House Unveils Lean Spending Plan

The state House is proposing a lean -- and Democrats and health and human services advocates say -- mean $65.1 billion budget for 2008-09, which could have been even slimmer had ruling Republicans not tapped $659.1 million in unused cash from trust funds to prop-up spending.

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TABOR seems kaput (?)

UPDATE: Adam Guillette, Florida director for Americans for Prosperity, says speculation about the proposal going down is bunk. "We think we're looking a lot better now than we were a few days ago." He said the strong public showing resonated with the commission and that the mixed feelings -- too strong, too weak -- are a good sign. "It seems like Commissioner Hogan is doing a good job to the find the middle."

Colorado business woman tells panel that tax cap would cost more

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A Colorado woman urged Florida's tax commission not to make the same mistake as her state by capping government revenues and requiring voter approval for tax and fee increases.

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Vote on tax-cap proposal postponed for week

TALLAHASSEE --

The sponsor of a plan to put a strict cap on all governments' tax revenues into the state Constitution struggled to keep the issue alive Wednesday and postponed a vote on whether to put it on the November ballot.

Mike Hogan, the Duval County tax collector, said he will wait until the last meeting of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission next week as he continues to make changes to the already watered-down plan.

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Hogan prompts tax panel to delay cap plan

TALLAHASSEE - The state's tax commission was expected to take final action Wednesday on a proposal to cap state and local taxes, fees and other revenue, but its sponsor asked that the vote be delayed.

The commission had been scheduled to consider some changes Duval County Tax Collector Mike Hogan and others have proposed for the measure, known as the Taxpayer Protection Amendment, and then vote on it, but Hogan asked for the commission to postpone a decision on whether the measure should go on the November ballot so that it could be modified.

The panel, though, heard testimony Wednesday from citizens, nearly all in favor of the tax cap, including a large contingent from Hogan's county.

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Florida tax protesters tramp into Crist's office

TALLAHASSEE — Their anger was etched on weary faces, carried in chants and scrawled across signs mocking Gov. Charlie Crist's promise to drop property taxes "like a rock."

The property tax debate erupted anew in the state Capitol on Tuesday — a vivid reminder of how heated the issue remains even after voters approved Amendment 1 two months ago.

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TABOR vote put off, for now

The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission will not vote today on the controversial revenue and spending cap proposal known informally as TABOR, its chief sponsor told the Buzz late Tuesday.

"We're going to workshop it," said commissioner Mike Hogan, who is also Duval County tax collector. Speaking shortly before midnight, Hogan said he was exhausted after a day of working on the proposal and making at least six changes to a bill that has already been altered various ways.

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State Panel OKs Bill To End Public Financing Of Elections

TALLAHASSEE - House Republicans and Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday appeared once again to take opposing sides - this time over spending millions of taxpayer dollars on the campaigns of political candidates.

The House Policy and Budget Council voted along party lines to abolish public financing of campaigns for governor and other Cabinet offices, despite arguments from Democrats that the public money thwarts the influence of special interests and levels the playing field for challengers of powerful incumbents.

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Bill would extend Florida Forever

House and Senate committees this week are considering draft bills to extend the Florida Forever land-buying program without committing the state to spending money that it may not have in the future.

More than 500,000 acres of conservation lands have been bought since 2000 under the $300 million annual program, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

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Taxpayer protection is essential for Florida prosperity

Dan Quiggle |Special To The Sentinel

Sunshine State taxpayers have a golden opportunity in March for meaningful tax reform that would bring property taxes under control for good. A proposal known as a Taxpayer Protection Amendment, which is currently being considered for the ballot by a special state commission, would rein in out-of-control government growth while delivering billions of dollars in tax relief to overburdened property owners.

Orlando Sentinel

The TBRC's next big fight

Having approved the "tax swap" last week, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission will vote Wednesday on a proposal to limit revenue and spending at all levels of government - a concept generally known as a Taxpayers Bill of Rights.

And the lobbying is intense.

Mac Stipanovich is working against the proposal for the Florida League of Cities and fired off a 10-page letter that explores "Athenian" and "Mirage" interpretations of what constitutes new taxes and fees before concluding TABOR is "positively dangerous" and a "radical indictment of the efficacy of representative government in Florida."

