Released by the League of Women Voeters of Florida …
On Monday the League of Women Voters of Florida sent the following letter to the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis asking for his veto on specific legislation passed during the 2019 legislative session: SB 7066, HB 5, SB 7068, SB 7030
Governor DeSantis,
We write to you with a sense of great urgency regarding several dangerous and misguided bills passed by the state legislature this year. These bills, many of which contain important and positive developments, ultimately pose a threat to our state and must be vetoed:
SB 7066: This election reform bill contains several important measures which will protect our democracy and ensure a fair and transparent election process. Unfortunately, the last-minute language creating unjustifiable barriers to returning citizens is counter to the purpose of Amendment 4 and outweighs any positive impact this bill might have had. The people of Florida deserve election security without this modern-day poll tax.
HB 5: This tax bill was amended at the eleventh hour to add unrelated language imposing unjustifiable barriers to citizens engaging in the political process. This dishonest politicking is counter to the principles of our democracy and unbecoming of our state legislature.
SB 7068: This misguided highway bill will devastate natural habitats, use up precious state resources, saddle future generations with billions in costs, exacerbate urban sprawl, and provide little return for the people of Florida.
SB 7030: Despite near-universal opposition from parents, educators, and law enforcement, this bill proposes to flood our schools with dangerous and unsecured firearms, endangering the lives of everyone who attends or works in our school system. While it includes some positive improvements regarding school safety, crime reporting, and mental health efforts, the decision to arm teachers is disastrously misguided.
The people of Florida should not have to accept these bad legislative actions just because they are attached to good ones. Thankfully, we don’t have to. The Constitution of Florida provides the people – through you, our Governor – with an alternative course of action.
We urge you to veto these dangerously misguided bills and recall the Legislature for a special session to address the critical needs of our state.
In your short time as Governor, you have already demonstrated your willingness to listen to the people of Florida on many issues. We believe this situation provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate that leadership once again.
The Legislature failed at its job this year, but the people of Florida need not suffer because of it. As Governor, you alone have the ability to free us from these legislative poison pills.
We look forward to working with you,
Patricia Brigham
President
League of Women Voters of Florida | P.O. Box 1911, Orlando, FL 32802