Uh-oh. Amendment 1 blunder? The trouble with amendments...

John Kennedy, the Palm Beach Post journalist covering the beat in Tallahassee, authored a disturbing story concerning Amendment 1 that the voters approved last November. Mr. Kennedy's story appeared in last Sunday's edition. First let's review the ballot title for Amendment 1:

Water and Land Conservation - Dedicates funds to acquire and restore Florida conservation and recreation lands

As you know, ballot language is limited to a certain number of words. Were that not the case the ballot could look more like an old school phone book. Here was the official ballot language for Amendment 1:

Funds the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to acquire, restore, improve, and manage conservation lands including wetlands and forests; fish and wildlife habitat; lands protecting water resources and drinking water sources, including the Everglades, and the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams; beaches and shores; outdoor recreational lands; working farms and ranches; and historic or geologic sites, by dedicating 33 percent of net revenues from the existing excise tax on documents for 20 years.

If you remember back to Amendment 4 in 2010, the ballot language was vague and the amendment failed terribly. Nearly 75% of Florida voters rejected it. The language for the recent Amendment 1 appears to be clear, doesn't it? Not so fast. The Post's John Kennedy reported House Speaker Steve Crisafulli (R) saying, “Now it’s up to us to interpret the intent.” By "intent" he refers to the intent of the voters last November. And remember how our own ballot issue regarding the $63 million bond for infrastructure was seen as "vague" for some.

Now to an excerpt from John Kennedy's article that appeared in last Sunday's paper:

The measure would set aside one-third of the state’s existing real estate transaction tax, raising millions of dollars for such conservation programs as Everglades restoration, Florida Forever land purchases and freshwater springs protection.

But lawmakers also seem to be eyeing to make a broader menu of projects eligible for the amendment’s more than $600 million in first-year cash.

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said city water and sewer projects – basic repair, maintenance and expansion work that lawmakers spent $88.5 million on this year – could be among those aided by the Water and Land Legacy campaign dollars.

“It fits into the purview of the intent of the amendment, it certainly does,” Crisafulli said.