DEFENDING DEMOCRACY—Florida PIRG’s Brad Ashwell is joined by other members of the Save the Voters’ Voice coalition at a press conference held before the start of the 2006 legislative session. Brad and colleagues urged legislators to oppose efforts to undermine the ability of Floridians to amend the state constitution through the ballot initiative process.

As our spring newsletter goes to print, Florida PIRG and the Save the Voters’ Voice coalition are fighting to defeat bills that would dramatically restrict the ability of Floridians to petition their fellow citizens and amend the state constitution.

The authors of the constitution included the ballot initiative as a check on unresponsive legislatures and powerful industry lobbyists. The Everglades Trust Fund, the indoor smoking ban and Florida’s Sunshine laws were all enacted through ballot initiatives spearheaded by grassroots citizen groups.

There are currently four bills moving in the Legislature that would take power away from citizens by creating difficult requirements to qualify ballot initiatives.

“These proposals represent an unprecedented assault on the ability of citizens to petition their government and they would make it virtually impossible for citizens to have a direct impact on statewide policies,” said Brad Ashwell, Florida PIRG democracy advocate.

Florida PIRG and the Save the Voters’ Voice coalition will continue to fight these attacks on democracy.