'It’s going to kill ballot initiatives': Bill upping vote requirement is called unjust for voters

Parents of students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a shooter killed 17 people in 2018, push petitions for 2020 ban on assault weapons in Florida. MIAMI HERALD

The effort by Republicans to complicate the citizen-initiative ballot process marches on.

A joint resolution that would up the number of votes required to approve a constitutional amendment passed its second committee meeting Monday, raising the threshold from 60 percent to 66 and two-thirds percent.

Citizens will first have to vote on the amendment, which would then be approved by a three-fifths vote in both chambers of the Legislature.

Bill sponsor Rep. Rick Roth, a Loxahatchee Republican, said the bill is a “broad base approach” to protect the state’s constitution.

“The constitution is the document that defends the least able to defend themselves,” he said, “Not the wealthy or the lawyers who have millions of dollars to have a medical marijuana bill.”

If adopted, the resolution would take effect in 2021. The Senate version of the bill, put forward by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, has cleared its first two committee stops.  

The bills are not the first to make it more difficult to get constitutional amendments before voters this year, particularly before a crucial presidential election in which other groups hope to get before voters amendments banning assault weapons, requiring Medicaid expansion and raising Florida's minimum wage.

Another pair of bills put forward by Republicans would require, among other things, that ballot initiatives pay petitioners by wage or hour, not by signatures gathered; include the name of the initiative's sponsor on the ballot; disclose the percent of money raised by sources in-state and allow for interested parties to weigh in, and file a 50-word “position statement” either for or against the proposal to be posted on the Department of State’s website.

Lawmakers have steadily made it more difficult to amend Florida’s constitution in the past, limiting the amount of time a group has to collect signatures and raising the threshold for an amendment’s passage to its current 60 percent.

Without much power in Tallahassee over the last 20 years, progressive groups have been most successful pushing policies passed by voters who approved amendments.

Rep. Margaret Good, a Sarasota Democrat, said voters who care about topics like the environment, medical marijuana and Medicaid expansion turn to the ballot process to make change.

“Citizens have a real and effective voice in our government when it is clear that our legislature is not adequately addressing issues that are important to our citizens,” Good said. “This is, right now, the only answer that citizens have to this very, very broken process. Raising the bar is quashing the voice of the voters and the citizens of this state.”

The signature-focused bills would affect two major amendments that could appear on the 2020 ballot, one raising the minimum wage and the other allowing “energy choice,” advocates for those ideas say.

Alex Patton, chairman of a committee trying to get an energy-choice amendment initiative on the ballot, said that the bill makes it “obvious: that “the powers that be do not like citizens speaking up them.”

“In almost all cases, it’s impossible to get two-thirds of the state of Florida to agree on anything,” Patton said. “It’s going to kill ballot initiatives.”

'It’s going to kill ballot initiatives': bill upping vote requirement is called unjust for voters

Parents of students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a shooter killed 17 people in 2018, push petitions for 2020 ban on assault weapons in Florida. MIAMI HERALD

The effort by Republicans to complicate the citizen-initiative ballot process marches on.

A joint resolution that would up the number of votes required to approve a constitutional amendment passed its second committee meeting Monday, raising the threshold from 60 percent to 66 and two-thirds percent.

Citizens will first have to vote on the amendment, which would then be approved by a three-fifths vote in both chambers of the Legislature.

Bill sponsor Rep. Rick Roth, a Loxahatchee Republican, said the bill is a “broad base approach” to protect the state’s constitution.

“The constitution is the document that defends the least able to defend themselves,” he said, “Not the wealthy or the lawyers who have millions of dollars to have a medical marijuana bill.”

If adopted, the resolution would take effect in 2021. The Senate version of the bill, put forward by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, has cleared its first two committee stops.  

The bills are not the first to make it more difficult to get constitutional amendments before voters this year, particularly before a crucial presidential election in which other groups hope to get before voters amendments banning assault weapons, requiring Medicaid expansion and raising Florida's minimum wage.

Another pair of bills put forward by Republicans would require, among other things, that ballot initiatives pay petitioners by wage or hour, not by signatures gathered; include the name of the initiative's sponsor on the ballot; disclose the percent of money raised by sources in-state and allow for interested parties to weigh in, and file a 50-word “position statement” either for or against the proposal to be posted on the Department of State’s website.

Lawmakers have steadily made it more difficult to amend Florida’s constitution in the past, limiting the amount of time a group has to collect signatures and raising the threshold for an amendment’s passage to its current 60 percent.

Without much power in Tallahassee over the last 20 years, progressive groups have been most successful pushing policies passed by voters who approved amendments.

Rep. Margaret Good, a Sarasota Democrat, said voters who care about topics like the environment, medical marijuana and Medicaid expansion turn to the ballot process to make change.

