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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKoch-funded group supports voting rights for felons in Florida
A national group with close ties to the Koch Brothers, Freedom Partners, has thrown its support behind Amendment 4 on the Florida ballot the proposal to restore voting rights to most convicted felons without hearings or delays.
Formally known as the Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia-based group describes its mission as "more freedom, more opportunity."
"We believe that when individuals have served their sentences and paid their debts to society as ordered by a judge, they should be eligible to vote," Freedom Partners said in a statement. "In the Sunshine State, Floridians are permanently excluded from voting because of a prior felony conviction one of only four states with a lifetime ban. If we want people returning to society to be productive, law-abiding citizens, we need to treat them like full-fledged citizens.
"We support the Florida Second Chances campaign, which would return the eligibility to vote to Floridians who have done their time and paid their debts in full. This will make our society safer, our system more just, and provide for real second chances for returning citizens," the group said.
Freedom Partners supports Republican Ron DeSantis in the election for Florida governor. DeSantis said in June he didn't have a position on the voting rights amendment.
DeSantis' Democratic opponent, Andrew Gillum, supports Amendment 4.
https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/09/13/koch-funded-group-supports-voting-rights-for-felons-in-florida/
TomSlick
(11,098 posts)Huh? Well I guess, good for them.
I suspect I'm missing something.
RandySF
(58,884 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)They are strange birds in that regard. I plan to vote for Amendment 4 and for Gillum.
RandySF
(58,884 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)The anendment has a lot of heavyweights behind it, spending lots of money. There is almost no opposition.
The way the amendment is worded makes it appealing. My guess is that helps it.
When he was governor, Charlie Crist restored the rights that the amendment call to be made constitutional. Rick Scott rescinded Crist's changes. The chances of it getting 60% depends on how well democrats in more conservative areas of Florida like my area hold the line against reactionaries, if we keep the margin close in such areas, it passes, if not, it may fail. Gillum being on the ballot is a plus, he should bring out minority voters that sat out 2016, typically minorities are better attuned to criminal justice issues than Whites are. I think the pro Scott vote maximized for Trump in 2016, I don't see that increasing, so more minorities voting become highly important in giving the amendment a winning margin.
appalachiablue
(41,140 posts)is an attempt at doing good, according to Jane Mayer, Nomi Prins or another financial expert author I read.