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Action Alert! We have one more chance to save the people's ballot initiative!

By Florida Hometown Democracy  Posted by Joan Brunwasser (about the submitter)   No comments
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IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED
WE HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE TO SAVE THE PEOPLE’S BALLOT INITIATIVE!
The Florida Legislature passed SB 900, which will essentially make it impossible for grassroots groups to exercise their constitutional right to organize constitutional ballot initiatives. Governor Crist has publicly stated that he is not sure whether or not he will sign the bill. The Florida Chamber of Commerce is pulling out all the stops – now it is our turn. Dozens of statewide groups, representing over 2 million voters, are joining this effort – we need your help.
If SB 900 had been the law of the land, we would not have smaller class sizes, a state minimum wage, universal Pre-K, Clean Everglades Act or any of the other progressive policies we have been able to enact over the past ten years. Don’t lose your rights – don’t give all power to the Florida Legislature – call and email the Governor now.
Contact the Governor’s Office – tell the “People’s Governor” to look out for the people, protect their right to amend their constitution and
VETO SB 900!
E-Mail Governor Crist - Charlie.Crist@myflorida.com
Phone the Governor’s Office - 850-488-7146
or 850-488-4441
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Dear Governor Crist,
I am praying that you, as the people’s governor, will veto SB 900, another assault by the legislature on the people's right to petition. Do not forget that the First Amendment of the US Constitution specifically guarantees the people the right to "petition the government for redress of grievances."
We still live in a democracy, but the Florida Chamber of Commerce is working 24/7 to destroy it. The Chamber is doing everything in its considerable power to make petitioning next to impossible, scare voters away from signing petitions, and de facto criminalize the exercise of our right to petition--the bedrock of the genius of American democracy.
The Chamber of Commerce, which represents big business, really hates that average citizens, who are fed up with business as usual, are walking in the shoes of our Founding Fathers, and is behind the effort to destroy our Constitutional right to petition. The Chamber largely controls the Florida legislature and now it wants to remove the one and only recourse the people have to reign in a legislature that remains consistently indifferent to the people's interest.
The Chamber also really hates Florida Hometown Democracy, a statewide petition drive to amend the Florida Constitution. This amendment will let voters have the final say over whether or not we want more sprawl in our communities. Why is the Chamber deathly afraid of this petition drive? Why is the Chamber so violently opposed to people voting on comprehensive plan amendments? Because the Chamber knows it will change the politics of growth forever. Who does the Chamber represent? The big developers.
Again Governor Crist, please remember that you represent all the people of Florida. Remember the words of Lincoln and protect "government of the people, by the people and for the people." Please veto SB 900 now.
Respectfully,
Lesley Blackner
Registered voter, Palm Beach County


HELP SAVE WHAT'S LEFT OF FLORIDA...
LET THE PEOPLE VOTE to control growth!
Help put HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY on the 2008 ballot
Please download and SIGN THE PETITION !
http://www.FloridaHometownDemocracy.com
PO Box 636, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170-0636.
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Joan Brunwasser is a co-founder of Citizens for Election Reform (CER) which since 2005 existed for the sole purpose of raising the public awareness of the critical need for election reform. Our goal: to restore fair, accurate, transparent, secure elections where votes are cast in private and counted in public. Because the problems with electronic (computerized) voting systems include a lack of (more...)
 

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