Another Florida Icon Pans Amendment 1

WFSU | By Jim Ash

Published November 1, 2016 at 3:52 PM EDT

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, a Democratic icon, is coming out against Amendment 1. Graham says supporters are running a deceptive campaign.

Another Florida icon is joining Key West troubadour Jimmy Buffett in the anti-Amendment 1 camp.

Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham is accusing supporters of the utility-backed solar ballot initiative of deception.

The Miami Lakes Democrat was one of Florida’s most popular governors and earned a bi-partisan reputation in Washington as a straight shooter.

Graham says utility companies are selling Amendment 1 as pro-solar when its “subsidy” provision would actually sock solar users with higher fees. Graham says utility companies drafted Amendment 1 to torpedo a pro-solar measure that never made it to the ballot.

“None of the things that are being used as false arguments for Amendment 1 are in fact credible.”

The Graham attack comes as the latest St. Leo University poll shows 59 percent support for Amendment 1, a double-digit plunge from last month. It needs 60 percent to pass.

Pollsters blame recent headlines about a conservative think tank strategist who was caught describing the Amendment 1 campaign as political “jiu-jitsu.”