WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Over $9 million was spent to get Amendment 4 on the ballot this November in Florida, asking voters to limit their own ability to make changes to the state constitution.
The change would require Floridians to vote twice, in two separate elections, on amendments to the state's constitution before an amendment is approved.
"We're just saying that in order to amend our Florida Constitution, our foundational document, it should have to go through significant scrutiny. It should have to go to the voters twice," said Jason Zimmerman, chairman of Keep Our Constitution Clean, the political committee behind the push for Amendment 4.
But the group behind the push is facing legal action from the League of Women Voters because it's unclear who's behind the millions of dollars it raised to get the amendment on the ballot.
The League of Women Voters of Florida claims in court filings that more than $9 million in contributions to Keep Our Constitution Clean PC have come from Keep Our Constitution Clean Inc., a Florida-based nonprofit.
"The voters deserve to know who is behind the initiative," said Patricia Brigham, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, in an interview with Contact 5. "It's about transparency in government."
"We're not spending any money on advertising," Zimmerman noted to Contact 5.
"In Florida, I believe it is legal," said Nick Tomboulides of the donations.
Tomboulides is leading a group opposed to Amendment 4. He's no stranger to amending the state constitution. Twenty-eight years ago, his group helped pass the state constitutional amendment that created term limits for state lawmakers.
"Nine million dollars has come in to try to silence the people of Florida via Amendment 4, and we have no idea where it is coming from, and that to me is very alarming," Tomboulides told Contact 5.
Zimmerman defended the fundraising, saying "the money was raised for petition gathering. It was raised to get us on the ballot."
He added the group may name its financial supporters in future filings, but those filings are not due until after next month's election.
When asked to name the contributors, Zimmerman told Contact 5, "As of right now, I don't even know. ... I just took over as chairman, so I don't know."
"We don't like being left in the dark," said Brigham, "and neither should our voters."
A judge has not scheduled a hearing on the League of Women Voters case against Keep Our Constitution Clean PC.
READ THE COURT FILING HERE:
Patricia Brigham, Et Al Pla... by Contact 5
