Same as Marriage Amendment?

Comparisons are being made between Amendment 2 in 2006 and a proposed amendment to ban oil exploration.  The big differ- ence between the marriage amendment and the ban on drilling is that the marriage amendment was put on the ballot by over600,000 Floridians, not legislators, after a lengthy petition drive. The Florida Legislature refused to put the amendment on the bal- lot.

Also, supporters contended the need for the amendment was made necessary by the numerous legal challenges across the coun- try to various states’ marriage laws. Judges were overturning laws passed by elected officials. It is highly unlikely that judges will overturn the state’s long-standing ban on oil exploration in Florida waters.

Additionally, any cost comparisons are specious, as the money spent on Amendment 2 was private dollars, not the taxpayer dol- lars being spent this week by calling the Legislature into special session to ban an activity that is already banned in Florida.

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