Spring 2008                                          

IN THIS ISSUE:
> Recap:2008 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature 

> Catholic Days at the Capitol and Red Mass of the Holy Spirit

> Candidate Questionnaire Project

> 2008 Ballot Proposals

> Rescheduled Execution of Mark Dean Schwab

Recap: 2008 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature
A total of 313 bills passed both House and Senate chambers this session and have been sent to the governor for his signature. The Legislature approved a $66.2 billion state budget, $5.7 billion less than the budget passed last year.

Catholic Days at the Capitol and Red Mass of the Holy Spirit
On March 11-12, over 240 Catholics from across the state came together for two days of activities in the capital city. Participants met with their elected officials to discuss public policy issues of concern identified by the bishops of Florida. At a luncheon for participants, Representative Anitere Flores, Miami, received the Defensor Vitae Award. The Defensor Dignitatis Award was presented to Representative Bill Galvano, Bradenton. On the evening of March 12, with several hundred in attendance including many State leaders, the bishops of Florida celebrated the 33rd Annual Red Mass of the Holy Spirit. Senator Rudy Garcia, Miami, and Representative Bill Galvano, Bradenton, served as readers. Most Reverend John G. Noonan, Auxiliary Bishop of Miami, delivered the homily. 

SAVE THE DATE: 2009 Catholic Days at the Capitol, March 10-11
(Red Mass, evening of March 11, Homilist-Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of Venice, Florida)

> U.S. congressional candidate questions
> Florida legislative candidate questions

Materials prepared as part of the Candidate Questionnaire Project are the only surveys/polls approved by the bishops of Florida for use in parish bulletins or diocesan publications. Surveys or polls by outside organizations are not approved for distribution by Church entities unless prior approval has been granted by the local diocesan bishop or the Florida Catholic Conference.

The Candidate Questionnaire Project is a collaborative effort of The Florida Catholic newspaper, the Florida Catholic Conference, the Florida Council of Catholic Women and the Florida State Council of Knights of Columbus. Beginning in late June, questions on public policy issues will be posed to all 2008 U.S. congressional and state legislative candidates in Florida. The questions pertain to issues of concern to the Church that are anticipated to appear before lawmakers in the coming term. State and congressional questions are currently available via the Conference’s website, www.flacathconf.org. All candidates are encouraged to respond and all responses received will be available via the internet.

Amendment 2 - Marriage Protection
This amendment would define marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife. As evidenced in their 2005 statement, Marriage is Between One Man and One Woman, the bishops of Florida supported this proposal throughout the initiative petition process launched by Florida4Marriage.org. For additional information, visit Yes2Marriage.org.

The three amendments below were proposed by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. This group is mandated to meet every 20 years to review how the state raises and spends money. The 25 voting members of the commission can place state constitutional amendments directly on the ballot with the approval of two-thirds of its members.

Amendment 5 - Property Tax
This amendment would abolish the portion of property taxes school districts are required to collect to qualify for state aid, cutting property tax bills on average by 25 percent. The measure would hold schools "harmless" by replacing lost revenue, estimated at about $9.5 billion annually, from one or more of the following sources: a one percent increase in the state's sales tax; repealing sales tax exemptions on certain goods and services; spending reductions; or other revenue options created by the legislature. The proposal would also place a cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties. 

As Catholics, we are called to consider the impact of this amendment on the common good and particularly the poor. The Conference sent a letter to the members of the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission before their final vote on the proposal urging that they consider its broad implications on all the residents of our state.

> Letter to Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, March 14, 2008

Amendment 7 - Blaine Amendment
This amendment would repeal Article 1, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution thus removing "Blaine" or "no-aid" language which prohibits any religious organization from receiving direct or indirect state financial aid. This 140-year-old provision was added to many state constitutions after a failed effort by U.S. Congressman James G. Blaine to add the language to the U.S. Constitution.

The Conference testified before the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission in support of the proposal to strike this language prohibiting the use of state funds by sectarian institutions. Correspondence from the bishops to the commission provides additional information.

> Letter to Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, March 24, 2008

Amendment 9 - School Vouchers
This amendment would require that at least 65 percent of school funding received by school districts be spent on classroom instruction, rather than administration. It would stipulate that the constitutional requirement for the state to provide a "uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools" is a minimum, nonexclusive duty and would allow public funding for school-choice options in private schools that are an extension of public education without creating an entitlement for these choice options.

> List of all nine proposed amendments, provided by the Florida Division of Elections

Summary of Florida Catholic Conference Advocacy Network Activity
January - May 2008 

State Alerts
Issue: Important "Life" Bills on House Calendar this Week, April 1
This alert allowed Network members to send messages to their legislators regarding one, two or three bills that promoted the sanctity of human life. The outcome of each bill follows:

Ultrasound Prior to Abortion/Parental Notice - CS/HB 257 (Traviesa) 
Outcome: This bill, which would have required a woman review an ultrasound prior to an abortion and established maturity standards for judges to use in evaluating minors seeking a parental notice waiver, passed the Florida House (70-45) but failed to be taken up by the Senate.

Unborn Victims of Violence Act - HB 513 (Poppell)
Outcome: Passed the House (80-36), but the Senate failed to take up this bill that would have extended protection to an unborn child at any stage of development.

Infant Abandonment - HB 7007 (Healthcare Council) 
Outcome: This bill received bipartisan support in both House and Senate, passing both chambers unanimously, and was signed by Governor Crist. The legislation extends from 3 to 7 days the period of time in which a mother can leave her newborn at a designated place of safety and allows a mother who gives birth in a hospital and intends to abandon her infant to remain anonymous by asking that her name not appear on the birth certificate.

Issue: Urge Legislators to Maintain Funding for Crisis Pregnancy Centers, April 21
Outcome: A $2 million appropriation was maintained in fiscal year budget.

Issue: Urge Legislators to Oppose Interscholastic Athletic Participation by Private School Students at Public Schools, April 21
Outcome: An amended CS/CS/SB 526 (Wise), which limits the provisions of the original bill and establishes a two-year pilot program in three northeastern Florida counties, passed the House (75-41) and Senate (38-1) and is awaiting Governor Crist's signature.

Issue: Urge your senator to vote 'yes' on ultrasound prior to abortion, April 25
Outcome: SB 2400 failed on a (20-20) vote in the Senate.

These alerts generated 4,334 electronic messages from network members to their elected officials (does not include phone calls).

> Click here to access the full text of alerts listed above

> click here to register, or visit www.flacathconf.org

Join the FCC Advocacy Network today and encourage your family, friends and fellow parishioners to do the same. Follow the link below to a leaflet that can be printed and distributed. The 3.5" x 8.5" flyer is just the right size for brochure racks and legal-size envelopes and can be printed three to a page.

> FCC Advocacy Network leaflet for distribution

For questions or additional information, please contact the Florida Catholic Conference Associate for Communications at (850) 205-6817.