News

Often asked for a “primer” on Amendment 4, Ryan Houck, Executive Director of the “VOTE NO on 4” Campaign, has prepared the following article - Amendment 4 “101” - which provides the basic information every Floridian should know about this proposed Constitutional Amendment.

What are the facts?
On November 2nd, you will be asked to vote yes or no on a plan to alter Florida’s Constitution called Amendment 4.  Special interest lawyers, adult entertainment interests and population control groups have designed, funded and proposed this amendment to our Constitution.  Take a moment to learn more about who’s backing Amendment 4 and why. 

What is the issue?
Amendment 4 will prolong the recession and put recovery out of reach for thousands of working Floridians.  As a result, leading business, labor, and civic groups oppose Amendment 4   

What will the measure do?
This proposed change to Florida’s Constitution would require a taxpayer-funded referendum for every single change to a local government comprehensive plan.  Simply stated, Amendment 4 would force Floridians, not the representatives they elect, to decide hundreds of minor, technical comprehensive plan changes each year on issues like drainage, traffic circulation, and intergovernmental coordination.

What does that mean for you?
Here is what Amendment 4 means for you: (1) a Florida with drastically fewer jobs, (2) a significantly weaker economy, and (3) unbearably higher taxes to feed the Amendment 4 “litigation” bureaucracy.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce asked leading economists to study the impact of Amendment 4.  The study indicates that Amendment 4 would likely put more than 267,000 Floridians out of work, shrink Florida’s economic output by more than $34 billion annually, and take nearly $12 billion out of the pockets of working families.

With Florida’s jobless rate reaching well into double digits, our state’s top business and labor groups have put politics aside to oppose Amendment 4.  Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce wrote: “If you like the recession, you’ll love Amendment 4.”  Frank Ortis, executive board member with Florida’s AFL-CIO noted that “Amendment 4 will devastate Florida's economy by costing hundreds of thousands of jobs and driving the unemployment rate even higher.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “The cost to local governments of [Amendment 4] would soar into the millions.” Those costs would be shouldered by Florida’s taxpayers who could expect to see not only more government waste, but also nonstop lawsuits as special interests wage war in court over the technical wording of endless ballot summaries.  Referencing a failed experiment in Amendment 4-style rule in the small Florida town of St. Pete Beach, the St. Petersburg Times wrote that Amendment 4 leads to “short-term thinking” and “invites lawsuits…”

What is the conclusion?
Florida’s jobless rate is high—but it could get much, much worse with the passage of Amendment 4.  At a time when many families and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet, that’s the last thing we need.  Please take the time to learn more about Amendment 4 by visiting www.Florida2010.org.  

Contact:
Ryan Houck
Executive Director
“VOTE NO on 4” Campaign
(407) 496-4035 (mobile)
www.Florida2010.org

Paid political advertisement - paid for and sponsored by Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, Inc. 610 South Blvd, Tampa FL 33606

Central Florida Partnership - Ideas to Results
The Central Florida Partnership is a collaborative of business and civic leaders committed to procuring a better tomorrow for Central Florida's seven counties - Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia. We are thoughtful leaders united by a single, guiding principle - that we have both the power and the responsibility to make change happen.

Working together, through four lines of business – Orlando, Inc. (Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce) (Regional Entrepreneurship), BusinessForce (Regional Public Policy Advocacy), myregion.org (Regional Research & Resolves) and Leadership Orlando (Regional Leadership) – the Central Florida Partnership is moving “Ideas to Results.”

About the Central Florida Partnership
Click here to learn more about the Central Florida Partnership.
Click here for the Central Florida Partnership Board of Directors.