Sunshine Sentinel

Common Cause Florida is calling on citizens to contact their legislators to oppose Senate Bill 7016, which aligns with the Governor's plan to restrict the citizen-led amendment process. This appeal arises amid allegations of public fund misallocation to oppose amendments that were considered in 2024. Reports suggest that about $8.5 million in taxpayer money was channeled to a political committee via the Hope Florida Foundation, a nonprofit backing First Lady Casey DeSantis’ initiative.

Concerns focus on whether settlement funds, originally intended for Medicaid recipients after a managed care corporation's overbilling case, were inappropriately redirected to support a political action committee against a citizen-led marijuana legalization amendment. Hope Florida Foundation's chairman recently admitted to several administrative errors, and the executive director has resigned amidst the controversy.

"We are learning how individuals in the Governor’s immediate orbit may have misused the people’s funds to help kill a citizen-led amendment that over 55% of the people of Florida supported," said Amy Keith, Executive Director of Common Cause Florida. She expressed concern over the Governor's legislative efforts to make it difficult for citizens to lead amendments.

Keith emphasized that misuse of taxpayer money is unacceptable regardless of political affiliation. "Misuse of public funds to campaign against an amendment put forward by the people of Florida is especially offensive," she added. Common Cause Florida aims to maintain a transparent and accountable government serving the public interest and asserts that corrupting the citizen-led amendment process does not align with this goal.