© 2024 WFSU Public Media
WFSU News · Tallahassee · Panama City · Thomasville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Lawmaker Tries Again To Abolish The Constitution Revision Commission

Man stands in suit and tie with a microphone in his hand. People are sitting down and staring up at him.
Florida House of Representatives

Anger at Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission continues a year after Floridians approved several new plans put on the November 2018 ballot. 

The Constitution Revision Commission lumped different ideas into single proposals— sparking outcry. Rep. Brad Drake, R-DeFuniak Springs, says voters are still giving him an earful.

“That’s the one question that I get calls on the most," says Drake. "People call me and say, ‘Drake, tell me about this amendment. What is this doing? What is this vaping issue? What is this doing with off-shore drilling?’ In this last election cycle, more than any other, people were called and they were mad'.” 

Drake is again trying to abolish the commission after failing to do so earlier this year. 

Desite the fury, the CRC still has its supporters.

"You and I know we talked about this extensively. I was disappointed to see all those confusing policy proposals coming out of the last meeting. But I think there’s a way to address that without just abolishing the commission," said Sen. Ben Diamond, D-St. Petersberg. 

Lawmakers are also considering measures to limit members to single subject proposals. The Constitution Revision Commission meets once every twenty years, and can put amendments directly on the ballot.

Robbie Gaffney graduated from Florida State University with degrees in Digital Media Production and Creative Writing. Before working at WFSU, they recorded FSU’s basketball and baseball games for Seminole Productions as well as interned for the PBS Station in Largo, Florida. Robbie loves playing video games such as Shadow of the Colossus, Animal Crossing, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Their other hobbies include sleeping and watching anime.