Source:
South Florida Sun-Sentinel/McClatchy-TribuneFlorida tax reform commission thrusts state-church issues onto voters in November
Thursday, March 27, 2008; Posted: 11:25 AM
TALLAHASSEE, Mar 27, 2008 (South Florida Sun-Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- -- Tax dollars could be funneled to Florida religious schools and a controversial private school voucher program be revived under a proposal the state's powerful tax reform commission is sending to the November ballot.
Florida's constitution now prohibits the state from spending public funds directly or indirectly in aid of sectarian institutions -- a longstanding provision used by an appeals court in 2004 to declare the state's landmark voucher program unconstitutional.
State voters on Nov. 4 will be asked to remove that prohibition and replace it with this language: "Individuals or entities may not be barred from participating in public programs because of their religion."
The proposed amendment to the state constitution passed the Florida Tax and Budget Reform Commission on Wednesday on a 17-7 vote. A minimum of 17 votes are needed to put a proposed constitutional change on a statewide ballot. To become law, 60 percent of voters must approve.
Read more:
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1261473/