FLORIDA DIGEST - October 26, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

Equality Florida Voter Guide
Send it to a friend!
http://www.eqfl.org/ElectionCenter/


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Dear GLBT Democrats:
PLEASE, join me Monday evening at the GLBT Get Out the Vote (GOTV)Call Center at 2040 N. Dixie Highway (rear) in Wilton Manors where we will call voters to make them aware of OUR candidates and issues. It is important that we protect our rights and convince voters to vote NO ON AMENDMENT 2. MAKE SURE THAT OUR GLBT CANDIDATES AND ALLIES GET OUR SUPPORT.
With your support we can prove that we CONTINUE TO MAKE DIFFERENCE in Broward County and the State. I ask you as President of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus to join me on the phones and make a difference. Thank you and I look forward in seeing you there.
Sincerely yours,
Michael A. Albetta
President, Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus
GLBT GOTV CALL CENTER -----2040 N. DIXIE HWY, WILTON MANORS, FL (rear)
MONDAY OCTOBER 27, 2008 - 6 PM TO 9 PM
PIZZA, SODA AND WATER WILL BE SERVED.
For More Info Call 954-630-VOTE


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Amendments on Nov. 4 ballot would allow several changes in Florida Constitution
Voters will have a chance to change the Florida Constitution in several ways in the Nov. 4 election. Six proposed amendments are on the ballot, and a 60 percent vote for any one will make it law. » Here are three of them. We'll bring you the other three next Sunday in this space. More details about these ballot questions and about 70 local races are in our online voters' guide. » You can read up on the candidates and the issues, then print out your choices to take to your polling place.
-Amendment 1
This would repeal a clause in the state constitution that allows legislators to prohibit Asian immigrants from owning land. Florida is the last state in the nation with an "alien land law" in its constitution. The amendment would remove language allowing legislators to prohibit or regulate land ownership by "aliens ineligible for citizenship" - a standard drawn in 1926 to target Japanese immigrants. Florida legislators never invoked this authority, however, and it couldn't be enforced today because of equal protection laws. Supporters describe Amendment 1 as a symbolic vote to remove racism and discrimination from the constitution.
-Amendment 2
For the first time, Florida voters will decide whether to enshrine a gay-marriage ban in the state constitution.
Amendment 2 would define marriage as between one man and one woman, a standard that has been in state law for more than a decade. Supporters say outlawing same-sex marriage in the constitution would protect it from a court challenge. The amendment also would prohibit any legal union that is treated as marriage or an equivalent to marriage. This would ban civil unions and, critics say, could place in jeopardy domestic partner benefits offered by many companies and governments.
-Amendment 3
This would allow the Legislature to give tax breaks to property owners who "harden" their homes against hurricanes or install renewable-energy technology, such as solar panels.
Currently, upgrades - including storm shutters, impact windows and solar panels - can increase an owner's tax burden, because these improvements increase property values. Amendment 3 would allow, although not require, the Legislature to discount wind-hardening and renewable-energy improvements from property tax bills. The average tax savings would be $17 a year for every $1,000 worth of shutters or solar panels added to a home. Josh Hafenbrack, Tallahassee bureau
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbamendments1026sboct26,0,5204141.story

-Broward County Democrats buy local TV air time to run ad linking McCain to Bush
For the first time, the Broward County Democratic Party has created a television advertisement and is buying time on local cable systems to push early voting and the party's candidates. Among the not-so-subtle images: a photo of President Bush and Republican presidential nominee John McCain embracing. "It'll be geared totally toward our early voting process," Chairman Mitch Ceasar said. Ceasar said the party is spending between $10,000 and $20,000 for a week's worth of air time. If the party raises more money, it will buy more time, he said. Anthony Man
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbrepublicanssid1016sboct26,0,1789399.story

-Gov. Charlie Crist has no plans to order longer early voting hours
Despite the hours-long waits at early voting sites Saturday - ranging from one hour in Coral Springs and Parkland to an estimated six hours at Miramar City Hall - Gov. Charlie Crist doesn't have plans to order longer hours. "It seems to be running smoothly. People get there a little bit early, they provide them with water and keep them cool, and so I think it's going well," he said in Fort Lauderdale. State law allows eight hours of early voting each weekday and a combined weekend total of eight hours. Today, sites are open from 1 to 4 p.m. Long lines prompted the state's Democratic members of Congress to ask the Republican governor to order extended hours.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbearlyvote1026sboct26,0,7307048.story


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