I want to thank everyone for your support. We have 408 signatures! I am going to meet with House Representative John Cortes on Friday 12/15/2017. If there is any change I will let you know. I will be speaking to him about our petition, medical care and the basic needs which are lacking in the institutions; such as an appropriate diet, means to keep warm and education. There is another petition that I am going to ask you to sign. This petition is for “The Voting Restoration Amendment” this amendment would allow the men and women that have paid their debt to society have the right to vote. In April 2007, then-Gov. Charlie Crist took an incremental step towards reform when he issued revised rules of executive clemency. Notably, this change created automatic rights restoration for people completing sentences for certain felony convictions. A year later, in 2008, Gov. Crist’s office announced that over 115,000 Floridians had regained voting rights since the new rules were implemented. In March 2011, Gov. Scott eliminated Gov. Crist’s reforms by and created additional barriers for people seeking to have their voting rights restored. The Brennan Center and other national civil rights organizations strongly opposed the plan in a joint letter to the Florida Clemency Board. The American Probation and Parole Association also submitted its own letter encouraging the Board to maintain Gov. Crist’s clemency reforms. The only way to achieve reform is by having our voices heard. We need to give a voice to the men and women that have served their time. If they have a voice the mistreatment will end because they will be able to hold accountable our Senators, Representatives and Governor. They will be able to vote them into office and out of office. We need to put this Amendment on the 2018 ballot!