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Florida TaxWatch Shares Its Take On Upcoming Constitutional Amendments

Dominic Calabaro speaking at the press conference.
Nick Evans

The nonprofit government watchdog group Florida TaxWatch released its voter’s guide Wednesday detailing proposed state constitutional amendments. 

Unlike some other issuers of voting guides, fiscally conservative TaxWatch doesn’t take a yes-or-no stance on the initiatives.  Instead, it offers a take on the pros and cons of enacting the amendments.    

Dominic Calabro, head of the organization, says it’s important to exercise caution when changing the state constitution.

“We generally strongly maintain this view: When in doubt, keep it out,” Calabro says.  “It is a very sound proposal to keep – recommendation to keep – because there are so many unintended consequences when you amend organic law in our state constitution.”

The group expresses concern with Amendments One and Two, which it says are policy matters and best handled by the Legislature.  Amendment One would require a third of documentary stamp tax revenue go to environmental conservation, and Amendment Two would allow medical marijuana in the state. 

But the group says Amendment Three is an issue that needs voter input. The initiative would require the governor to choose judges for future vacancies before a sitting judge leaves office, whether through term limits, retirement or losing a retention vote.  TaxWatch points out the amendment would give the next governor significant power over upcoming appointments, including three Supreme Court justices who won’t take their seats until 2019 – the year after the governor’s term ends.

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.