 2018 11:04:34 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=345324#comment-377778 To amend the United States Constitution you need: (1) amendment is proposed by 2/3rds majority of both houses. that is, 67 percent of the House AND the Senate. (2) then 3/4 of the states have to ratify it. we're not talking about laws here - we're talking about the State Constitution. currently the florida state constitution has 39 amendments. source here: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?submenu=3 there are 27 amendments for 330 million Americans since 1789. there are 39 amendments for 22 million Floridians since 1968. changes to the constitution should be hard to make. that way it stays put for a long time - because getting it repealed will be nearly impossible. limits the special interests, and ensures a LOT of people have to be involved - you know, the entire point of a democracy. To amend the United States Constitution you need:

(1) amendment is proposed by 2/3rds majority of both houses. that is, 67 percent of the House AND the Senate.

(2) then 3/4 of the states have to ratify it.

we’re not talking about laws here – we’re talking about the State Constitution.

currently the florida state constitution has 39 amendments. source here:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?submenu=3

there are 27 amendments for 330 million Americans since 1789.
there are 39 amendments for 22 million Floridians since 1968.

changes to the constitution should be hard to make. that way it stays put for a long time – because getting it repealed will be nearly impossible. limits the special interests, and ensures a LOT of people have to be involved – you know, the entire point of a democracy.

]]> By: Fred Kennedy http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments/comment-page-1#comment-377701 Fred Kennedy Fri, 30 Nov 2018 12:56:23 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=345324#comment-377701 I agree with the earlier posting requiring only 1 issue per voting block. Even if issues are related, each should be voted on separately. Also, any amendment that proposes fees or tax increases/decreases should realistically estimate the financial impact of those affected and be written in plain English, so that we non-lawyers can understand the issues being proposed. I agree with the earlier posting requiring only 1 issue per voting block. Even if issues are related, each should be voted on separately. Also, any amendment that proposes fees or tax increases/decreases should realistically estimate the financial impact of those affected and be written in plain English, so that we non-lawyers can understand the issues being proposed.

]]> By: MR REALITY http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments/comment-page-1#comment-377635 MR REALITY Thu, 29 Nov 2018 17:42:25 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=345324#comment-377635 Amazing how we the people dont matter/ Amazing how we the people dont matter/

]]> By: David Huie Green http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments/comment-page-1#comment-377632 David Huie Green Thu, 29 Nov 2018 17:26:05 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=345324#comment-377632 Include wording that it doesn't go into effect unless it has the approval percentage it will require. Include wording that it doesn’t go into effect unless it has the approval percentage it will require.

]]> By: Ed http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments/comment-page-1#comment-377619 Ed Thu, 29 Nov 2018 15:52:41 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=345324#comment-377619 Why don’t they add where you cannot not have an admendment that have two or three items that have nothing in common. Just like last the last ballot. Didn’t one have public vaping and offshore drilling tied together. Why don’t they add where you cannot not have an admendment that have two or three items that have nothing in common. Just like last the last ballot. Didn’t one have public vaping and offshore drilling tied together.

]]> By: FaithinUS http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments/comment-page-1#comment-377607 FaithinUS Thu, 29 Nov 2018 14:16:43 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=345324#comment-377607 How about only putting amendments up for a vote if they're Citizens' Petitions that have received the requisite number of signatures to be put on the ballot, and remove the lobbyist-controlled Commission's and the same lobbyist tools in the Legislature's ability to do that at all. That's preferable to ignoring the will of a 60% majority of the state's voters. How about only putting amendments up for a vote if they’re Citizens’ Petitions that have received the requisite number of signatures to be put on the ballot, and
remove the lobbyist-controlled Commission’s and the same lobbyist tools in the Legislature’s ability to do that at all. That’s preferable to ignoring the will of a 60% majority of the state’s voters.

]]> By: Oversight http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments/comment-page-1#comment-377589 Oversight Thu, 29 Nov 2018 11:35:42 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=345324#comment-377589 Just go ahead and make it a 75% threshold like it is for approval of amendments to the U.S. Constitution. There have been only 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution over the past 229 years, and 10 of those came at the same time as the Bill of Rights! If it is a good and necessary amendment it will pass. Just go ahead and make it a 75% threshold like it is for approval of amendments to the U.S. Constitution. There have been only 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution over the past 229 years, and 10 of those came at the same time as the Bill of Rights! If it is a good and necessary amendment it will pass.

]]> By: Henry W Coe http://www.northescambia.com/2018/11/lawmakers-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-pass-constitutional-amendments/comment-page-1#comment-377578 Henry W Coe Thu, 29 Nov 2018 07:43:46 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=345324#comment-377578 A better idea might be to end the influence of money in politics and to actually educate voters about the amendments they are voting on. People have short attention spans and they are influenced by advertising sound bites that can be misleading toward facts about amendments and politicians. We don't need to make participation in our democracy more difficult we just need a better way for voters to be educated on their voting choices. A better idea might be to end the influence of money in politics and to actually educate voters about the amendments they are voting on.
People have short attention spans and they are influenced by advertising sound bites that can be misleading toward facts about amendments and politicians.
We don’t need to make participation in our democracy more difficult we just need a better way for voters to be educated on their voting choices.

]]>