Common Cause Florida is urging Floridians to reach out to their State Senator and ask them to reject SB 7016 and the Governor’s agenda to gut the citizen-led amendment process. The call comes in response to increasing questions about the potential misuse of public funds to oppose amendments that were on the ballot in 2024, including a reported $8.5 million in public funds that may have made its way to a political committee through the nonprofit Hope Florida Foundation that supports First Lady Casey DeSantis’ signature initiative.

The controversy centers on how taxpayer dollars from a legal settlement regarding overbilling by a state managed care corporation, meant for Medicaid recipients, may have been funneled to a political action committee that backed the Governor’s opposition to a citizen-led amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida. On Tuesday, Hope Florida Foundation’s chairman admitted to House legislators that the organization had made numerous recordkeeping and other mistakes. Then on Wednesday, Hope Florida’s executive director resigned.

In light of growing concerns that taxpayer funds may have been misused, Common Cause Florida Executive Director Amy Keith is encouraging lawmakers to protect the citizen-led amendment process from the Governor’s overreach.

“This week 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. At the same time, the Governor has also made it one of his top legislative priorities to make the citizen-led amendment process all but impossible for the people to use.

“Whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, or an independent, Floridians agree that abuse of taxpayer money is wrong. And, if true, the misuse of public funds to campaign against an amendment put forward by the people of Florida is especially offensive. In light of these allegations, it is doubly concerning that the Governor and his allies are trying to silence the people’s direct voice with the proposed changes to the citizen-led amendment process.

“Common Cause works to create an open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest. Misuse of public funds isn’t honest or accountable, and corrupting the citizen-led amendment process certainly isn’t in the public interest.”