Title
Proposed Constitutional Amendment "Move to Amend" (B)
explanation
This item was brought forward by Mayor-Commissioner Pro Tem Lauren Poe during Commission Comment on June 21, 2012. The City Commission approved a referral of this issue to the Audit, Finance and Legislative Committee for discussion. On September 20, 2012, a representative from a group of Alachua County citizens asked the City Commission to consider placing a non-binding referendum related to this issue on the March 2013 City of Gainesville Ballot.
"Move to Amend" is a citizen group dedicated to amending the U.S. Constitution to overturn the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. They believe that "money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights."
(<http://movetoamend.org>)
During October 2012, the Audit, Finance and Legislative Committee discussed this referral, received input from several citizens supporting the placement of a non-binding referendum on the March 2013 City of Gainesville ballot and received input from the City Attorney regarding legal issues related to placing such a referendum on the ballot.
Recommendation
The Audit, Finance & Legislative Committee recommends that the City Commission direct the City Attorney to draft a resolution similar to the "Move to Amend" model resolution with the inclusion of two additional provisions: 1) forwarding the Resolution to the County Commission and requesting the County Commission place this issue on the next County election ballot as a non-binding referendum; and 2) forwarding the Resolution to the City's State and Federal Legislative Delegation requesting their support of a Federal Constitutional Amendment consistent with the Resolution.