Finance

Abortion-rights amendment backers want rewrite of finance info on ballot that's now 'outdated' • Florida Phoenix

Published

2 years ago

April 11, 2024

Abortion-rights amendment backers want rewrite of finance info on ballot that's now 'outdated' • Florida Phoenix

Within days of a momentous Florida Supreme Court ruling authorizing a referendum to restore abortion rights, the group pushing the initiative rushed to file a lawsuit to ensure that the ballot language describing its financial implications doesn’t mislead voters.

Floridians Protecting Freedom, sponsor of the proposed Amendment 4, claims the financial impact statement now planned “is fatally flawed.”

“First, it largely presents outdated information about the legality of abortion under statutes and litigation unrelated to Amendment 4; second, the inclusion of such information renders it confusing, ambiguous, and misleading; and third, it highlights the potential of future litigation, which is speculative,” the organization said in a 17-page civil complaint filed Friday in Leon County Circuit Court, in Tallahassee.

“Because the [financial estimate] is unclear, confusing, ambiguous, misleading, and inaccurate, voters will be prevented from casting an informed ballot,” the document adds.

In a written statement to the Phoenix, the campaign appeared to play down the significance of the lawsuit, saying the Financial Impact Estimating Conference (FIEC), which drafted the impact statement last November, needs a court order to revise it.

“This is a technical issue, and we look forward to working with the FIEC to resolve it, so voters have accurate information when it comes time to vote on Amendment 4,” the organization said in its statement.

Still, unless the amendment passes (with the constitutionally required 60% of the votes cast), Florida will continue to enforce a draconian ban on abortions conducted after six weeks’ gestation, before many people realize they are pregnant. The ban is set to take effect on May 1.

This appears to be the first time such a situation has arisen, the campaign continued. That’s because on April 1, the same day the court OK’d the initiative for the ballot, it also reversed its own 1989 precedent that the Florida Constitution’s Privacy Clause protects access to abortion. That ruling triggered the countdown to the six-week ban.

Of course, there was no way nearly five months ago for the FIEC to anticipate that ruling, especially in light of the then-pending challenge to the state’s abortion limits, so its members hedged their bets, concluding: “Because there are several possible outcomes related to this litigation that differ widely in their effects, the impact of the proposed amendment on state and local government revenues and costs, if any, cannot be determined.”

The abortion ban ruling, then, “has rendered the current financial impact language outdated and no longer accurate. To our knowledge, this is the first time it has happened that a court ruling following the determination of a financial impact has rendered the financial impact statement inaccurate,” Floridians Protecting Freedom told the Phoenix.

Economic experts

The conference is a collection of economic experts that regularly advises state government. The suit names the panel plus its four members — Amy Baker, director of the state Office of Economic and Demographic Research, Vince Aldridge, staff director for the House Ways and Means Committee; Azhar Khan, staff director of the Senate Finance and Tax Committee; and Brea Gelin, a chief analyst in the Executive Office of the Governor — plus Secretary of State Cord Byrd.

“Under current statutes, the FIEC may not be able to reconsider the financial impact statement without a court order, so Floridians Protecting Freedom is filing a lawsuit, simply to compel the state to ensure the financial impact statement accompanying the ballot summary of Amendment 4 is accurate. This is a technical issue, and we look forward to working with the FIEC to resolve it, so voters have accurate information when it comes time to vote on Amendment 4,” the campaign told the Phoenix.

As with all proposed constitutional amendments, the financial estimate will appear on the ballot along with a summary of what any amendments would do. The idea is to give voters the best possible assessment of how an initiative would affect taxpayers.

That existing language won’t do, the new lawsuit complains:

Fresh language

The text of the proposed “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion” says: “Limiting government interference with abortion. — Except as provided in Article X, Section 22, no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

Now that the state Supreme Court has settled the ambiguities the group wrestled with, the financial statement needs rewriting, the complaint says.

