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A Leon County judge has ruled that a law that lets people take their signatures off petition initiatives is constitutional.  A group called Florida Hometown Democracy leveled the legal challenge.  Their proposed amendment would require local referendums on land-use changes.  Their main opponent, Save Our Constitution, has used the new law to try to cut the number of signatures its supporters have collected to get on the November 2008 ballot.  Associated Industries of Florida is bankrolling Save Our Constitution’s effort.

“The legislative intent behind the law is very clear,” said Barney Bishop of Associated Industries of Florida.  “People are allowed to sign a petition.  You can tell them anything you want to, to get them sign a petition.  People should be able to have the opportunity to hear the other side of the argument, to decide if they don’t want to have their signature on the petition anymore.  It’s what’s called a democracy, a free flow of ideas.  You hear both arguments.”

Supporters need 611,000 signatures to get on the ballot.  As of Tuesday, they had nearly 394,000 filed with the state.