Recall Bill Pushed For Governor, Cabinet, Legislators
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami.com) - Governor Rick Scott has been in office for little more than a month,m but at least one state legislator thinks voters should have the right to recall him, and has filed bills in the Florida House to give voters that right.
The bills, filed by St. Petersburg Democrat Rick Kriseman, would set up a procedure to all voters to recall Scott or any governor, any member of the Florida Cabinet, or any Florida legislator.
While voters in Miami-Dade county are currently trying to recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas, there is no provision under state law to allow voters to do the same to state elected officials. House Bill 787 and House Joint Resolution 785 would change that.
Under the proposal, disaffected voters could create petitions seeking support for a recall. Signers equalling a minimum of 15% of the votes in the previous election would be needed to start a recall vote for Governor and Cabinet members, as well as signatures from every county in the state. To recall a legislator, signatures equal to 20% of the vote in that legislator's last election would would be needed to start a recall.
Currently, a majority of states do not allow for state-level recall elections. In the unlikely event legislators voted to allow themselves to be pulled from office, Florida would be the 19th state to allow this.
"Engaged citizens deserve the tools to hold their public servants accountable without having to wait for the next election," said Rep. Kriseman. "Honest and dedicated elected officials will have nothing to fear from the implementation of this important proposal."
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
