Florida House tries to thwart the voters’ decision on Amendment 4

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A subcommittee in the Florida House will hear the first bill Tuesday to legislate the process for felons to get their voting rights restored, which voters approved last year with the passage of Amendment 4 by 64% of Florida voters.

But in the typical bait and switch style of our Republican-controlled legislature, it seems the as yet unnamed bill’s true intention is to make it as difficult as possible for convicted felons to register to vote.

Supporters of the state constitutional amendment that passed last year — including Desmond Meade and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition that promoted a winning campaign for the “second chances” amendment — have come out against the bill and urge others to also.

Meade, right, called it an “unconstitutional overreach,” which is way too polite.

Ladra calls it a slap in the fact to voters who overwhelmingly approved the amendment and who want to see these people’s voting rights’ restored.

Neil Volz of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition says the measure changes the definition of completed sentence, which has already been established by the Florida Clemency Board. It will also give non-judicial officials a say on the criteria.

The ACLU issued a “make the call” call for voters to call their state reps on the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and urge them to vote no.

Their Suggested call script:

“Hi, my name is _________ and I’m calling on behalf of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and 1.4 million formerly convicted people throughout Florida who just had their voting rights restored by Amendment 4 last November.

I’m a Florida voter, and I want to say that I am opposed to Proposed Committee Bill 19-03 in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee.

I am opposed to the bill because it will restrict the number of people who are eligible to vote. This bill would change the law to allow people outside of the judicial system to determine who can and can’t participate in our democracy. Florida has an existing standard for completion of sentence that is currently being used. Changing that standard represents a threat to what the nearly 65% of Florida voters who approved Amendment 4 intended.

I ask that the Representative please vote NO on 19-03 in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee tomorrow morning. Thank you!

Who to call:

• Representative Jamie Grant (850) 717-5064
• Representative Stan McClain (850) 717-5023
• Representative Byron Donalds (850) 717-5080
• Representative Dane Eagle (850) 717-5077
• Representative Juan Fernandez-Barquin (850) 717-5119
• Representative Heather Fitzenhagen (850) 717-5078
• Representative Spencer Roach (850) 717-5079
• Representative Will Robinson (850) 717-5071
• Representative Anthony Sabatini (850) 717-5032
• Representative David Santiago (850) 717-5027
• Representative Mike Grieco (850) 717-5113
• Representative James Bush (850) 717-5109
• Representative Mike Gottlieb (850) 717-5098
• Representative Adam Hattersley (850) 717-5059
• Representative Jamie Webb (850) 717-5069

  Amendment 4, Florida House, Tallahassee