Written by Don Byrd
In November, Florida voters will be voting on more than just the presidential, congressional Senate races. Among the ballot initiatives is Amendment 8, a measure I have been watching closely since its introduction. The proposed change to the state’s constitution would overturn more than a hundred years of church-state protection by removing the prohibition on taxpayer funding of religious institutions. The purpose of this measure, of course, is to bring more public funding to religious schools. Public school advocates are starting to take notice.
Last week, the Florida School Boards Association executive committee passed a resolution opposing it. Many fear it could put public school funding in jeopardy.
Patty Hightower, who serves on the Escambia County School Board and is president-elect of the FSBA, said the language in the amendment could be a bit misleading to voters.
“What I’m afraid people will think is it will allow prayer back in schools,” she said. “It doesn’t do that. It means that any religious entity would be able to have public funds.”
A judge has already ruled that the ballot description is legally sufficient as currently written, but that doesn’t mean it’s actually helpful in describing to Florida voters what they are choosing to do. Florida Amendment 8 would rewrite decades of constitutional safeguards designed to protect the religious liberty of all Floridians. Fortunately, it takes a 60% vote to pass. Unfortunately, it sounds at first glance better than it is.
Here’s hoping Florida voters will see through the description and do the right thing. Stay tuned.
