As high unemployment continues to plague the Sunshine State, working families and small business owners have been disproportionately affected. In the midst of such perilous economic times, the last thing Florida needs is an amendment that would kill jobs, raise taxes, and promote endless litigation at taxpayer expense. However, that is exactly what Amendment 4, a proposed rewrite to the state constitution, would do. This “Vote on Everything” amendment would force taxpayers to fund expensive referenda for every technical change to their local comprehensive plan.
This November, voters will be faced with a number of tough decisions at the ballot box. Fortunately, one of the most important decisions should also be the easiest. Amendment 4, a "citizens will have to VOTE ON EVERYTHING related to land use changes, amendments, and even text corrections to existing regulations", would cause delays in the approval process that would kill jobs, raise taxes, increase costs and frequency of elections, and lead to endless litigation at taxpayer expense.
Amendment 4 Opposed by a Diverse Statewide Coalition
Date:
June 14, 2010
With Amendment 4 scheduled to appear on the November ballot, debate surrounding this controversial “Vote on Everything” proposal seems to intensify daily. Instead of focusing on their amendment and discussing its merits, the special interests behind Amendment 4 continue to attack its opponents with fanciful rhetoric and imaginative half-truths designed to distract voters from the facts.
Amendment 4 / Hometown Democracy Does Require Special Elections. Exhibit A: St. Pete Beach
Source:
St. Pete Beach & Hometown Democracy/Amendment 4
Date:
May 31, 2010
Supporters of Amendment 4 / Florida Hometown Democracy have repeatedly claimed that while Amendment 4 requires all comprehensive plans and comp plan changes to be put to a vote at "the next regularly-scheduled election", the proposed Amendment 4 "does not require special elections."
This is not true.
Amendment 4 Opens The Floodgates For Special Interest Lawsuits
Date:
April 30, 2010
This November, voters will be faced with a number of tough decisions at the ballot box. Fortunately, one of the most important decisions should also be the easiest. Amendment 4, a “Vote on Everything” proposal, would kill jobs, raise taxes, and lead to endless litigation at taxpayer expense.
Amendment Will Cost Florida Jobs
Date:
April 2, 2010
Legislative Session is upon us and the top concern for Florida’s lawmakers is tackling record unemployment in our state. However, this work is overshadowed by Amendment 4—a proposed change to our state constitution, which threatens to drive Florida’s unemployment rate even higher.
Amendment 4 Will Hurt Taxpayers
Date:
March 8, 2010
As our state’s economy continues to buckle under the strain of the Great Recession, Floridians have been forced to tighten their belts. However, even as many working families and small businesses struggle to make ends meet, a handful of well-funded lawyers and special interest groups are trying to pass an irresponsible amendment to our state constitution that would lead to painful property tax increases.
SPECIAL REPORT: Amendment 4 to cost over 260,000 jobs, study says
Date:
February 6, 2010
Business, civic and labor leaders gathered in Tallahassee recently to hear the report of a top Florida economist indicating that Amendment 4—a proposed re-write of our state constitution—would lead to massive job loss.
St. Pete Beach Abandons Local Version of Amendment 4
Date:
November 5, 2009
Since beginning a 3-year experiment in Amendment 4-style rule, St. Pete Beach residents have seen endless lawsuits, higher taxes and widespread economic turmoil.
Amendment 4: Defining the Debate
Date:
September 11, 2009
The wealthy backers of Amendment 4 (formerly known as ?Hometown Democracy?) have invested six years and nearly $2 million in their attempt to re-write Florida?s constitution. With their amendment now slated to appear on the 2010 ballot, the debate over this anti-jobs proposal is rapidly heating up.
Helping to Stop Admendment 4
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