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Members of the state’s most powerful commission reunited for the first time ever Friday at the Capitol. The Constitutional Revision Commission rewrote the Florida’s constitution in 1968. Since then the commission has reconvened twice, once in 1978 and then again in 1998. The Commission has the authority to put amendments on the general election ballot. Bill Birchfield was a commissioner in 1978 when 11 amendments were put on the ballot. Birchfield addressed the work of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission which approved a plan to trade 25 percent of property tax for a penny sales tax increase.

“I think the jury’s still out on their work product, but I think the concept is right, because it’s very difficult for legislatures to do taxes, so it gives them some insulation,” said Birchfield.

The tax swap plan will have to be approved by voters in November. At least 60 percent of voters will have to vote for the plan in order for it to go into affect.