2012 INformed voters bAllot guIde

this election, remember to vote all the way down the ballot!

Text VOTEFL to 30644 to get this guide on your mobile phone, bookmark www.FloridaBallotGuide.com, or print this out and take it with you to the polls.

Note: All 11 proposed Constitutional Amendments on your ballot were placed there by tallahassee Politicians, not by citizen petition.

No position

Amendment 1 Attempt to block Affordable Care Act

NO

NO

NO NO

NO NO NO NO NO NO

NO

NO NO

NO NO NO NO NO NO

NO

NO

Amendment 2 Increases the homestead exemption for disabled veterans Amendment 3 Restricts the ability of state government to raise revenue Amendment 4 Specialized real estate tax breaks that cut local government revenue Amendment 5 Legislatures judicial power grab

NO

NO NO

NO NO NO NO NO NO

NO

NO

NO NO

NO

NO

NO NO

NO NO

NO NO

NO

NO NO

NO NO

NO NO

NO NO
(continued)

Amendment 6 Inserts politics into personal medical decisions

2012 bAllot guIde (PAge 2)

Amendment 8 Allows our tax dollars to be given away to any group claiming to be a religious org. Amendment 9 Property tax exemption for surviving spouses of military members & first responders Amendment 10 Prevents local governments from taxing certain personal property Amendment 11 Allows municipalities to offer tax exemptions on the homes of lowincome seniors Amendment 12 Allows for student member of State University Systems Board of Governors

NO

NO

NO YES NO

NO

NO NO NO NO NO

NO NO NO NO NO

NO

NO NO NO NO NO

NO NO NO NO NO

NO

NO

NO

Amendments dealing with property taxes and homestead exemptions are opposed by some groups due to their position that tax policy should be made through legislation and not by amending the state constitution.

Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Be an informed voter! Text VOTEFL to 30644 to get this guide on your mobile phone, bookmark www.FloridaBallotGuide.com, or print this out and take it with you to the polls.

2012 bAllot guIde: AmeNdmeNt INformAtIoN

Amendment 1 Attempts to negate the individual mandate as set forth by federal health care law, but holds no legal sway as the mandate has been upheld by the Supreme Court. The measure could prevent the state from implementing certain health care reforms down the road. OPPOSED BY: Progress Florida, AFL-CIO, FLARA, FCAN, FEA, LWV, NAACP, NCLR and SEIU Amendment 2 Allows for property tax discounts for disabled veterans. Some groups oppose on the grounds it is not appropriate to use the state Constitution to make tax policy. OPPOSED BY: FLARA, FCAN, LWV and NAACP Amendment 3 Makes an unfair tax system even more unfair for families and small businesses. Everyone wants their tax dollars used effectively and to cut wasteful spending, but Amendment 3 wont do that. It allows Tallahassee politicians to protect an unfair system that benefits large corporations at the expense of public schools, small businesses and middle class families. OPPOSED BY: Progress Florida, AFL-CIO, FLARA, FCAN, FEA, Florida New Majority, LWV, NAACP, NCLR, Planned Parenthood and SEIU Amendment 4 Among many provisions, this amendment would also give out-of-state residents the benefit of the homestead tax exemption. That is more of our critical tax dollars for local services flying out of state. This amendment, pushed by real estate and corporate special interests, is estimated to cost local governments up to $600 million per year. OPPOSED BY: AFL-CIO, FLARA, FCAN, LWV, NAACP, SEIU Amendment 5 This proposed Amendment is a power grab by Tallahassee politicians who want to take over our courts. Amendment 5 gives politicians more power over our courts and is really about intimidating justices and limiting public access to the judicial system. It is opposed by the people who know what works and doesnt in our justice system judges and the Florida Bar Association. OPPOSED BY: Progress Florida, ACLU, AFL-CIO, Equality Florida, FLARA, FCAN, FEA, LWV, NAACP, NCLR and SEIU Amendment 6 Amendment 6 lets politicians interfere in a womans most personal medical decisions. Every woman deserves to make her own personal health care decisions based on her values and her doctors advice without politicians interfering. OPPOSED BY: Progress Florida, ACLU, Equality Florida, FLARA, FCAN, Florida New Majority, LWV, NAACP, Planned Parenthood and SEIU Amendment 8 Amendment 8, allows the government to give our tax dollars to any group claiming to be a religious organization. Any religious group or sect would be able to use our tax dollars to fund their own religious schools. Worse, it includes no oversight to safeguard our tax dollars, leaving the door open to massive fraud and abuse. OPPOSED BY: Progress Florida, ACLU, AFL-CIO, Equality Florida, FLARA, FCAN, FEA, LWV, NAACP, Planned Parenthood and SEIU (continued)

AmeNdmeNt INformAtIoN (CoNtINued)

Amendment 9 Amendment 9 allows for property tax discounts for the surviving spouses of military members or first responders killed on the job. SUPPORTED BY: AFL-CIO. OPPOSED BY: FLARA, FCAN, LWV, and NAACP Amendment 10 Amendment 10 prevents counties, municipalities, school districts, and other local governments from taxing tangible personal property with a total assessed value more than $25,000 but less than $50,000. OPPOSED BY: AFL-CIO, FLARA, FCAN, LWV, NAACP, and SEIU Amendment 11 Amendment 11 would allow counties and municipalities to grant an additional homestead tax exemption to low-income seniors who maintain long-term residency on their property. OPPOSED BY: FLARA, FCAN, LWV, and NAACP Amendment 12 Amendment 12 allows for the appointment of a student body president to the Board of Governors of the State University System, but at the expense of the Florida Student Association. OPPOSED BY: FLARA, FCAN, LWV, and NAACP

2012 bAllot guIde: NoNPArtIsAN /JudICIAl

JustICe of the suPreme Court merIt reteNtIoN vote. Justices should decide cases fairly and impartially based on the Constitution - not politics. But the Florida Supreme Court is under partisan attack. Extremist ideologues are engaged in a political effort to remove Justices Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente, and Peggy Quince from the bench. If Governor Scott and his political allies succeed in blocking their retention, these justices will be removed and Scott will seek to seize control of the courts and replace them with partisan appointments. Progress Floridas recommendation:
Shall Justice R. Fred Lewis of the Supreme Court be retained in office? Shall Justice Barbara J. Pariente of the Supreme Court be retained in office? Shall Justice Peggy A. Quince of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

YES

YES

YES

www.ProgressFlorida.org
Paid Political Advertisement Paid for by Progress Florida, 1010 Central Avenue #209, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 Independently Of Any Committee or Candidate. This advertisement was not approved by any candidate.