Source:
St Pete TimesVeto thwarts attempt to limit ballot initiatives
By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published June 27, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed three bills Tuesday, including one pushed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce that would have shortened the deadlines for citizens and groups seeking to amend the state Constitution.
The Chamber, which has aggressively sought to narrow the ability of what it calls "special interests" to get proposed amendments on the ballot, has had much success in recent years in tightening the rules for ballot initiatives. But Crist decided that the latest Chamber-backed change went too far.
The bill Crist vetoed would have imposed a 30-day deadline for the submission of voters' signatures on initiative petitions to county election supervisors for verification. The bill, SB 900, was sponsored by Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge.
"This provision significantly burdens the right of Florida citizens to propose amendments to the Florida Constitution, " Crist wrote in a veto message.
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