Ben Wilcox
Ben Wilcox
ability gather groups initiative process shows shut
It shows their real intent, which is to shut down the initiative process and the ability for groups to gather signatures and put something on the ballot.
current political power process question
It (the current system) is a question of who's in power and who is able to use the process for political purposes.
cynical distract effort fact fairly florida issue process public treated voters
It's a fairly cynical effort on his part to distract the public from what's really the issue and that's the fact that the redistricting process in Florida is broken, and voters aren't being treated fairly.
act citizens refuses
When the legislature refuses to act on an issue, citizens need to have some way to go around the legislature.
across among consensus lines mean party
That's going to mean that there's going to have to be some consensus across party lines and among independents.
behind campaigns cost encourage financing hold levels people public
The whole idea behind public financing was to hold down the cost of campaigns and encourage more people to participate. Now they've escalated campaign fund-raising to levels we've never seen.
against battle cancer event fund help hundred raise research year
This exceptional event will help fund research in the battle against cancer. Each year more than a hundred racers come out and raise more than $20,000 in just one day.
build campaign due potential realistic situation war winning
The most realistic situation could be is that potential challengers don't see the possibility of winning due to the campaign war chests that the incumbents build up.
arrogance best decisions past people rather seen session trust
I think we've seen in this session and in past sessions a kind of an arrogance from the legislature that they know best rather than the people. They don't trust the people to make decisions in their own interest.
amendment coming drawing gives guidelines pass
It gives us some guidelines for coming back and drawing an amendment that will pass the court's muster.
access basically buy candidate influence money principled supporting whoever
I think that's where you see the real use of money to buy influence because in this case, they're not even principled enough to be supporting one candidate over another. They just want to have access and influence with whoever wins. They're just basically hedging their bets.
fooled hard hide imagine people voting
If it's being done just to hide their real vote, I don't think that's the way to go. I find it kind of hard to imagine that there would be that many people that would be fooled by it.
businesses case good government governor helping ideas interest looking money people return shopping somebody spend willing
I just don't think businesses spend money like that just in the interest of good government and helping people get their ideas out. I think they're looking for a return on their investment. They're shopping in this case for a governor -- somebody willing to give them access.
taxpayer
I don't see why she couldn't make a contribution out of her own pocket. I don't know why she has to use taxpayer money.