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Proposal Would Allow For Governor Recall

TALLAHASEE (CBS4) -- Among the bills already filed for the legislative session that starts in January are a proposed constitutional amendment and accompanying bill that would give Florida voters the ability to recall the governor and lieutenant governor, state legislators, and Cabinet members.

The proposed amendment (HJR 7) and accompanying bill (HB 9) have been filed by Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, who also pursued similar legislation earlier this year with no success.

Recall votes are already allowed at the local level, but there is no provision in state law contemplating a recall of statewide executive branch leaders or lawmakers.

The proposal would require that a petition drive get signatures equaling 15-percent of the total votes cast in the last election, and have signatures from each county. For lawmakers, the threshold would be 20-percent of the voters from the previous election.

The amendment specifies that if a recall petition was successful, the replacement would be elected at the same time as the recall vote.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.)

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