Anti Amendment 1 forces blasted, yet again, the property tax cut proposal as a "scam" that perpetuates inequities and scoffed at Gov. Charlie Crist's proposal to restore education funding cuts.

"It's wrong for Florida. It's wrong for public schools," Florida Education Association President Andy Ford said at a noon news conference. (photo: he's listening to Rep. Curtis Richardson, D-Tallahassee). "We're hearing a big, 'You need to trust us' in the Legislature. ... We've done that with property taxes. We've done that with homeowners' insurance and the lottery."

Crist's budget recommendation would restore cuts but also called for an increase in property values and, thus, local property taxes to fund education.

The coalition, known as Florida Is Our Home, is trying to raise money
to run radio ads in the days leading up to the Jan. 29 vote. Organizers
took more heat today for repeating misleading claims that Amendment 1
would strip $3-billion from schools over five years. More on that
controversy here.