David Biddulph of Americans for Prosperity provides 10 reasons why commissioners should vote for the plan. No. 1: economic prosperity. Biddulph asserts that in Colorado, which adopted TABOR in 1992, personal income growth has climbed as a result. "Should the Commission favor an amendment that is likely to improve Floridians' standard of living?"

St. Pete Times

Dan Quiggle: Is a taxpayer protection amendment needed? Yes

Like many taxpayers, the 11,000 Florida members of Americans for Prosperity were incredibly excited to see that a Taxation and Budget Reform Commission subcommittee unanimously approved the Taxpayer Protection Amendment on February 11.

If approved by the full commission, this legislation will be placed directly on the November '08 ballot. No legislative approval, petitions, or Supreme Court approval is necessary. This is an unbelievable opportunity for taxpayers to enact the most substantive tax reform plan in Florida's history.

Gainesville Sun

Is Taxpayers Bill of Rights needed?

The Taxpayer Protection Amendment is currently being debated by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. It has passed two subcommittees and is now only one vote away from being placed on the November '08 ballot. This essential legislation would force politicians to get voter approval for any new tax or fee on both the state and local level. It would also limit their excessive spending increases and enforce fiscal responsibility on our government.

Bradenton Herald

Florida legislators debate where to make next budget cuts

TALLAHASSEE — Layoffs of state workers. Shuttered driver's license offices. Fewer seats in prekindergarten classes. Parole for more nonviolent criminals. Less help for injured manatees.

St. Pete Times

Lawmakers in Tallahassee look at higher fees to aid budget

Most of the talk in Tallahassee is about budget cuts, but a few lawmakers are willing to whisper that they're also considering hiking fees.

An election year is never a good time to do anything that opponents can cast in campaign mailers as tax increases. So lawmakers are wary of asking Floridians for any more cash out of their pockets.

Orlando Sentinel

Above the fold: Tax free items may be on the hook

TALLAHASSEE — A potential $3.9 billion hole in Florida's public education budget could be plugged, in part, by taxing sales of religious items, ostrich feed and pet-grooming services.

Those are among the services that could lose their sales tax exemption if legislators are forced to comply with a proposed constitutional amendment that would slash property taxes.

Palm Beach Post

Florida's payroll sees some triple-dip

TALLAHASSEE — Forget double-dipping. Florida has 131 triple-dippers.

These state employees are drawing not one but two pensions and are back on the job, receiving a salary and working toward a third pension.

St. Pete Times

Dave Barry: Everyone involved in planning Florida's primary "turned out to be a moron"

American Idol meets the Florida primary. Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry suggests the solution to Florida's delegate debacle: the nation's first primary by text.

"Seriously, could the state of Florida look any more ridiculous?," Barry writes. "Why does this kind of thing always happen to us? Why can't we be a regular state, such as (to pick a random state) Minnesota? There were no hassles with the Minnesota primary. The Minnesotans simply chose an appropriate primary date, voted and resumed scraping ice off their bodies, confident that their votes would count.

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Orange, Seminole plan big cuts

With state revenues continuing to drop, two of Central Florida's school districts said Friday that they are planning massive spending cuts next fall to cover the lost dollars.

Orange County schools Superintendent Ron Blocker has told principals to knock 6 percent off school spending next year. The district office will cut 7 percent in administrative expenses.

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Florida won't require toilet paper in restrooms

TALLAHASSEE - Florida diners, beware: Toilet paper will continue to be optional in restaurant restrooms — at least as far as state law is concerned.

The House on Thursday flushed down a proposal to mandate that restaurants keep an ample supply of toilet paper in each stall. Republicans argued the toilet tissue regulations just weren't needed, given state regulators already inspect restaurants' facilities for cleanliness.

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National Review trashes Crist for VP

Another rough week for Gov. Charlie Crist on the Veep-O-Meter. First came the St. Pete Times/Bay News 9/Herald poll showing he wouldn't help John McCain draw lots of Florida Democrats.

St. Pete Times

House GOP stomps “Democratic tax hike”

In a vote sure to show up on campaign mailers this fall, Republican Rep. Frank Attkisson’s House committee just voted down a proposal from House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber to close a corporate tax “loophole.”

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Bill to close corporate tax loophole fails

TALLAHASSEE — A proposal to increase state revenues $365 million by requiring multistate corporations to pay taxes on more of their income was defeated Thursday in the Florida House.