“Citizens have a real and effective voice in our government when it is clear that our legislature is not adequately addressing issues that are important to our citizens,” Good said. “This is, right now, the only answer that citizens have to this very, very broken process. Raising the bar is quashing the voice of the voters and the citizens of this state.”

The signature-focused bills would affect two major amendments that could appear on the 2020 ballot, one raising the minimum wage and the other allowing “energy choice,” advocates for those ideas say.

Alex Patton, chairman of a committee trying to get an energy-choice amendment initiative on the ballot, said that the bill makes it “obvious: that “the powers that be do not like citizens speaking up them.”

“In almost all cases, it’s impossible to get two-thirds of the state of Florida to agree on anything,” Patton said. “It’s going to kill ballot initiatives.”

Senate Democrats take stance against 'sanctuary city' bill

Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, speaks on the Senate floor during the 2017 session. FLORIDA SENATE

Senate Democrats have unanimously decided to take a caucus position against SB 168, a bill by Sarasota Republican Sen. Joe Gruters to address so-called “sanctuary cities.”

The decision was announced after an emergency meeting during Wednesday’s floor session, according to a press release from the Florida Senate Democratic Office.

The legislation, which has moved through committees with split votes along party lines, creates rules relating to federal immigration enforcement by prohibiting “sanctuary” policies and requiring state and local law enforcement to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill also would give whistleblower status to officers who report undocumented immigrants detained in local jails on unrelated charges.

Under this bill, local law enforcement would be required to honor federal law enforcement’s request for an “immigration detainer,” meaning a request that another law enforcement agency detain a person based on probable cause to believe that the person is a “removable alien” under federal immigration law. The bill would essentially make the “request” a requirement.

“We opposed this bill at its first hearing. And we will continue to oppose this bill as it moves through the process,” said Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville. “The vote of the Caucus signals our unwavering commitment to the protection of immigrants in this state, and a repudiation of the scapegoating of immigrants in this country.”

Sen. Annette Taddeo said she and fellow Miami Democrat José Javier Rodríguez pushed for a caucus position, something she doesn’t take lightly.

“We’d rather each Senator vote, but I’m heartened by the fact that it was unanimous,” she said. “Taking a caucus position is not something we do often, and we do not take it lightly. We’re united on this issue.”

Activists and leaders across the state have spoken out against the bill both at the Capitol and in their communities.

Speaking on Spanish-language radio station Actualidad Radio 1040 AM, Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina told interviewers he would rather be thrown out of the police department than forced to comply with the proposed law. He said he didn’t think he could sleep at night if he had to spend time addressing a victim’s immigration status.

“The truth is I’d prefer not to have this job if I have to ask fellow officers to go check where someone came from before helping them,” he said.

Kara Gross, the ACLU’s Florida legislative counsel, said last week that the bill will disproportionately affect people who are not dangerous because those who are detained in jail — not prison — have not yet been convicted of a crime. The bill also applies to people who are being released from jail, meaning they are likely not considered dangerous enough to be held without bail.

“There are lots of reasons people, and often disproportionately people of color and immigrants or perceived immigrants, end up in jail for non-violent minor offenses,” Gross said. “Driving without a license, driving with a suspended license, underage drinking, graffiti, possession of small amounts of marijuana … they haven’t been convicted of anything at all, let alone a violent offense.”

The bill has been referred to the Rules committee for its last stop before the floor, but has not yet been put on the committee's agenda. 

Bittel won't resign Miami-Dade committeeman post til Dec. 10, after new Democratic election

@PatriciaMazzei

Ousted Florida Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Bittel plans to give up his post as Miami-Dade County's state committeeman -- but not until after his successor atop the state party is elected.

Juan Cuba, chairman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee, told the Miami Herald on Tuesday that Bittel will remain committeeman until a day after the scheduled, Dec. 9 election in Orlando to pick the state party's new chief.

"He intends to resign as committeeman on Dec. 10," Cuba said.

As Miami-Dade committeeman, Bittel holds power over 62 votes in the next chairman election, according to state party rules. That gives him the single largest share of the vote in the state.

Cuba’s announcement made it seem like Bittel was staying on to wield his outside influence on picking his successor. However, Cuba later clarified that Bittel plans to give Cuba his proxy to cast the votes on Miami-Dade Democrats’ behalf. 

After some members raised internal concerns about having their views — and not just Bittel’s behind-the-scenes wishes — represented in the proxy vote, Cuba said Miami-Dade Democrats will be able to cast an internal vote for state chair to determine his vote in Orlando.

Bittel was forced to step down over accusations from several women that he leered at them and treated them unprofessionally in the workplace.

The party's chief administrator, Sally Boynton Brown, who was hired by Bittel in April, also resigned Monday. 

