Illegal Florida measures tossed

Florida - long a laboratory of right-wing activism - nearly faced ruin at the hands of 3 measures that were slated to appear on the November ballot.

Two of them would've dismantled public education by gutting state constitutional provisions such as the one dealing with handouts to churches and private schools. Another would've slashed property taxes - which would've likely forced an increase in the sales tax. (Having to increase the sales tax would be even more likely if the state gave handouts to private schools.)

But now the Florida Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the way the measures were placed on the ballot is itself illegal. Thus, these referendumbs cannot be on the ballot. Turns out the state's corrupt Taxation and Budget Reform Commission didn't even have authority to place the first 2 measures on the ballot (but tried doing so anyway).

Not only that, but the commission also deliberately used misleading language in the property tax amendment by not making it clear whether the lost revenues would have to be offset.

Life amazes you sometimes. The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission actually had the audacity to try to get away with illegal amendments? I guess that's what happens when years of misrule turn every state function into a wingnut activist run.

The 3 amendments were bad for various reasons. The tax measure would've eliminated billions in property taxes but would've also required the legislature to raise money to make up for it during the 2010-11 fiscal year. In other words, the tax burden would be shifted from those who are relatively well-off to those who are already have a hard time making ends meet. (Propertarianism is almost a state ideology in Florida.)

The other measures were like a wrecking ball against separation of church and state (thus violating the U.S. Constitution). And they would've imported a policy that had failed elsewhere - namely, taxpayer funding of private schools.

For all the animosity that suburban-dominated states seem to have against my politics, at least Florida has a relatively decent state supreme court going for it. They really laid down the law against corruption, illegal deceit, and abuse of power.

(Source: http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/breakingnews/amend090308.htm)