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Tax swap draws critics, but Crist favors idea

TALLAHASSEE --

The loudest opponents of the property-tax swap going before voters in November are lobbyists for major corporations and future legislative leaders who would be stuck with the plan's heavy lifting: $9.6 billion in sales tax increases, budget cuts and other revenue hikes.

But while some legislators fret and big business twists arms to kill the plan, one of the most influential voices in Florida politics says the proposal is a good idea.

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Plan forces state to modernize tax system

The tax cut voters will be asked to approve in November will do much more than save property owners money. It will force lawmakers to do what they have refused to do for nearly 70 years: modernize the state sales tax to raise revenue from products and services that have never been taxed.

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Property tax cut may give idea of taxing services new life

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --

The idea of taxing services, which could include everything from hair cutting and lawn mowing to lawyering and accounting, may have new life in Florida.

It's one of several sources, including a sales tax increase, the Legislature could tap to replace at least $8 billion in property tax cuts for schools if voters approve a proposed constitutional amendment, although supporters have played down that option.

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Property-tax bill no panacea for housing sales

Proposed property tax relief could give a boost to South Florida's beleaguered real estate industry, pushing skittish home buyers off the fence and easing the burden on commercial property owners, industry leaders said Tuesday.

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Tax-cut proposal leaves big questions

TALLAHASSEE --

The clearest aspects of Florida's biggest tax overhaul effort on November's ballot: billions in savings all but guaranteed for property owners and a just-as-likely sales-tax increase.

Almost everything else: fuzzy.

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Crist to Campaign for Tax Swap? "Probably"

Gov. Charlie Crist said Wednesday he's still reviewing a proposed November ballot measure that would eliminate $9.6 billion in school property taxes while increasing the state's 6 percent sales tax by one percent.

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Crist inching closer to budget veto?

Gov. Charlie Crist got lampooned on Wednesday at the Capital Tiger Bay Club, but some of the answers he gave today to the crowd were pretty serious and show a slight adjustment of his position on some key issues now being taken up by the Florida Legislature.

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Resort tax plan battle is brewing

TALLAHASSEE - Prodded by lobbyists for online travel companies and time shares, state lawmakers are quietly crafting a package that could ultimately shield those industries from millions of dollars in taxes every year.

The package taking shape in the state Capitol, yet to be presented in public, could effectively short-circuit a protracted court battle between Orange County and Internet giants Expedia Inc. and Orbitz Worldwide Inc. over whether the companies are skipping out on sales and hotel taxes. A number of other Florida counties have sued on similar grounds.

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Proposal to loosen class size limits fails, will be reconsidered

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --

A ballot proposal that would have loosened class size reduction requirements failed Monday, but the state's tax commission agreed to keep it alive for a possible revote next week.

The proposed state constitutional amendment would have allowed five more students in each class, but existing limits would still have had to be met on a school average basis. That could potentially save the state millions of dollars by avoiding the need to hire more teachers and build additional classrooms.

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Property-tax proposal could give South Florida big savings

TALLAHASSEE --

One of the biggest tax cuts in state history is headed for the November ballot, after a powerful state commission voted Monday to put an amendment before voters that would scrap most of the portion of local property taxes that goes to schools.

If approved, the amendment would force the Legislature to make up the lost money by hiking the sales tax by up to a penny, cutting the state budget and eliminating some sales-tax exemptions.

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Florida to vote on property-tax cut in November

TALLAHASSEE - -Florida voters will get a chance in November to cut their property-tax bill by 25 percent or more -- by eliminating $9.6 billion now collected to help finance public schools.

And to ensure the schools don't lose money, voters would also require the Legislature to raise the sales tax, eliminate some sales-tax exemptions and/or drastically slash other state spending.

The tax-cut proposal -- a sweeping change that far surpasses the Amendment 1 approved just last fall -- was approved 21-4 Monday by the nonpartisan Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which meets every 20 years.

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A gold star for the TBRC

You know it's a big deal when Bruce Kyle shows up for a meeting.

Kyle, a member of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, has missed a majority of the full meetings, contributing to an overall poor attendance record for the all-important, 25-member panel. But with a critical day on property tax proposals, there is a full house. In the saddle for the first time is Richard Corcoran, the former top aide to House Speaker Marco Rubio. Corcoran replaced Alan Levine, who resigned due to work in Louisiana.