“The 6-week ban will be in effect at the time of the election, so to accurately reflect Amendment 4’s probable financial impact, the [impact statement] must reflect that reality,” it notes.

It suggests fresh language:

“The Florida Financial Impact Estimating Conference estimated that this proposed amendment will result in decreased costs to state government, no impact to local government revenues or costs, and an overall positive impact to the state budget.”

Floridians Protecting Freedom asked for a quick ruling.

“Time is of the essence, and this matter should be expedited because the ballots for the 2024 General Election will be mailed to voters starting as early as September 21, 2024. … The ballot’s design must necessarily be finalized, and the ballots themselves printed, before then,” the complaint argues.

According to conference’s analysis, the state recorded 46,011 abortions up to six weeks’ gestation during 2022, or 55.7% of the total of 82,851 that year. There were 81,269 conducted up to 15 weeks’ gestation.

For that reason, the document forecasts broader savings for state and local governments if the amendment passes while the six-week ban remains law, because there would be fewer children going to school, participating in social services, or otherwise drawing tax money. But it gives no hard numbers.

“The FIEC has already developed the financial impact analysis for a scenario that the 6-week ban is in place — Florida’s current reality — so they do not need to revisit their analysis. However, their summary of that impact, which all voters will see, is now inaccurate and needs to be updated to reflect the current reality,” the organization told the Phoenix.

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Finance

One.funding and MV Commercial launch MV Asset Finance

Published

7 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

One.funding and MV Commercial launch MV Asset Finance

Representatives from One.funding worked closely with MV Commercial’s team. Credit: M Isolation photo / Shutterstock.com.

One.funding has partnered with UK-based MV Commercial to introduce MV Asset Finance, which offers an alternative method for MV Commercial’s customers to secure finance, according to a LinkedIn post.

In developing MV Asset Finance, representatives from One.funding worked closely with MV Commercial’s team to better understand business priorities and the requirements of their customer base.

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According to the post, the service aims to remove friction, ensure complete transparency, and enable a seamless process from initial engagement to completion by integrating support within MV Commercial’s operations and presenting it under their brand.

MV Commercial supplies fleet solutions for vehicles within the UK.

The company’s offerings include trucks, trailers, and light commercial vehicles that are available for sale, rental, or contract hire.

Its current rental and Ready to Go fleets consist of 2,000 specialist trucks, vans, and trailers across various depots in Airdrie, Grantham, Livingston, Oxford, Haydock, and London Luton.

One.funding CEO Lee Schofield said: “At One.funding, we’ve 20 years of experience in building point-of-sale finance that fits naturally into how businesses sell. MV Asset Finance shows what’s possible when that experience is embedded into the MV Commercial journey, making it easier for their customers to keep moving and keep growing.”

A recent example involved AMK Plant & Tipper Hire, which added a DAF FAD XD450 Construction eight-by-four tipper truck to its fleet, the company’s first DAF tipper purchase.

The transaction was finalised in three weeks; MV Commercial supplied the vehicle while financing was arranged through the newly launched MV Asset Finance framework.

Finance

RFSD board approves financial assurances, reviews annual audit

Published

19 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

RFSD board approves financial assurances, reviews annual audit

The Roaring Fork School District Board of Education approved its annual financial accreditation assurances and reviewed the district’s 2024-25 audited financial statements during its meeting on Wednesday, according to a district news release.

The audit, presented by McMahan and Associates, found the district’s overall financial position to be stable and identified areas for continued improvement in internal controls and financial processes. The district’s General Fund balance remains above minimum levels required by board policy.

Chief Financial Officer Christy Chicoine said the audit reflects progress following prior concerns identified in earlier reviews.

“We have made significant improvements compared to the prior year’s audit as a Finance Department, and I am grateful for the finance team’s commitment towards those improvements as demonstrated in this audit,” Chicoine said. “While we still have work to do to continue to sustain and enhance the district’s fiscal management, the audit report indicates we are clearly headed in the right direction.”

