Florida only approves 3 tax relief amendments, all others fail
Florida voters spoke on Tuesday, voting on 11 state constitutional amendments and 8 of those failed to reach the required 60 percent mark for approval.
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Tax relief for low income seniors, disabled veterans and widows of the military or first responders, were the only amendments passing.
Amendment 1 failed 51-49 as it was written to cement the objection to the Obamacare mandate on purchasing health insurance. The highly publicized tie-in to health care reform will likely be used a justification for the universal healthcare laws.
The ban on Federal funds for abortion and parental notification, Amendment 6 failed 55-45 and surprised many pundits who polled Florida as supporting the decisions to stop federal funding of organizations like Planned Parenthood.
“We commend the voters of Florida for joining what has become a national movement to wholly reject these attacks on reproductive freedom and to demand stronger protections for reproductive rights,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO at the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement.
Deemed the “Religious Freedom Act” proved more controversial than expected, failing 56-44, as critics were vocal in the final days leading up to the election, questioning the impacts on the Jewish community and if mosques would receive funds.
One of the most hotly contested measures was Amendment 4, which had 43 percent in favor. It offered property tax reductions for businesses, out-of-state “snowbirds” and others who own second homes in Florida and first-time home buyers.
Amendment 10, a $20 million tax cut for small businesses championed by Gov. Rick Scott, failed as well, receiving less than half the vote. Amendment 3, a state-revenue cap backed by Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, received less than 42 percent approval.
In perhaps one the most decisive defeats of the night, nearly 65 percent of voters rejected Amendment 5, titled “State Courts,” which would have given the Legislature more power over the state’s judicial branch.