"It's a clear indication of the importance of this issue," John McKay said at the outset of remarks. The TBRC is still debating McKay's plan to replace school property taxes with other revenue sources, including a 1 cent sales tax increase. Supporters in the audience cheered when an amendment was adopted to reduce the school millage rate to 5 mills from 10 mills.

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'Tax swap' headed toward ballot

House Speaker Marco Rubio shares a celebratory moment with TBRC member Patricia Levesque.

UPDATE: The proposal passed 21-4. Dissenting votes were cast by Barney Barnett, Mark Bostick, Randy Miller and Greg Turbeville.

A tax swap appears headed to the November ballot.

After hours of debate, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission is close to voting on a proposal to eliminate school property taxes -- which make up 25 or more percent of an overall tax bill -- in favor of a 1 cent sales tax increase and other revenue sources.

"The people grabbed relief on Jan 29. but they are still clamoring for reform, true reform," said commission member Darryl Rouson.

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Panel approves 'historic' tax swap

Florida voters will get a chance to vote on swapping a third of their property tax bill for a penny increase in the sales tax -- and a promise that the Legislature will fill the $9.6 billion hole in school funding in 2011 -- under a plan voted on by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission on Monday.

The panel, which has the power to put constitutional amendments directly before voters, voted 21-4 to place the proposal on the November ballot. It will eliminate an average of 33 percent of all property taxes in Miami-Dade County, 35 percent in Broward County and 25 percent statewide and replace it with a penny increase in the 6-cent sales tax.

But because the sales tax increase covers only a fraction of the lost revenue and the measure requires that school budgets not be cut, several business groups said they fear it could force the Legislature to adopt a services tax.

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TBRC passes sweeping property tax overhaul

The state Taxation and Budget Reform Commission will ask voters in November to cut property taxes by roughly one-fourth and make up the revenue with a higher sales tax.

The proposal, passed 21-4 in the powerful panel Monday, would eliminate the entire, $8 billion-plus portion of property taxes lawmakers force school districts to impose, called the Required Local Effort, by 2010.

To offset the tax loss to schools, the Legislature would have to pick and choose between repealing sales tax exemptions, spending cuts, enacting a one-cent sales tax increase, or through general revenue growth once the economy rebounds.

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RLE Has Soared in Recent Years

The Required Local Effort, the property-taxes school districts must impose to collect any state dollars, has soared in recent years -- making it a political football between legislative Democrats and Republicans.

It's no wonder the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission is targeting the provision.

As recently as 2000, state records show that 61 percent of school dollars came from the state, with only 39 percent stemming from local property-owners. But that balance shifted during Gov. Jeb Bush's tenure as governor to where in 2006 for the first time, more money come from property owners than state coffers.

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Rubio urges budget commission to approve property-tax-slashing measure

Calling their vote today "historic," House Speaker Marco Rubio this morning warned members of the Taxation and Budget Reform commission that state revenues are plunging and that radical reforms are needed to pull the state out of an economic nosedive.

The 25-member panel has the extraordinary power to sidestep the Legislature and put proposals directly on the November ballot. Rubio urged them to take bold action by approving a measure that would slash property taxes by about 25 percent, wiping out about $8 billion in property taxes the Legislature mandates for districts to qualify for state money, known as the Required Local Effort.

Property taxes, Rubio argued, are not a reliable source of income for schools. Millage for school taxes will have to go up if the RLE remains in place and the housing market remains stalled, Rubio said.

The House won't go along with that, he said.

"That source of funding must and needs to be replaced in the state of Florida and I urge you to do it," Rubio said.

One proposal sponsored by former Gov. Jeb Bush aide Pat Levesque would require lawmakers to replace the required local effort with a combination of options, including closing sales tax loopholes, increasing the state sales tax by a penny, steep budget cuts or diverting state revenue growth when the economy rebounds.

Another proposal, pushed by Rubio-appointee and former Miami Republican lawmaker Carlos Lacasa, would give everyone the equivalent of a 25 percent property tax exemption in exchange for a half-cent increase in the sales tax that would be directed to schools.

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Lawmakers want to keep up get-tough approach

Florida's budget crisis has taken center stage this legislative session. A potential $2 billion budget deficit has pushed the property insurance issue off the radar screen.

