5 things to know about Pam Bondi, Trump's new AG pick
Worked to get a religious freedom amendment on Florida ballot
In 2011, Bondi emerged as a forceful defender of Florida's Amendment 7. If approved by voters, Amendment 7 would have removed language from the state's constitution stating, "No revenue of the state … shall ever be taken from the public treasury … in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution."
After a judge ruled that the ballot summary for Amendment 7 was misleading, Bondi created new language for the measure in accordance with state law allowing the Florida attorney general to rewrite ballot summaries that are deemed "legally defective."
Reacting to the judge's decision, Bondi maintained, "It is important that voters have an opportunity to remove from our constitution a provision that discriminates against religious organizations."
Bondi crafted new language for Amendment 7, which declared "no individual or entity may be denied on the basis of religious identity or belief, governmental benefits, funding, or other except as required by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution."
The ballot measure was renamed Amendment 8 and appeared on the 2012 general election ballot. It was defeated, with 55.5% of Florida voters rejecting the proposal and 44.5% of voters supporting it.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
