The LWVF board endorses the following positions regarding the proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution as proposed to voters for the 2006 General Election on November 7, 2006. Decisions are based on assessment of current LWVF positions developed by League members, statewide, through study and consensus.

AMENDMENT #1: STATE BUDGET AND PLANNING PROCESS
The League of Women Voters of Florida supports this amendment. The League supports a state fiscal structure that is equitable in its distribution of the tax responsibility and responsive to public needs. The League also believes that a system is needed to measure effectiveness of expenditures of tax dollars in order to provide fiscal accountability and responsibility.

   LWVF recommends a YES vote on Amendment #1.

AMENDMENT #3: BROADER PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND PETITIONS
The League of Women Voters of Florida opposes this amendment. The League strongly supports the right of citizens to propose amendments to the Florida Constitution through the citizen initiative process. In 1996, the League adopted the position that Florida should have both constitutional and statutory initiatives and that criteria should be developed to determine whether an initiative is placed in the constitution or in the statutes. If citizens had the option of passing statutory initiatives in Florida, then the League would favor requiring a supermajority of those voting to pass a constitutional amendment.

   LWVF recommends a NO vote on Amendment #3.

AMENDMENT #4: PROTECT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUTH, FROM ADDICTION, DISEASE AND OTHER HEALTH HAZARDS OF USING TOBACCO.
The League of Women Voters of Florida opposes this amendment. The League believes that this issue should be addressed by statute rather than by amending the Constitution. In addition, the League believes that no source of revenue should be specified, limited, exempted or prohibited in the Constitution.

   LWVF recommends a NO vote on Amendment #4.

AMENDMENT #6: INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
The League of Women Voters of Florida opposes this amendment. The League believes that there should be no increase or extension of the homestead exemption. The League believes that no source of revenue should be specified, limited, exempted or prohibited in the Constitution.

   LWVF recommends a NO vote on Amendment #6.

AMENDMENT #7: PERMANENTLY DISABLED VETERANS’ DISCOUNT ON HOMESTEAD AD VALOREM TAX
The League of Women Voters of Florida opposes this amendment. The League believes that there should be no increase or extension of the homestead exemption. The League believes that no source of revenue should be specified, limited, exempted or prohibited in the Constitution.

   LWVF recommends a NO vote on Amendment #7.

AMENDMENT #8: EMINENT DOMAIN
The League of Women Voters of Florida has no position on this issue.