Still, at least some issues surrounding property insurance are expected to get a hearing.

Sens. Jeff Atwater, R-Palm Beach Gardens, and Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, who co-chaired the Select Committee on Property Insurance Accountability, recommended Thursday to Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, that a number of issues be considered. Almost all amount to a continued get-tough approach with insurers.

Atwater and Geller are recommending that temporary bans be continued that prevent insurers from raising rates without first getting state permission and stop insurers from going to an arbitration panel to appeal a state rate denial. The bans were put into place during the January 2007 special session on property insurance.

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Panel faces historic tax-cut decision

TALLAHASSEE — Monday could be a momentous day for those seeking to change Florida's property tax system.

The powerful Taxation and Budget Reform Commission will decide if proposals for what would amount to the biggest property tax cuts in Florida's history will go before voters in November.

"It could be an historic day in Florida for lowering property taxes and also an historic day for, really, taxpayer fairness," said Allan Bense, the former House speaker from Panama City who is the TBRC chairman.

Gov. Charlie Crist and many lawmakers have pointed to the commission as the best hope for substantial tax reform this year.

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A last-ditch property tax push?

House Speaker Marco Rubio’s power may be waning outside the Capitol.

But within its halls, the West Miami Republican has set the table for what could be his last best shot at deep property tax reform.

Rubio has moved a potentially pivotal Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meeting set for Monday from another far-flung state building into the House of Representatives main offices.

The panel empowered to place constitutional amendments on the November ballot is scheduled to vote on several radical changes to Florida’s property tax system.

One of which, sponsored by former Jeb Bush aide Patricia Levesque, would eliminate the entire, $7.9 billion portion of property taxes lawmakers force school districts to impose, called the Required Local Effort, by 2010. To offset the tax loss to schools, the Legislature would have to pick and choose between some combination of repealing sales tax exemptions, spending cuts, a sales tax increase, or through general revenue growth once the economy rebounds.

Rubio has been furiously lobbying the 25 members of the commission to line up the 17 votes needed to put the Levesque plan on the ballot. Before the vote, one of the groups backing Rubio, Floridians for Property Tax Reform, plans to rally on the steps of the Capitol.

This week, Rubio appointed his former chief of staff, Richard Corcoran, to the TBRC. The speaker said Friday he was within two votes, and plans to personally appeal to them Monday to pass a version of Levesque's proposal, along with government revenue caps.

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State panel imagines new ways to tax

DAYTONA BEACH -- Imagine a future where the property taxes of snow-cone vendors weren't taxed at the same rate as nearby condominiums on the waterfront.

Think of what might happen if sheriffs and clerks of courts were obliged to publish detailed descriptions of their annual budgets in the local newspaper.

Or how about a Florida where the revenue growth of government could not exceed the annual growth of population and inflation by more than 4 percent?

What would happen if Florida imposed a sales tax on ostrich feed or luxury sky box suites at sports stadiums?

Allan Bense, speaker of the Florida House from 2004 to 2006, floated these ideas during a Friday luncheon of the Civic League of the Halifax League at the Daytona 500 Experience.

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Lawmakers discuss raising Citizens' rates

TALLAHASSEE -- Customers of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. have received a breather during the past year.

Gov. Charlie Crist and state lawmakers eliminated a double-digit rate increase that was supposed to hit Citizens' residential customers in 2007 and prevented other rate increases through 2008.

But now, with the end of that rate freeze looming and some leaders worried about the state's financial risks if a major hurricane hits, lawmakers are facing major decisions about Citizens.

Those decisions will determine whether Citizens' customers receive potentially hefty rate increases next year.

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Senate wants stricter property insurance rules

After peppering executives from five property insurance companies last month with questions concerning everything from canceled policies to their own salaries, a special Florida Senate panel released recommendations Thursday.

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Crist Okays Budget Cuts

Just like that, Gov. Charlie Crist erased $512 million from this year's budget.

The Republican governor, as expected, Friday signed the latest package of reductions to the state's $70 billion budget approved earlier this week by the House and Senate. Next year's spending plan is expected to shrink further on the strenght -- or weakness -- of a $3 billion projected decline in anticipated tax collections.

Orlando Sentinel

Resolution would give Legislature power to set tuition

Voters would get a chance to second-guess themselves about the state's education governance under a Senate proposal to reorganize the State University System.

