Dockery, Steinberg Propose Citizens' Veto of New State Laws

Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, and Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach, have introduced legislation that would give Florida citizens the ability to veto some legislation shortly after it's approved.

Like many states, Florida should afford its citizens the opportunity to reject legislation that they deem detrimental to the state, Steinberg stated in a release. In a democracy, it is the citizens who should have the final word on whether to accept or reject a law.

Senate Joint Resolution 1490 and House Joint Resolution 1231, modeled after citizens veto bills set up in other states, would not apply to expenses of the state or emergency laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.

Under the proposal, citizens would have 10 days from the end of a legislative session to gather the names of 50 registered Florida voters to challenge a portion of a law or all of the new law.

Once the initial challenge is approved, the citizens would still have to go through the referendum process which includes gathering the signatures of 7.5 percent of the state's registered voters in order to have the issue go before all voters.

Constituents reach out to me on a daily basis expressing frustration with the maze that is the legislative process, Dockery stated in the release. In this political climate, the bulk of the power is held by wealthy special interests. This joint resolution would place that power where it rightly belongs: into the hands of the citizens.