Florida Ballot misinformation
A few people have stated that Amendment 4 on the Florida ballot will "legalize gambling" and turn south Florida into the next Las Vegas. This bill says NOTHING about legalizing gambling - as I understand it the only difference it would make is the Indian reservations won't be the only ones with legal slot machines because all "existing, licensed parimutuel facilities" could legally have them - and tax the revenues from them. How does that say "Casinos will pop up like angry red pimples all over the coast!"?
Ballot Title: Authorizes Miami-Dade and Broward County Voters to Approve Slot Machines In Parimutuel Facilities
Full Text:
Article X, Florida Constitution, is hereby amended to add the following as section 19:
SECTION 19. SLOT MACHINES -
(a) After voter approval of this constitutional amendment, the governing bodies of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties each may hold a county-wide referendum in their respective counties on whether to authorize slot machines within existing, licensed parimutuel facilities (thoroughbred and harness racing, greyhound racing, and jai-alai) that have conducted live racing or games in that county during each of the last two calendar years before the effective date of this amendment. If the voters of such county approve the referendum question by majority vote, slot machines shall be authorized in such parimutuel facilities. If the voters of such county by majority vote disapprove the referendum question, slot machines shall not be so authorized, and the question shall not be presented in another referendum in that county for at least two years.
(b) In the next regular Legislative session occurring after voter approval of this constitutional amendment, the Legislature shall adopt legislation implementing this section and having an effective date no later than July 1 of the year following voter approval of this amendment. Such legislation shall authorize agency rules for implementation, and may include provisions for the licensure and regulation of slot machines. The Legislature may tax slot machine revenues, and any such taxes must supplement public education funding statewide.
(c) If any part of this section is held invalid for any reason, the remaining portion or portions shall be severed from the invalid portion and given the fullest possible force and effect.
(d) This amendment shall become effective when approved by vote of the electors of the state.
And then there is Amendment 3 - Where does that say there is a claim cap at $250,000? It looks pretty clear that it is not a cap at $250k when it says in black and white "claimant is entitled to 90% of all damages in excess of $250,000.00" as I understand it, it puts a cap on what the LAWYERS can take.
Ballot Title: The Medical Liability Claimant's Compensation Amendment
Full Text:
Section 1.
Article I, Section 26 is created to read "Claimant's right to fair compensation." In any medical liability claim involving a contingency fee, the claimant is entitled to receive no less than 70% of the first $250,000.00 in all damages received by the claimant, exclusive of reasonable and customary costs, whether received by judgement, settlement, or otherwise, and regardless of the number of defendants. The claimant is entitled to 90% of all damages in excess of $250,000.00, exclusive of reasonable and customary costs and regardless of the number of defendants. This provision is self-executing and does not require implementing legislation.
This Amendment shall take effect on the day following approval by the voters.
Those are only two amendments that people are all up in arms about and that actually have commercials on. Please, if you interpret these two any differently than I have, let me know. Because I don't see a reason to vote No on these, and if there IS one, I'd like to know.
Also, FYI on the Florida vote front - nearly 60,000 absentee ballots have gone missing. Officials are blaming the United States Postal Service - who is naturally denying that it is their fault. Whose fault is it then when mail is lost or otherwise not received?
Ballot Title: Authorizes Miami-Dade and Broward County Voters to Approve Slot Machines In Parimutuel Facilities
Full Text:
Article X, Florida Constitution, is hereby amended to add the following as section 19:
SECTION 19. SLOT MACHINES -
(a) After voter approval of this constitutional amendment, the governing bodies of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties each may hold a county-wide referendum in their respective counties on whether to authorize slot machines within existing, licensed parimutuel facilities (thoroughbred and harness racing, greyhound racing, and jai-alai) that have conducted live racing or games in that county during each of the last two calendar years before the effective date of this amendment. If the voters of such county approve the referendum question by majority vote, slot machines shall be authorized in such parimutuel facilities. If the voters of such county by majority vote disapprove the referendum question, slot machines shall not be so authorized, and the question shall not be presented in another referendum in that county for at least two years.
(b) In the next regular Legislative session occurring after voter approval of this constitutional amendment, the Legislature shall adopt legislation implementing this section and having an effective date no later than July 1 of the year following voter approval of this amendment. Such legislation shall authorize agency rules for implementation, and may include provisions for the licensure and regulation of slot machines. The Legislature may tax slot machine revenues, and any such taxes must supplement public education funding statewide.
(c) If any part of this section is held invalid for any reason, the remaining portion or portions shall be severed from the invalid portion and given the fullest possible force and effect.
(d) This amendment shall become effective when approved by vote of the electors of the state.
And then there is Amendment 3 - Where does that say there is a claim cap at $250,000? It looks pretty clear that it is not a cap at $250k when it says in black and white "claimant is entitled to 90% of all damages in excess of $250,000.00" as I understand it, it puts a cap on what the LAWYERS can take.
Ballot Title: The Medical Liability Claimant's Compensation Amendment
Full Text:
Section 1.
Article I, Section 26 is created to read "Claimant's right to fair compensation." In any medical liability claim involving a contingency fee, the claimant is entitled to receive no less than 70% of the first $250,000.00 in all damages received by the claimant, exclusive of reasonable and customary costs, whether received by judgement, settlement, or otherwise, and regardless of the number of defendants. The claimant is entitled to 90% of all damages in excess of $250,000.00, exclusive of reasonable and customary costs and regardless of the number of defendants. This provision is self-executing and does not require implementing legislation.
This Amendment shall take effect on the day following approval by the voters.
Those are only two amendments that people are all up in arms about and that actually have commercials on. Please, if you interpret these two any differently than I have, let me know. Because I don't see a reason to vote No on these, and if there IS one, I'd like to know.
Also, FYI on the Florida vote front - nearly 60,000 absentee ballots have gone missing. Officials are blaming the United States Postal Service - who is naturally denying that it is their fault. Whose fault is it then when mail is lost or otherwise not received?