By Michael Moline | Editor in Chief
“Finally, the practicing attorneys took control of the language. The text is honest about what the amendment does. I hope Florida voters will dig deeper, ask hard questions, and understand the consequences before they decide the outcome.” — Jeff Brandes, Florida Policy Project
Attorney General James Uthmeier's office submitted new Amendment 3 title and ballot summary language for judicial review. (Photo by Don Kruse for the Florida Phoenix)
The language is a little less rah-rah now, after AG David Uthmeier’s team have toned it the heck down. Instead of “Save our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes,” the ballot title that will greet voters would read, simply, “Increased Homestead exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non Homestead Property Assessment.” It makes clear counties and cities would be required to use property taxes solely for public safety, education and schools, infrastructure, natural resources, bond debt service, retirement benefits for employees, and operations and administration.
Some 4 million Floridians can’t vote in most of the primary election set for Tuesday. They’ve designated themselves No Party Affiliation and therefore have no say in who the Democrats or Republicans nominate for the general election. Democratic Party of Florida chair Nikki Fried is willing to discuss opening her party to NPAs, but the Florida Republican Party is dead set against it — and why not, they’ve out-registered the Dems by more than 1.5 million voters. In a poll last year, 90% of both Democrats and independents said Florida should adopt open primaries and more than 80% of each group said Democrats should unilaterally open its primaries if that were the only choice.
When Ron DeSantis named Collins lieutenant governor, it looked to a lot of people like naming him an heir apparent, but the governor long ago turned cold. Collins, one of the Republicans lagging far behind Byron Donalds in the polls, remains hopeful of reflecting of the DeSantis shine. “Last time I checked, there were 23.5 million people in Florida,” he said. “I’m the only one who was hand-picked to be the lieutenant governor. What he said on Day One is still factual, functional, and true. I am Day One ready. I’m ready to lead the state of Florida. I don’t need training wheels. I don’t need a time to warm up in the bullpen. I’m running to make sure that we continue what we built.”
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