Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, Inc.

Florida Supreme Court Ruling Clarifies Fate of Extreme Ballot Measure

(ORLANDO ? June 17, 2009) The Florida Supreme Court issued a ruling on Wednesday that clarifies the status of the most controversial ballot initiative in Florida history. The decision?which came as no surprise to most observers?upheld a lower court ruling that prevented petition-signers from revoking their signatures. That means the political action committee calling itself ?Hometown Democracy?, which has collected virtually all of its petitions using paid gatherers, will not have to worry about losing any recent signatures to revocation.

?We are not surprised by the court?s ruling, but we had naturally hoped for a different outcome,? said Ryan Houck, executive director for Floridians for Smarter Growth, the statewide campaign against Hometown Democracy. ?While we?re disappointed with the decision, we are even more disappointed that Florida Hometown Democracy?a group that says it wants to empower voters?would seek to rescind the people?s right to reconsider their signature.?

Wednesday?s ruling only confirms a development for which opponents of the no-growth amendment having been preparing for months: After three failed attempts, it appears that the ?Vote on Everything? amendment is finally headed for the 2010 ballot.

If passed, Hometown Democracy would require direct voter approval for thousands of technical land use amendments. The idea has already been attempted in St. Pete Beach, a small Pinellas county town that adopted a local version of the amendment in 2006. Since then, the town has become a battleground for competing special interests and endless litigation at taxpayer expense.

?This proposal would take an enormous toll on Florida?s economy,? said Houck. ?If passed, it may leave our state in a permanent recession.?

Floridians for Smarter Growth leads the statewide opposition to the so-called ?Hometown Democracy? amendment. Among 135 other groups that oppose the would-be amendment are the Florida Chamber of Commerce, 1000 Friends of Florida, the Florida American Planning Association and the Florida Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.