The Florida Constitution Revision Commission is considering an amendment prohibiting governments from naming public projects after sitting members.
Commissioner John Stemberger wants to amend the state constitution so sitting lawmakers can’t name roads, bridges and buildings after themselves. He says honoring sitting members raises ethical concerns.
“When the perception is that you’re sitting in the body and you’re actually voting for something,” Stemberger says, “it just causes a curdle in your stomach, I think, in the general public to realize—this is not right. This is not right.”
“Let’s honor people, but let’s do it in the correct and most ethical way.”
Stemberger’s proposal also mandates any naming measures pass as a standalone bill.
The panel advanced the plan, but with concerns about ballot fatigue, some commissioners seem to think the idea makes more sense as a state law rather than a constitutional amendment.