The Higher Education Appropriations Committee unanimously approved a resolution (SJR 2308), that would weaken the Board of Governors and give authority to set tuition to the Legislature. The resolution would also again create the Cabinet-level position of an elected education commissioner if approved by voters in November.

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Tracks could get tax breaks to compete with tribal casinos

By BILL KACZOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TALLAHASSEE — South Florida jai alai frontons and horse and dog tracks would get a tax break on their slot machine earnings to help compete against expanding Seminole Indian casinos under a bill the Senate passed Thursday.

Broward and Miami-Dade county pari-mutuel facilities would still have to pay a minimum of $123 million in taxes. Above that level, earnings would be taxed at 35 percent instead of 50 percent rate.

"At a 50 percent tax rate they're either losing money or barely breaking even now," said Sen. Steve Geller, the bill's sponsor.

"And with additional competition from the Indians offering product that they can't, I would expect that they would close," said Geller, the Senate minority leader. "With a 35 percent tax rate they have a shot of hanging on."

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Senate Passes Bill To Expand Slot Machines

By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 14, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Slot machines at the dog track?

Don't bet on it.

The issue, however, at least gained traction with the Senate on Thursday, when lawmakers passed two bills that would expand the state's gambling options.

One bill would open the door for places like St. Petersburg's Derby Lane to have one-armed bandits as part of their gambling attractions. The other calls for those bingo-style slot machines to be taxed at a lower rate than the government currently collects.

Only Broward and Miami-Dade counties allow slots outside of Seminole Indian casinos. The slots are not the kind found in Las Vegas casinos, which pit players against the house, but are styled more like a game of bingo, with players playing against each other.

Last year, the tribe signed a deal with the state to allow Las Vegas slots, which gambling enthusiasts say are more exciting and offer bigger jackpots. The Seminole deal also would bring in card games like blackjack and baccarat.

It's hard for Broward and Miami-Dade counties' parimutuels - places like horse and greyhound tracks and jai alai frontons - to compete with Seminole casinos, said Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach. So he wants to lower the tax burden on those establishments, by having the state collect 35 percent instead of 50.

"They can't operate at a 50 percent tax rate," Geller said.

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Stop using our money to sway our vote

Here is something that ought to be a law in Florida, but isn't.

Local governments should not be able to take sides in their elections.

What could be more basic? The government is the servant of the taxpayers, not their master.

And yet increasingly, Florida cities, counties and school boards spend public dollars to try to sway election results.

Maybe the government is supporting a tax, such as the Penny for Pinellas, or Pasco County's local school tax.

Maybe the local government has a strong opinion in favor of or against a particular amendment or measure on the ballot.

That's what happened in Pinellas, where cities and the county government spent tax dollars fighting each other over amendments to the County Charter.

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Lawmakers try to save land-buy program in lean financial times

Florida Forever, the state's land-buy program, runs out in 2010. On Tuesday, a House council tried to figure out how to continue its aims when money is tight.

The House Environment and Natural Resources Council Wednesday asked Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson's department to describe how a transfer of lands to his Division of Forestry would take place.

"Does it make sense to have someone who is elected be accountable?" said Rep. Will Kendrick, R-Carrabelle and chairman of the House Committee on Conservation and State Lands.

Kendrick's committee began taking public comment Tuesday on a successor program to Florida Forever, the $300-million a year program which has purchased more than 500,000 acres since 2000.

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Legislature approves $512 million in budget cuts; votes follow party lines

TALLAHASSEE - South Florida Democrats on Wednesday voted against $512 million in state budget cuts, saying they would hurt the state's most vulnerable residents, children and the poor.

But the Republican-dominated Legislature approved the cutbacks on party line votes — 77-41 in the House and 27-12 in the Senate.

Gov. Charlie Crist has promised to sign them into law to prevent a budget deficit.

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Legislators cut into current budget

By DAVID ROYSE
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TALLAHASSEE — Like a household struggling to pay the bills after a family member gets a pay cut, state lawmakers on Wednesday voted to cut back plans for what it will spend this year on just about everything, from schoolchildren to prosecutors.

