Petition for a Florida Constitutional Amendment Banning Offshore Drilling

[Gidget]

(didn't know if this went under local government of environment or both)

Save Our Shores! Florida: Petition for a Florida Constitutional Amendment Banning Offshore Drilling

700,000 signatures needed!

Florida relies on clean beaches and pristine waters for our economic and environmental well-being. Oil drilling in our state marine waters, which extend three miles into the Atlantic Ocean and 10 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, is simply too great a risk to take. Unfortunately, some of our elected leaders have been heavily influenced by powerful oil companies like BP, and in 2009 the Florida House of Representatives voted to end the current drilling ban. Fortunately, the bill failed in the Senate.

In order to stop any future attempts by the Florida Legislature to allow near-shore oil drilling on our coasts, we have formed a coalition with Save our Seas, Beaches and Shores, Inc. to coordinate a citizens’ petition drive to place the ban on the November 2012 ballot.
This will not be easy. We will need approximately 700,000 verified petitions and around $70,000 for the signature verification process. As of today, we have received approval for the Constitutional Amendment Petition Form from the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections. We have until February of 2012 to hand in all of our signatures. The Petition Form is attached below.


IMPORTANT:
1) All petitions must be from registered Florida voters. If you are a student, use the address where you are registered to vote.
2) Forms must be filled out completely and sent in to the address at the bottom of the form.
3) While you may enter either your Voter Registration Number or Date of Birth, using the Voter Registration Number will speed the processing by the Supervisor of Elections offices.
4) Forms should not be altered in any way. Any changes to the form, including scribbling, writing not included on the original form, stamps, etc. will cause the petition to be rejected by the Supervisor of Elections.


Please print this form and mail it in. Leave the "paid petition circulator" section blank. (or give to local Surfrider rep.)

Thanks
Shirley aka Gidget

[Jdarg]

In order to stop any future attempts by the Florida Legislature to allow near-shore oil drilling on our coasts, we have formed a coalition with Save our Seas, Beaches and Shores, Inc. to coordinate a citizens’ petition drive to place the ban on the November 2012 ballot.


This is the important part- if enough people sign the petition, it "Lets the People Vote"!! The people of Florida need to decide this issue.

Thanks Gidget!

[SWGB]

Keep in mind that constitutional amendments require a 60% majority to pass.

[Andy A]

Not only do they require a 60% vote, amending the state constitution every two years in not really a good thing. The legislature can do it much more quickly and efficiently. Contact your elected representatives and senators.

[Jdarg]

Not only do they require a 60% vote, amending the state constitution every two years in not really a good thing. The legislature can do it much more quickly and efficiently. Contact your elected representatives and senators.

Our elected representatives have refused to listen on this one before- they have no intention on listening to the people, and sorry Andy, but it's the Republicans. I will say that I know many Republicans that want to see this constitutional amendment happen, so why aren't our Republican elected officials listening to their consituents? We had a chance for excellent representation with David Pleat....ah well....

This issue is important enough to let the citizens of Florida decide- protections for our waters and the largest part of the state's economy (tourism) should be in our state constitution.

I have no confidence in the elected officials in this state, and I don't trust them to consider this as carefully as it should be considered, therefore, let the people decide, as they are the ones who will be impacted the most by the destruction of the environment and the impact from that- we have already had a taste, and don't want more.

[scooterbug44]

I want a constitutional amendment so that we have to vote again to allow it.

Legislation can easily be changed and without the pubic knowing about it - not the case when it has to be on the ballot.

Far too often what is going on in Tallahassee is being intentionally done without the voters' knowledge and against their interests.

[30A Skunkape]

Not only do they require a 60% vote, amending the state constitution every two years in not really a good thing. The legislature can do it much more quickly and efficiently. Contact your elected representatives and senators.

Andy, the recently re-elected District 7 automaton raised six figures during the last election cycle. Want to guess how many dollars came from zip code 32459? By my count, not a dime as of the weekend before the election. I'm guessing she doesn't give a damn about what 32459 has to say regarding near shore petroleum extraction. Now print that form off and sign it!