The Herald had asked Cuba and the state party Monday if Bittel's resignation as chairman -- effective at 11:59 p.m. Monday -- would include resigning as committeeman. Cuba did not have an answer until Tuesday, when he emailed Miami-Dade DEC members to inform them about Bittel's decision and about turning a planned Dec. 11 holiday party into a regular meeting and county election instead. He later emailed them again noting that Bittel would give Cuba his voting proxy.

Contenders have until 5 p.m. on Dec. 8 to declare their candidacies and be listed on the party ballot. 

This post has been updated.

Photo credit: Patrick Farrell, Miami Herald staff

Florida Democratic Party president resigns

@PatriciaMazzei

The crisis at the top of the Florida Democratic Party continued Monday with the resignation of Sally Boynton Brown, the party's president and chief administrator.

Her exit followed last week's decision by chairman Stephen Bittel to quit after he was accused of creating an unprofessional work environment for women.

"It has been a privilege to serve the Florida Democratic Party and I wish you continued success turning Florida Blue," Boynton Brown wrote Bittel and Vice Chairwoman Judy Mount in her resignation letter, which was effective immediately.

On Sunday, Boynton Brown angered some Democrats by publishing a post on Medium in which she appeared to defend Bittel. Boynton Brown wrote she never saw Bittel demean women, as six women told Politico Florida last week, and said she was "heartbroken" that staff didn't come to her directly with their complaints about him.

"It is unfortunate that not everyone who has worked with Chairman Bittel has had the same experience I have," she wrote. "In my experience, Chairman Bittel has been refreshingly open to feedback, given by myself and others, about his conversational style and modified his approach when he learned that others found it off-putting." 

She also suggested new internal policies to prevent sexual harassment in the future, including hiring a personnel director and interviewing current and former staff about whether they've been harassed.

Bittel, who was elected chairman in January, hired Boynton Brown in April from the Idaho Democratic Party.

Mount will be interim chair once Bittel formally resigns as of 11:59 p.m. Monday, according to the party. It is unclear whether he will also be resigning his position as Miami-Dade state committeeman. If he doesn't, Bittel would have the single largest voice in the state in electing his successor, given Miami-Dade's outsize clout under the party's formula.

Mount, a longtime activist and former head of the Jackson County Democratic Executive Committee, had told supporters Friday that she intended to seek the chairmanship permanently.

But in a sign of ongoing internal party turmoil, Mount announced Monday that she will not run.

"I have always supported the Florida Democratic Party, its candidates and the causes so important to all of us true blue Democrats. I will continue to do so, just not as the next elected Chair," Mount said in a statement released by the party. "I said on Friday the focus was not on me. That's true. The focus is on advancing the causes and candidates of the Florida Democratic Party, moving forward and winning in 2018."

Also on Monday, Terrie Rizzo of the Palm Beach Democratic Party said in a Facebook post that she would seek Bittel's seat. Activist Alan Clendenin of Hillsborough County has said he'll run, and other state Democrats are considering candidacies as well.

A vote has been scheduled for Dec. 9 in Orlando.

Bittel resigns

@PatriciaMazzei

Stephen Bittel’s rocky tenure as Florida Democratic Party chairman ended in disgrace Friday after he resigned following accusations from women that he leered at them, made suggestive comments and created an unprofessional work environment.

“When my personal situation becomes distracting to our core mission of electing Democrats and making Florida better, it is time for me to step aside,” Bittel said in a statement. “I am proud of what we have built as a Party and the wins we have had for Florida families, but I apologize for all who have felt uncomfortable during my tenure at the Democratic Party.”

Bittel said he is working with party leaders to set a date to elect his successor.

Elected in January after a contentious internal campaign, Bittel lasted less than a year on the job.

Bittel’s position became untenable after all four major Democratic candidates for Florida governor urged his ouster following a Politico Florida report late Thursday in which six women anonymously complained about Bittel’s behavior. They called him “creepy” and “demeaning.”

More here.

Photo credit: Patrick Farrell, Miami Herald staff

Democrats call on Bittel to resign over accusations from women

@PatriciaMazzei

All four major Democratic candidates for Florida governor called on the chairman of the state party, Stephen Bittel, to resign Friday after Bittel apologized over accusations he created an uncomfortable work environment for women, the latest case of sexual impropriety rocking the state capital.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and Orlando businessman Chris King urged Bittel to step down after Politico Florida cited six anonymous women late Thursday who complained they found Bittel “creepy” over repeated inappropriate remarks, leering looks and invitations to join him on his private jet.

“These courageous women came forward with disturbing stories of harassment, and it’s our duty to stand in the gap for them and others in these situations,” Gillum said in a statement Friday. “Although these allegations are not criminal, they clearly paint a picture of a hostile working environment for women.”

In a statement of her own, Graham said she telephoned Bittel and asked him to leave his post. “No one should have to work in an uncomfortable environment,” she said. “Bittel’s behavior and the atmosphere he has created is unacceptable.”

