Lawmakers begin session facing grim economic news

Lawmakers begin session facing grim economic news
By DARA KAM and MICHAEL C. BENDER



Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

TALLAHASSEE — Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio opened the 2008 session this morning by giving a bleak portrait of the state economy and differing ways to offer a fix.

Pruitt encouraged senators to be stalwart in the face of economic challenges and outlined his goals for the next 60 days.

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"One thing is certain: we are experiencing some very challenging economic times. We will have less money. Less money means having to say no a lot more. It's time like these when our mettle is tested. It's a whole lot easier to lead when there's a whole lot of money," Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, said.

After trimming this year's budget by nearly half a billion dollars, lawmakers will begin to craft an even skimpier one for next year, when economists expect up to $2.5 billion less than current revenue collections.

"This isn't the time to shrink back or bunker in. It's time to act," Pruitt advised.

Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller shared other Democrats' dismal view about up to $2.5 billion lawmakers will have to slash from next year's budget unless they raise revenues elsewhere.

He rejected GOP House leaders' contention that government needs to be trimmed to address the budget crisis because this year's $1.5 billion in cuts have already forced that.

"People keep talking (about) cut the fat. That's long since been done. We're now breaking the bones and trying to eat the marrow. There's just nothing there left," Geller, D-Cooper City, said.

In the House, Rubio opened what he called "perhaps the most important year in Florida's history" by calling for lower taxes, pushing the property insurance market back into private hands and approving a tougher curriculum for the state's public schools.

Rubio also demanded legislation that would serve as a "national model" to deal with a "crisis" among the black population in the state and across the country.

"Today, more young black men are headed to incarceration than to graduation," Rubio said. "The impacts of this tragedy are profound."

The legislation would include recommendations from the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Juvenile Justice.

Rubio pointed to a proposal for a "Children's Zone" in Liberty City, which would be modeled on a similar program in Harlem, N.Y.

Rubio also called for lower property taxes and renewed a vow from House Republican leaders that they would not look for ways to raise revenues to offset the continuing shortfall.

"For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options," Rubio said. "Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for."

Rubio said he wanted lawmakers to approve a cap on government revenue and, in a shot to the Senate, said lawmakers should continue pressing for large property tax cuts.

"Maybe some have 'property tax fatigue,'" Rubio said. "But if we do nothing, come November, voters are going to have 'incumbent fatigue.'"

But House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber of Miami Beach said many of the problems pointed out this morning have occurred while Republicans were in charge of the chambers.

"Florida wasn't always a high-cost state," Gelber said. "A lot of these costs have come in the last decade. They're the ones who increased the education property taxes. It was not Democrats."

Pruitt reiterated his priorities, including an economic stimulus package in which he hopes to spend up to $5 billion to build roads and schools and improve the state infrastructure.

And he outlined a proposed constitutional amendment that would restrict the Board of Governors' purview over the state university system and prohibit the panel from setting tuition rates.

The amendment, which would require a three-fifths approval from each chamber to make it onto the ballot, would also make the now-appointed education commissioner an elected position as it was until six years ago.

The cuts to this year's budget include slashing K-12 schools spending by $245 million despite Gov. Charlie Crist's insistence that education be "held harmless" after voters approved Amendment 1, which will cause a drop in property tax collections that pay for schools.

The cuts to education are also caused by a law passed the legislature last year curbing the amount of money local governments can collect and spend.

"We have a special affinity for education and try to make sure what we can to insulate them as much as possible," said Senate Fiscal Policy and Calendar Committee Chairwoman Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey.

"It becomes very difficult in a tight fiscal year because the general revenue dollars are consumed by two areas of the budget, education and health care. It's impossible to hold them harmless from any cuts but we will do the best we can, given the revenue situation," she said.

As on opening day in prior years, lawmakers' spouses and children and former members of the House and Senate crowded into the chambers, where desks were laden with floral arrangements, before breaking for lunch.

Senators viewed a picture slide show of their six term-limited colleagues, including Sen. Mandy Dawson, D-Fort Lauderdale, whose district includes part of Palm Beach County.

The video montage left Pruitt, serving the last of his two-year stint as president, in tears.

"Senators, let us," Pruitt began before breaking down. "Let us take every opportunity to spend time with these special people in the last days of their noble service in the senate."








Find this article at:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/ ... ature.html

Looks like a great time to leave FL.

Senate bill 920 (FHP Step plan) passed the Transportation Committee today. The Senators had some great things to say about our department. This is only the first step, but it's looking pretty good so far.

Senate bill 920 (FHP Step plan) passed the Transportation Committee today. The Senators had some great things to say about our department. This is only the first step, but it's looking pretty good so far.

We have heard the BS before. The 5% and $500 per year was a "done deal" and then boom....nothing!

c) Of the driver's license reinstatement fee that is
152
deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, $15 shall
153
be used to establish a recruitment and retention salary payment
154
plan for officers of the highway patrol. The Director of the
155
Division of the Florida Highway Patrol may use the funds from the
156
deposited reinstatement fees to structure a pay scale for highway
157
patrol officers which is competitive with the average of the
158
salaries of the six highest-paid law enforcement agencies in the
159
state. The director may develop a pay scale for members of the
160
highway patrol which is based on an officer's years of service
161
with the patrol and his or her job performance with respect to
162
established

[tanandblack]

Of course they dont neglect to fill the hallowed halls with fresh cut flowers for their desks, scumbags!!!!