The budget that laid out how government would pay for everything it does in the current fiscal year -- which does not end until June 30 -- will now be about $1.5 billion smaller than it was when legislators agreed on it last May. That is assuming Gov. Charlie Crist signs off on the latest cuts, which he is expected to do.

The gloomy task of downsizing the roughly $70 billion budget was necessary because when lawmakers last spring created that plan for how Florida would spend its money, they did not anticipate just how much or how quickly the state's economy would contract, taking tax collections spiraling downward with it.

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Americans for Prosperity State Director Responds to the Times Union Biased Article

As a reader of The Florida Times Union, I was absolutely shocked to read today’s article about Mike Hogan’s plan to limit the excessive growth of state and local government.

Simply put, the article has little balance and presents only one side of the story. Mike Hogan is not given a chance to respond to the irresponsible and inaccurate claims made by the mayor and his taxpayer funded lobbyist, John Thrasher. Also ignored are the co-authors of the legislation, Americans for Prosperity. Readers of the Times Union deserve better.

The mayor and his taxpayer-funded lobbyists are clearly out of touch with the taxpayers of Jacksonville, they also appear to be out of touch with the facts. The Taxpayer Protection Amendment does not mandate any tax or revenue cuts. It also significantly strengthens home rule. This much-needed legislation allows government to grow at the same rate as the economy and will help to prevent future budget cuts.

In addition, if politicians want to grow government at an even faster rate, they simply need to go to the taxpayers for permission. No approval from the legislature is needed. This kind of common-sense regulation will provide for much needed fiscal responsibility in cities like Jacksonville.

It’s bad enough that Mayor Peyton continues wants to continue his tax-and-spend ways, but it’s even worse when he uses our tax dollars to hire highly-paid lobbyists to convince lawmakers to raise our taxes even further.

Jacksonville residents and Americans for Prosperity applaud Mike Hogan and his efforts to bring fiscal responsibility to state and local government.

Adam Guillette

State Director - Florida

Americans for Prosperity

Florida Times Union Publishes One-Sided Article on the Taxpayer Protection Amendment

Florida Times Union Publishes One-Sided Article on the Taxpayer Protection Amendment

Officials says a revenue growth limit would hurt the group's efforts.

By Charlie Patton, The Times-Union

Already concerned about how Jacksonville is going to pay for the proposals that will emerge from the Jacksonville Journey's various committees, the members of the anti-crime panel's funding committee found out Monday that Duval County Tax Collector Mike Hogan is sponsoring a state measure that could make that even tougher.

Hogan, who serves on the statewide tax commission to recommend changes to the Florida Constitution, is sponsoring a proposal calling for an amendment on the November general election ballot to cap local tax revenues.

Under a complicated formula that takes into account population growth and the consumer price index, Jacksonville would probably be limited to revenue growth of 5 percent to 7 percent a year, said Adam Hollingsworth, chief of staff for Mayor John Peyton, who created the anti-crime panel.

That "might sound like a reasonable, healthy rate of growth," said Susie Wiles, Peyton's communications chief and a member of the Jacksonville Journey funding committee. In fact, the average rate of growth in revenues during Peyton's first five years in office has been 5.5 percent.

But Jacksonville's financial obligations are growing faster than its revenues, she said.

With the city already expecting to take a revenue hit of $40 million to $60 million because of recently passed property tax reform, additional restrictions on the way in which local revenues can be raised will "take home rule out of the equation" and leave Jacksonville "unable to pay our bills," Wiles said.

Last week, city lobbyists convinced a tax commission subcommittee to exempt cities with consolidated governments from Hogan's proposal. Jacksonville is the only consolidated city in the state.

But after the subcommittee approved that exemption, Hogan asked it to reconsider, and Jacksonville withdrew the request, lobbyist John Thrasher told the committee.

Hogan said he opposed the exemption because it would apply only to Jacksonville and would make his bill seem "self-serving."

He said his proposal now includes a provision that would allow a city council, with a 75 percent vote, to override a revenue cap.

Jacksonville sought the exemption because consolidated government has built-in tax savings that other governments don't, Thrasher said.

Without that exemption, Hogan's proposal "treats Jacksonville like every other county in the state when we have historically done a good job of managing our budget," said Michael Munz, a member of the funding committee.

Hogan, a former City Council member, agreed that Jacksonville has done a better job than many cities of handling its revenues. He said he is open to amending his proposal, which has been approved by the commission's subcommittee, to allow some relief to cities like Jacksonville that have been fiscally responsible.

