Take Back Amendment 1

75% of Florida Voters Are Wrong?

Apparently Florida state legislators believe this. Because they are ignoring our votes. And, we elected these people.

Amendment 1 Is Being Hijacked
Last November, Amendment 1 was overwhelmingly approved by Florida voters. The intent of the amendment was to provide independent funding for the purchase and management of new land and water resources for 20 years.

Now legislators plan to redirect Amendment 1 funds for use on “existing” land and water projects, many of which fall into their own districts. They are violating a binding amendment for their own use. This is political hijacking.

Time Is Very Short
One pressing issue is a tract of 46,000 acres south of Lake Okeechobee. This land is ideal for building a reservoir and channeling lake discharges south toward the Everglades. This would eliminate these discharges from polluting rivers and streams in populated areas where this water currently flows. The state has the right to purchase this land. But it must do so before October 1 of this year.

You Can Fight Back
Make your voice heard. If you voted for Amendment 1, now is the time to stand up for your vote. Contact state legislators today. Simply choose one of the four letters listed below and fill out the required information. Your protest email will be sent immediately to the list of these political violators.

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11/23/2024

Water Matters and Votes Count

Dear Governor Scott,

I voted for Amendment 1 along with the other 75% of voters who expressed their opinions last November. Now I hear the legislature wants to renege on the promise of Amendment 1. They want to "maintain existing" parcels rather than buying new ones.

Florida's only natural resources are land and water. They must sustain our ever increasing resident population and tourism numbers for future generations. Thinking small won't get it done.

Amendment 1 is intended to create an independent funding source for the purchase and maintenance of new land and water resources for 20 years. This will require bold moves and long-term thinking. Maintaining existing resources may seem necessary, but our children and their children will not have the land and water they need if we don't initiate large scale projects now.

I'm a proponent of Florida's springs. These springs do have water problems. But, the large scale way to address these quality problems is not to spend money to enact the protection that DEP and Water Management Districts should have been doing all along. Rather Amendment 1 money should be used to purchase land around springs and abutting spring runs. That's what I voted for.

In our democracy, voters’ wishes are paramount. They trump legislator preferences. Amendment 1 should be taken back by the people who voted overwhelmingly for this plan to begin with. Water matters and votes count. Do not hijack Amendment 1 for your own purposes. Fulfill the people's will.

Sincerely,
Your Name

cc: House Speaker Steve Crisafulli
cc: Senate President Andy Gardiner
cc: Senate Appropriations Chair Alan Hays
cc: Senator Joe Negron
11/23/2024

State Legislators Ignore the Voters

Dear Governor Scott,

I'm appalled by the way State legislators are usurping voters rights as expressed on Amendment 1 last November.

In a recent article in a local paper, the House Speaker said the following:

"(For) a lot of people on the street, the folks who voted for this, the selling point was about buying more land. (But) I feel there are a lot of parcels the state owns out here that need management plans in place."

Clearly, Speaker Cristafulli has a right to his opinion. So do the voters. And, 75% of us voted to approve Amendment 1, a proposal that called for the establishment of an independent funding source for buying and managing new land and water resources for 20 years.

Where does the Speaker get off denying voters' wishes and hijacking Amendment 1 funding for use on small scale existing projects, likely in his own district.

Amendment 1 must be taken back by the people and directed to the projects for which it was intended. For me, it's simple: water matters and votes count. The people have spoken and their wishes should always take precedence.

Sincerely,
Your Name

cc: House Speaker Steve Crisafulli
cc: Senate President Andy Gardiner
cc: Senate Appropriations Chair Alan Hays
cc: Senator Joe Negron
11/23/2024

Use Amendment 1 Money for Land Purchases

Dear Governor Scott,

As a resident of the Treasure Coast, I have witnessed first hand how the toxic discharges from Lake Okeechobee have killed our fish and poisoned our waters. So, I voted "yes" on Amendment 1 last fall. 75 percent of Florida's voters did likewise.

Now I learn that our state legislators do not plan to honor my vote. The intent of Amendment 1 is to provide an independent funding source to acquire and manage new land and water resources for 20 years. This is good for me, for my kids and maybe even their kids. But, legislators appear more interested in spending on "existing" land and water projects, many of which are in their own districts.

I view this as nothing short of hijacking and a blatant attempt to nullify my vote. What they propose should be covered in the annual budget, which is designed to support on-going maintenance of state properties.

Where is the political will these legislators need to prevent toxic discharges from flooding our rivers, streams and lagoons? Using Amendment 1 money to buy land in the Everglades Agricultural area to create a reservoir and send water south to help Miami is a necessary large scale project that legislators seem too timid to embrace.

It's time you and your colleagues lead with courage and foresight to attack major land and water projects, which will help future generations. Do you want to be known as the head of maintenance or a visionary who saved Florida's land and water legacy for years?

Water is important to me and my vote counts. Do the right thing, not just what's politically advantageous. Use Amendment 1 funds for what they were intended: to save our future, not to shore up our present.

Sincerely,
Your Name

cc: House Speaker Steve Crisafulli
cc: Senate President Andy Gardiner
cc: Senate Appropriations Chair Alan Hays
cc: Senator Joe Negron
11/23/2024

My Vote for Amendment 1 is being Hijacked

Dear Governor Scott,

You are trying to hijack Amendment 1 and nullify my vote. This is not how democracy works.

I was one of the 4.2 million Florida voters who supported Amendment 1 last November. This amendment was intended to provide an independent funding source for purchase and management of new land and water resources for 20 years.

Because earlier Florida state governments had stolen money earmarked for protecting land and water resources, Amendment 1 specifically stipulated how these new funds were to be used.

You and your colleagues have arbitrarily decided that you know better than the voters. You plan to use this money dedicated to new, large scale land and water transactions for managing existing smaller projects, many of which just happen to fall in your own districts.

In doing so, you are repeating the outlaw behavior of earlier administrations. Only this time you are blatantly violating a binding amendment and ignoring my basic rights as a voter.

This action is totally irresponsible and contrary to the principles of democracy. As an elected official, you should know better. Obviously, you don't.

75 percent of Florida's voters are not wrong. You are. And, we plan to take back Amendment 1. Water matters and our votes count.

Sincerely,
Your Name

cc: House Speaker Steve Crisafulli
cc: Senate President Andy Gardiner
cc: Senate Appropriations Chair Alan Hays
cc: Senator Joe Negron
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March 25, 2015 | Amendment 1, In the News

Take Back Amendment 1

Water Matters and Votes Count

State Legislators Ignore the Voters

Use Amendment 1 Money for Land Purchases

My Vote for Amendment 1 is being Hijacked

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