Florida Family Association Clarification on FFA's recommendations for Florida Constitutional Amendments' Dear M,  Our first email regarding recommendations for Florida's Constitutional Amendments needs to be clarified.  We need to clarify the reason why we "made no recommendation" on Amendment No. 2 and Amendment No. 5 is because these amendments were removed from the ballot. Florida Family Association makes the following recommendations regarding the proposed state constitutional amendments that appear on the November 7, 2006 ballot.  Amendment 3, which seeks to dilute voters’ rights for the benefit of special interest lobbying groups, is the only amendment we recommend a NO vote.     No. 1  STATE PLANNING AND BUDGET PROCESS.   This amendment provides for fiscal conservatism and accountability.  FFA recommends a YES vote .    No. 2  TERM LIMITS - THIS AMENDMENT WAS REMOVED FROM THE BALLOT.    No. 3 REQUIRING BROADER PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS OR REVISIONS.  This amendment proposed by the Florida Legislature increases by Ten percent (10%) the percentage needed to approve a state constitutional amendment.  Future constitutional amendments would require a Sixty percent (60%) vote to be approved. This amendment decreases voters rights while giving greater  power  to  the  Florida   Legislature   and lobbyists.  In effect, voters are being asked by the legislature to reduce their voting power from One vote to Ninety percent (90%) of one vote.  Most  constitutional amendments are initiated by citizen groups because the Florida Legislature failed to respond to their legislative requests.  Many  times  this  failed  legislative  response  is caused by the opposing influence by special interest lobbying groups.  Making it more difficult "for the people" to influence their government by increasing the amendment approval percentage gives more power  to  those  special interest  groups and the legislature they are seeking to influencing.  Section 1 of The Florida Constitution states "All political power is inherent in the people." Amendment 3 dilutes the political power of the people. Some amendments approved in prior years certainly do not belong in the Florida Constitution.  However, reducing the Power of the People is not the answer.  FFA recommends a NO vote.    No. 4  PROTECT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUTH, FROM ADDICTION, DISEASE, AND OTHER HEALTH HAZARDS OF USING TOBACCO.   This amendment requires that money received from the Tobacco settlement be used to curb teen smoking.  FFA recommends a Yes vote .    No. 5  INDEP ...  THIS AMENDMENT WAS REMOVED FROM THE BALLOT.    No. 6  INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.   This amendment increases the homestead exemption for low income seniors from $25,000 to $50,000.  FFA recommends a YES vote .    No. 7  PERMANENTLY DISABLED VETERANS' DISCOUNT ON HOMESTEAD AD VALOREM TAX.   This amendment provides ad valorem tax relief for disabled veterans.  FFA recommends a YES vote.    No. 8 EMINENT DOMAIN.   This amendment prohibits the taking of private property through eminent domain and giving it to a natural person or private entity.  This amendment should stop local governments from taking private property to give to developers in order to increase property values and tax bases.  FFA recommends a YES vote .   Florida Family Association (FFA) is a non-profit 501C3 organization.  IRS rules permit non-profit 501C3 organization to take positions regarding issues.  However, IRS rules forbid non-profit 501C3 organizations from endorsing or recommending candidates. The media is buzzing with alleged news that evangelical Christians are disenchanted with what their elected leaders are doing or not doing.  Many news organizations are predicting that social conservatives are so upset over the events taking place that they will likely sit this election out.  Some media pundits and talk elitists are suggesting that Christian conservatives are planning to show their leaders who's the boss by not re-electing them to office.  Is the liberal media actually going to convince us to stay home?  I hope and pray not.  Exercising our right to vote is imperative to ensure proper representation in government.  And maybe in this election, voting means keeping status quo or choosing the lesser of two unsatisfactory candidates.  But we must vote.  If we do not vote, we lose by default.  If you are encouraged by the results of our efforts and feel our mission is worthy, please click here to make a small contribution to help our efforts to continue.  All online contributions are processed through Bank of America's secured site.    Sincerely,  David Caton   Florida Family Association - http://floridafamily.org/   Copyright ©2006, Florida Family Association Florida Family Association  Post Office Box 46547  Tampa, FL 33647-0105 Toll Free 1-800-357-7128   Fax 1-813-264-0658