Of course they dont neglect to fill the hallowed halls with fresh cut flowers for their desks, scumbags!!!!

You are right! How much did that cost us????

Senate bill 920 (FHP Step plan) passed the Transportation Committee today. The Senators had some great things to say about our department. This is only the first step, but it's looking pretty good so far.

I would not hold my breath if I were you, it still has a long way to go before it passes. We have all seen this before.

Lawmakers begin session facing grim economic news
By DARA KAM and MICHAEL C. BENDER



Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

TALLAHASSEE — Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio opened the 2008 session this morning by giving a bleak portrait of the state economy and differing ways to offer a fix.

Pruitt encouraged senators to be stalwart in the face of economic challenges and outlined his goals for the next 60 days.

More Florida news
Latest state headlines
P.B. County, TCoast news
Special reports
Weather | Traffic | Obituaries


"One thing is certain: we are experiencing some very challenging economic times. We will have less money. Less money means having to say no a lot more. It's time like these when our mettle is tested. It's a whole lot easier to lead when there's a whole lot of money," Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, said.

After trimming this year's budget by nearly half a billion dollars, lawmakers will begin to craft an even skimpier one for next year, when economists expect up to $2.5 billion less than current revenue collections.

"This isn't the time to shrink back or bunker in. It's time to act," Pruitt advised.

Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller shared other Democrats' dismal view about up to $2.5 billion lawmakers will have to slash from next year's budget unless they raise revenues elsewhere.

He rejected GOP House leaders' contention that government needs to be trimmed to address the budget crisis because this year's $1.5 billion in cuts have already forced that.

"People keep talking (about) cut the fat. That's long since been done. We're now breaking the bones and trying to eat the marrow. There's just nothing there left," Geller, D-Cooper City, said.

In the House, Rubio opened what he called "perhaps the most important year in Florida's history" by calling for lower taxes, pushing the property insurance market back into private hands and approving a tougher curriculum for the state's public schools.

Rubio also demanded legislation that would serve as a "national model" to deal with a "crisis" among the black population in the state and across the country.

"Today, more young black men are headed to incarceration than to graduation," Rubio said. "The impacts of this tragedy are profound."

The legislation would include recommendations from the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Juvenile Justice.

Rubio pointed to a proposal for a "Children's Zone" in Liberty City, which would be modeled on a similar program in Harlem, N.Y.

Rubio also called for lower property taxes and renewed a vow from House Republican leaders that they would not look for ways to raise revenues to offset the continuing shortfall.

"For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options," Rubio said. "Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for."

Rubio said he wanted lawmakers to approve a cap on government revenue and, in a shot to the Senate, said lawmakers should continue pressing for large property tax cuts.

"Maybe some have 'property tax fatigue,'" Rubio said. "But if we do nothing, come November, voters are going to have 'incumbent fatigue.'"

But House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber of Miami Beach said many of the problems pointed out this morning have occurred while Republicans were in charge of the chambers.

"Florida wasn't always a high-cost state," Gelber said. "A lot of these costs have come in the last decade. They're the ones who increased the education property taxes. It was not Democrats."

Pruitt reiterated his priorities, including an economic stimulus package in which he hopes to spend up to $5 billion to build roads and schools and improve the state infrastructure.

And he outlined a proposed constitutional amendment that would restrict the Board of Governors' purview over the state university system and prohibit the panel from setting tuition rates.

The amendment, which would require a three-fifths approval from each chamber to make it onto the ballot, would also make the now-appointed education commissioner an elected position as it was until six years ago.

The cuts to this year's budget include slashing K-12 schools spending by $245 million despite Gov. Charlie Crist's insistence that education be "held harmless" after voters approved Amendment 1, which will cause a drop in property tax collections that pay for schools.

The cuts to education are also caused by a law passed the legislature last year curbing the amount of money local governments can collect and spend.

"We have a special affinity for education and try to make sure what we can to insulate them as much as possible," said Senate Fiscal Policy and Calendar Committee Chairwoman Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey.

"It becomes very difficult in a tight fiscal year because the general revenue dollars are consumed by two areas of the budget, education and health care. It's impossible to hold them harmless from any cuts but we will do the best we can, given the revenue situation," she said.

As on opening day in prior years, lawmakers' spouses and children and former members of the House and Senate crowded into the chambers, where desks were laden with floral arrangements, before breaking for lunch.

Senators viewed a picture slide show of their six term-limited colleagues, including Sen. Mandy Dawson, D-Fort Lauderdale, whose district includes part of Palm Beach County.

The video montage left Pruitt, serving the last of his two-year stint as president, in tears.

"Senators, let us," Pruitt began before breaking down. "Let us take every opportunity to spend time with these special people in the last days of their noble service in the senate."


GLAD TO SEE THE MEDIA ON BOARD 8)





Find this article at:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/ ... ature.html

http://www.charliecrist.com/video_galle ... =39&auto=1


WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE TOP CENTER.