Judge Orders Religion Funding Amendment Proposal Off The Ballot
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) – A proposed state constitutional amendment which would repeal the ban on public funding of churches and other religious organizations is off the ballot - at least for now.
On Wednesday, Circuit Judge Terry Lewis ordered that it be removed due to its misleading ballot summary. But Lewis also upheld a new law that will let Attorney General Pam Bondi rewrite the summary.
Lewis found a phrase saying the amendment would be "consistent with the United States Constitution" ambiguous and misleading. That's because the amendment itself uses different language.
Besides repealing the existing "no aid" provision, the amendment would require state and local governments to fund religious organizations in certain circumstances.
The Florida Education Association challenged the amendment because it would lift a potential obstacle to school vouchers.
