Florida Ballot Measures
There are four measures on the Florida ballot this year: Amendments 1, 2, 3, & 5. Amendment 4 was passed on the primary election ballot. This is Florida, it doesn’t have to be logical.
You can read the official explanation of the amendments, which leaves out the intents of the backers.
Amendments 3 & 5 are feel good referrals by the Republican legislature to give property tax breaks to first responders who were permanently disabled while on duty, and to senior citizens. The legislature does this because they get credit for a tax cut that doesn’t affect them, since property taxes are the principle support for local governments, not the state government. The legislature doesn’t get the blame when local services are cut, and gets the credit for lowering taxes – all gain and no pain.
Amendment 1 is evil- It is written to sound like support for solar energy but it is sponsored by the utilities to block any real change to their business model.
I am only voting yes for Amendment 2 – in spite of the fact that it is titled medical marijuana. The actual citizens who are pushing the amendment have issued a statement of their intent so there is no confusion as to what they want the amendment to accomplish.
When it was grown by the founding fathers, cannabis was used to make ropes, among other products, and was often mandated as a vital crop. ‘Marijuana’ is actually an anti-Mexican slang term for the plant, but it won’t go away.
October 25, 2016 2 Comments