Superintendent Anna Cole said the findings validate work undertaken over the past two years to rebuild internal systems and improve transparency.

“Over the past two years, our teams have worked diligently and transparently to rebuild internal financial systems that left the district at risk,” Cole said. “The outcomes of this audit are evidence that we are on track.”

Cole said the timing of the audit is significant as the district begins developing its budget for the 2026-27 school year and faces mounting external pressures.

“We couldn’t have stabilized internal systems at a better time,” she said. “As we begin the budgeting process for the 26/27 school year, we face external challenges like declining enrollment, instability of state and federal funding, and a rising cost of living that is outpacing staff and teacher salaries. This audit is an important confirmation that our finances are in order as we prepare to navigate oncoming challenges.”

Board President Lindsay DeFrates said the board is better positioned to plan ahead following the audit’s conclusions.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Chief Chicoine and the hard work of the district finance and human resources teams,” DeFrates said. “We are now in a much better place financially and will move forward with clarity, transparency and accountability, able to better navigate the challenges to come.”

Finance

UK’s Former Finance Minister George Osborne Joins Coinbase – Coinspeaker

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

UK’s Former Finance Minister George Osborne Joins Coinbase – Coinspeaker

Key Notes

Former UK finance minister George Osborne is joining Coinbase’s Global Advisory Council.
Osborne will focus on crypto regulation, stablecoins, and tokenized assets across the UK and EU.
The exchange is also expanding beyond crypto trading as it steps into 2026.

Coinbase has appointed former UK finance minister George Osborne as chair of its Global Advisory Council. It is clear that the American crypto exchange wants to deepen its influence with governments outside the United States.

Earlier this week, Coinbase tested the waters in India as its deal to acquire a minority stake in local crypto trading platform CoinDCX was approved by the Competition Commission of India.

https://twitter.com/CCI_India/status/2000905244080034292

Coinbase Expands Policy Reach Beyond the US

Coinbase confirmed that Osborne will take a more active role in advising on government engagement worldwide, with a focus on Britain and the European Union.

Osborne, who first joined Coinbase as an adviser in January 2024, will be based in London. He will work closely with policymakers on issues related to crypto regulation, stablecoins, and tokenized assets.

Coinbase’s chief policy officer Faryar Shirzad said the crypto exchange has already become a powerful lobbying force outside the US. In the UK, the company is pushing for clearer rules on tax treatment, stablecoin payments, and the use of tokenized assets in capital markets.

Osborne’s Background

Osborne served as the UK’s finance minister from 2010 until 2016, stepping down after the Brexit referendum. Since leaving politics, he has built a broad private-sector portfolio.

He currently chairs the British Museum, is a partner at investment bank Robey Warshaw, and leads Lingotto Investment Management.

Just days before the Coinbase announcement, OpenAI named Osborne to support its overseas data centre expansion under its global infrastructure program. His appointment to Coinbase adds crypto and blockchain policy to an already wide-ranging list of responsibilities.

Expansion Across Crypto

According to an earlier report, at its recent System Update event, Coinbase revealed plans to expand into stock trading, prediction markets, custom stablecoins, tokenization platforms, and AI-powered investment advisers.

Coinbase has already launched stock trading and prediction markets on its platform and now rivals firms such as Robinhood and eToro. The exchange has also partnered with Kalshi to offer markets tied to real-world events such as sports, elections, and economic data.

The exchange’s long-term goal is to become an all-in-one financial platform that operates around the clock.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank recently initiated coverage with a buy rating, according to CNBC. Analysts expect the company’s broader new everything-in-one strategy to reduce its dependence on crypto trading volumes as it scales into 2026.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

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A crypto journalist with over 5 years of experience in the industry, Parth has worked with major media outlets in the crypto and finance world, gathering experience and expertise in the space after surviving bear and bull markets over the years. Parth is also an author of 4 self-published books.

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