Blog from the Capital

As I posted yesterday, Florida's Committee charged with reviewing state legal structures relevant to taxes and the budget has approved a constitutional amendment that would undo provisions requiring the state to offer "no aid" to religion. The November election will determine the fate of the amendment, which removes the existing protection and inserts new language, as reported by the Miami Herald:

"Individuals or entities may not be barred from participating in public programs because of religion.''

Opponents warned that the language is unclear, that it provides state sanction for religion to be taught at taxpayer expense and that the measure could go too far by requiring public money to be spent on religious vendors.
...
Commission member Carlos Lacasa of Miami said he supports removing the no-aid provision but objects to adding the new protections that could open the door to unintended consequences.

''It inserts 10 or 15 extra words that to me are unclear,'' he said. "I fear this goes way, way beyond the intent of this legislation and is too risky for me to support.''

The Orlando Sentinel notes that if passed the amendment "could revive a controversial voucher program that enrolled children in church-run schools."

Other articles by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Tampa Tribune, which points out the current law prevents religious organizations from discriminating with taxpayer money.

[UPDATE: A press release from People for the American Way calls the amendment a "dangerous idea."]