ACLU Warns This May Not Be the End

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: media@aclufl.org

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today applauded the Florida Supreme Court's decision to remove proposed Constitutional Amendments 7 and 9 from the November ballot. 

The ACLU was one of several separation of church & state and public education organizations, including the Florida Education Association and others, that filed the challenge asserting that the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission's actions were beyond the scope of its authority.

The ACLU warned, however, that this will not be the end of the battle to protect religious freedom and separation of church and state, and keep unconstitutional vouchers out of the Sunshine State. "It would be naïve to think that opponents of separation of church and state and public education will fold their tents and disappear. This battle is very likely to be renewed in the next Legislative session," said Howard Simon, Executive Director, ACLU of Florida.

"The removal of 7 and 9 from the November ballot enables us to turn our full and undivided attention to defeating proposed Constitutional Amendment 2, which would strip domestic partner health and other benefits from unmarried Floridians, both gay and straight alike," Simon added.

"In 2009 we will be prepared for a more conservative Legislature that will be even more hostile to civil liberties," said Courtenay Strickland, Director of Public Policy, ACLU of Florida. "We will remain strong on the legislative, legal and public education fronts to ensure that Floridians are aware of the impact that these types of proposals will have on our fundamental civil liberties and rights."

The final Opinion will follow, and a copy of today's Florida Supreme Court's Order can be viewed in PDF at: www.aclufl.org/pdfs/voucher_fsc_final.pdf