FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 4, 2008
CONTACT:
ACLU of Florida Communications Office, (786) 363-2737 or media@aclufl.org
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today released the following statement in response to today’s ruling in the Leon County Circuit Court case, filed by the Florida Education Association in conjunction with the ACLU and other organizations, attempting to remove proposed amendments 7 & 9 from the November ballot.
The statement below can be attributed to Howard Simon, Executive Director, ACLU of Florida:
“Proposed constitutional amendments 7 and 9 are about more than resuscitating former Governor Jeb Bush’s unconstitutional private/parochial school voucher program.
“If proposed amendments 7 & 9 pass, Floridians will not only be reinstating vouchers, they will have created a quagmire of legal issues by authorizing government-funded religion for organizations that proselytize and discriminate in whom they hire and serve.
“These proposals are nothing but a thinly veiled attempt to con voters – getting voters to re-authorize Jeb Bush’s failed voucher program without even mentioning vouchers.
“These proposals put government precisely where it doesn’t belong – funding religious programs that would be permitted to discriminate along religious and other grounds.”
About the ACLU of Florida
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our Web site at: www.aclufl.org.
# # #
