Florida congressional members latest to oppose ‘energy choice’ amendment

By A.G. Gancarski
July 29, 2019

The petition process for the 2020 ballot continues apace, with an “energy choice” amendment showing enough momentum to perhaps meet the signature threshold.

A full 24 Florida members of Congress, however, vigorously oppose the measure, as they wrote in a letter to Attorney General Ashley Moody Friday.

The group of 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans assert that the proposed amendment, which would supposedly create a competitive market in the traditionally monopolistic world of utilities, would have bad effects.

Among them: dismantling the power grid; threatening “complete energy deregulation”; higher rates and worse reliability.

“We cannot allow Florida’s energy market to be disrupted by special interests,” the signatories contended.

Republicans signing onto the letter: U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Mike Waltz, Ted Yoho, John Rutherford; Vern Buchanan; Mario Diaz-Balart; Neal Dunn; Brian Mast; Francis Rooney; Greg Steube; Daniel Webster; and Bill Posey.

Democratic signatories: U.S. Rep. Al Lawson; Frederica Wilson; Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Donna Shalala; Stephanie Murphy; Debbie Murcasel-Powell; Lois Frankel; Alcee Hastings; Val Demings; Ted Deutch; Charlie Crist; and Darren Soto.

Opposition is fierce from the political establishment: business groups, the Urban League, the League of Cities and AG Moody oppose the ballot measure.

Read the full article on Florida Politics