Levine said he espouses a “zero tolerance for harassment in politics or the workplace.” 

“It’s time to change the culture and it must start at the top,” Levine said. “I hope Chairman Bittel does the right thing and steps down as Chairman.”

King made reference to the wave of sexual harassment and assault allegations that have been made public recently against influential men in media, the movie industry and politics, including in Tallahassee’s insular state Capitol.

More here.

Photo credit: Patrick Farrell, Miami Herald staff

Florida Democratic Party raises almost $3.5 million

@amysherman1

The Florida Democratic Party announced that it raised nearly $3.5 million during the first half of the fiscal year.

The party got a big fundraising boost due to the visit by former Vice President Joe Biden who was the keynote speaker at the Leadership Blue event in Hollywood in June. 

From a press release from party chairman Stephen Bittel, Senate Democratic Leader Designate Jeff Clemens and House Democratic Leader Designate Kionne McGhee:

“Democrats are more fired up and ready to win than ever before. Having raised nearly $3.5 million this year, Florida Democrats are immensely grateful for the generous support of our donors and Democratic legislators from across the state. We are committed to supporting Democrats from schoolboard to U.S. Senate, and as we continue to build grassroots enthusiasm and raise resources, we are confident that Florida Democrats will win in 2018."

 

 

For now, embattled Florida Democratic Party chairman keeps his job

@PatriciaMazzei

Two top African-American Democrats in the Florida Legislature aired their grievances Tuesday with Florida Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Bittel, reaching an apparent truce — for now — after Bittel called black lawmakers “childish.”

Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon of Miami Gardens and future House Democratic Leader Kionne McGhee of Miami stopped short of asking Bittel for his resignation during a two-hour-long private meeting at Bittel’s Miami Beach office Tuesday.

But the lawmakers, who remain upset, said they demanded that Bittel take a more inclusive approach to leading the party ahead of the 2018 election. 

“There are things that he is going to have to do, that the party is going to have to do, to make sure that respect is shown,” Braynon said, citing outreach to minority communities and diverse party committee appointments as examples. “There have to be legitimate action items.”

Does he think Bittel will follow through? “I don’t think he has a choice,” Braynon said. 

Braynon said it wasn’t up to him to call for Bittel’s resignation, given that he’d never backed him as chairman in the first place — and wouldn’t if the vote took place again today, he added.

“I would not vote for him again, just like I didn’t vote for him before,” Braynon said.

Braynon said Bittel once again apologized for saying the senator had been acting like “a 3-year-old” at the party’s annual fundraiser Saturday night.

In a statement released after the meeting Tuesday, Bittel tried to look forward.

“Our meeting was productive and we are moving forward together to secure victory in 2018,” he said. “Together we are focused on electing Democrats who will stand up for working families and bring change and economic progress to Florida.”

More here.

Florida Democratic Party chair called black legislators 'childish,' and drama ensued

@PatriciaMazzei

The Florida Democratic Party’s big annual fundraiser ended in acrimony Saturday night after Stephen Bittel, the party chairman, dismissed anger from lawmakers who didn’t get introduced on stage as a “childish” complaint from African-American legislators.

Bittel also said state Sen. Oscar Braynon of Miami Gardens, the Senate Democratic leader who had expressed lawmakers’ unhappiness to the chairman, was acting like “a 3-year-old.” Bittel has since apologized.

Most Democratic legislators — not only African-American ones — were upset that Bittel, looking to speed up the program to get to former Vice President Joe Biden’s keynote speech, scrapped the part where Braynon and Rep. Janet Cruz of Tampa, the House Democratic leader, would present the members of their respective caucuses. Biden noted his appearance was keeping him from his wife on the night of their 40th wedding anniversary.

Braynon, who said he didn’t care one way or another about speaking at the annual Leadership Blue gala, nevertheless warned Bittel lawmakers would not like being passed over. Already the party had decided not to introduce each legislator by name, citing time constraints. Instead, Braynon and Cruz were each supposed to get four minutes each with their colleagues on stage before U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson introduced Biden.

Bittel, whose relationship with Braynon has been contentious, ignored Braynon’s warning, even though lawmakers had begun lining up by the stage and didn’t know the program had been changed. Bittel proposed bringing lawmakers up after Biden spoke. By then, the dinner’s roughly 1,300 attendees were streaming out of the room, and the legislators got no recognition, other than a pre-taped video that featured some of them, along with the Democratic candidates for governor. 

After the dinner, Sen. Lauren Book of Plantation, who is white, asked Bittel about the snub — prompting Bittel’s outburst blaming African-American legislators for complaining, even though Cruz, who is Hispanic, and others were also angry.

“He said, ‘They’re like children, these black lawmakers. They just don’t get it,’” Braynon said, relaying what Book told him. “‘I raised more money in this amount of time than they ever could.’”

More here.