Madfloridian's Journal - Radical voucher initiative on Florida's ballot will allow public school money to private schools

and religious private schools. It is a far more dangerous thing than most realize here. It would allow the constitution to be tampered with so vouchers could continue to be given to private religious achools with the use of public money.

The extremists in the Florida legislature are not about to give up their drive for their agenda of privatizing the public schools...and doing it by any means possible.

Radical Initiative On Ballot

But there's more to the story than the headline and the voucher initiative - much, much more. The voucher and another proposal would, if approved by voters: Eliminate a wise, time-honored clause in the Florida Constitution that prevents government revenue from being "taken from the public treasury … in aid of any church, sect or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution."

Undermine the constitutional requirement that the state fulfill its "paramount duty" to provide all children residing in Florida with the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education in public schools.

These proposed changes to the state constitution are as radical as they are unwise.

Here is more on the subject. No one is really presenting the true agenda behind this initiative. I don't see anyone on local TV pointing out the danger to public schools, I don't see or hear any Democrats being especially public about it.

REHASHING A SETTLED ARGUMENT The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, a 24-member panel appointed by state officials, was empowered to propose changes to the constitution and state law. The commission's mission - established by voters - was to examine budget, revenue and expenditure practices and policies in a thoughtful, big-picture way that governors and legislators find difficult to do under intense political pressures.

Yet two of the seven proposed amendments to the constitution seek to rehash an argument that was settled - correctly - by the Florida Supreme Court in 2006.

The amendments were orchestrated by allies of former Gov. Jeb Bush. Unfortunately, enough of the commissioners supported placing the measures - which clearly focus on constitutional principles, not taxation and budget - on the ballot.

Allies like Marco Rubio, House speaker, who who even panders to the religious right by writing in the Florida Baptist Witness that he would fight evolution for them.

I expect our Democrats to get off their butts and speak out against this. Speak out clearly and loudly.