How a utility’s silent spending to control energy policy might determine abortion rights in Florida

Since 2018 , 13 Republican legislators have sponsored 22 bills in the state house designed to impede ballot initiatives.

FPL quietly funded groups working to restrict Floridians ’ ability to change laws independent of the legislature.

The state’s constitution allows citizens to amend it via petition, a form of direct democracy.

Keep our Constitution Clean (KOCC) was a tax-exempt dark money group dedicated to making it harder to pass constitutional amendments.

It sponsored its own 2020 initiative that if passed would have required any amendment be approved in two consecutive elections.

At least $10.2 million of KOCC ’s $14.6 million budget came from a dark money nonprofit controlled by operatives at Matrix LLC , an Alabama political consulting firm.

A pair of powerful trade groups — The Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida ( AIF ) — have been the most vocal advocates of changing the citizens’ ballot initiative process for decades .

They’ve also pushed for policies that would pad the pockets of FPL investors, like a bill that would have hobbled rooftop solar in the state and was written by an FPL lobbyist.