Letter to the Editor
By EUGENE H. (BUCKY) BENSON
Published: 5 SEPTEMBER 2008
The Treasure Coast Palm
Lesley Blackner’s Sept. 2 “Longer View” only lightly countered Ryan Houck’s Aug. 20 allegations of paid petition gathering, which Houck says is not a “grass-roots” drive.
Does Mr. Houck really believe that those 611,000 signatures do not reflect taxpayer sentiments? The only “pay” involved was for the few persons sitting in public locations for long hours, with a form on which we taxpayers willingly, without pay, placed our signatures. And the only purpose of that petition is to have the “issue” (voter power) emplaced for all Florida voters to decide.
What are the corporate interests so afraid of -- that voters might have sense enough to thwart the Big Business community?
In addition to Houck’s “Smarter Growth” political action committee, Florida Hometown Democracy has been hampered by obfuscation and passive-aggressive behavior from the Secretary of State’s Office and its hired lawyers.
Secretary of State Kurt Browning’s communications director, Jennifer Krell Davis, was listed as a paid lobbyist for FHD’s primary opponent, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, from March 24 to July 30 of this year. Just think that one over, taxpayers -- you paid her to oppose your interests.
Just one excerpt from Houck’s guest column sets the stage for argument: “Even the much-derided ‘pregnant pigs’ amendment collected more than 70 percent of its signatures with unpaid volunteers. Unlike FHD, it qualified after only one attempt.”
Well, sir, the pregnant pigs didn’t have a well-heeled PAC and state officials opposing them.
Signatures are still just signatures, willingly given, and if that isn’t “grass roots,” what is? Then again, maybe Houck is right. Maybe there aren’t enough voters who really care. Lots of grass, but no roots.
Eugene H. 'Bucky' Benson
Vero Beach
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