But in general, he said, most local governments have had an irresponsible "send it, we'll spend it" approach.

"I think it's interesting and unbelievable that Mike Hogan is creating this problem," said Tom Petway, chairman of the committee looking at ways to pay for Jacksonville Journey recommendations.

Petway said that while the mood statewide may be to cut taxes, that mood isn't necessarily shared in Jacksonville. An example is Amendment 1, which increased property tax exemptions, capped increases in assessments and made exemptions portable. The measure passed handily statewide but didn't draw a majority in Duval County.

charlie.patton@jacksonville.com (904) 359-4413

Florida Times Union

Rubio: 'I don't want to be a prophet'

House Speaker Marco Rubio more or less acknowledged this afternoon that the Legislature will not do more on property taxes. But that won't stop the House from trying.

"I don’t want to be a prophet," Rubio told the Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers. "I have no interest in being proven right three years from now. ... I'd much rather solve the problem. I'd much rather say we were part of the solution, not part of some sort of prophetic leadership that said, 'I told you so.'

"But that's where we're headed. Unless we do some meaningful things on this issue, that's where we're headed. These problems that we face, they don't go away by themselves."

Rubio said the 1.35 percent tax cap proposal is due for a hearing next week in the House. Amendment 1 will help with portability, he said, but will not stimulate the economy, as Gov. Charlie Crist repeatedly suggests. "That is not going to help us rebound, and we knew that going in."

St. Pete Times

So, Mr. Speaker, will you run for mayor?

So, Mr. Speaker, will you run for mayor?

With fresh speculation that term-limited Marco Rubio may run for Miami-Dade mayor, one of the mortgage brokers who visited with him Tuesday asked the question: What's next?

"I'll give you the answer that I'm not supposed to give, a political answer. But the truth is, the job I do is a huge job. I take it very, very seriously. And I'm focused. I have like eight weeks to go as speaker of the House in terms of the legislative session and I want to do the best job I can here. And then we'll focus on the future. Honestly, there used to be a time when I could answer that question standing here.

But I have four kids, I have a wife, and they have a role to play in this as well. Well, maybe not the six month old ... Although being a Rubio, he'll learn how to speak fast. I don't have an answer for you today. Except to tell you I love public service. I would love to continue to serve in some future capacity if it's right for me, if I'm right for the job and the job is right for my family.

I do enjoy the ability to be in a place like this where I can have a voice on these issues that I think are so important. To be 36, almost 37, and be in a position to wake up in the morning, see what's wrong and try to do something about it is extraordinarily rewarding. But then again, being commissioner of the National Football League would be nice, too. And if that were to come about, then forget politics. But so far, no offers and therefore, here I am."

St. Pete Times

Florida revenue estimate bleak; Crist says tax hikes not an option

State economists today lowered Florida's two-year revenue estimate by $2.9 billion because of the recession-stricken slump in tax collections.

House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, said the situation is a symptom of a nationwide economic slump -- not a state budget crisis. The House is set to vote tomorrow on a budget-cut bill to keep current state spending in balance with declining revenues.

Gov. Charlie Crist said the state will cope -- without tax increases. Crist said the state has to do what families do when times are tough, cut spending and dip into reserves.

The 20-member revenue estimating conference, made up of economic experts from the Legislature and executive branch, revised downward its mid-November estimate by $1 billion for the current fiscal year and $1.9 billion for the year starting July 1. The planners cited continued tightening of credit markets, soaring energy prices, falling employment and continued deterioration of the housing market.

Amy Baker, coordinator of the state economic conference, said no pick-up in tax collections is expected until late in the 2008-09 fiscal year. It will be fiscal 2010-11 before Florida's tax collections are expected to return to their 2005-06 levels, when construction was booming after four hurricanes in each of two years.

State economic experts are making a gloomy forecast for Florida's revenue outlook today.

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Rubio: "I can assure you we have a plan"

This week, House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber has repeatedly questioned whether his GOP counterparts really have a budget plan now that revenue estimators have finalized the bleak budget picture for next year.

After the Legislature finalized roughly $512 million in cuts to this year’s budget Wednesday, Gelber and House Budget Chief Ray Sansom traded jabs over who was being more irresponsible: Republicans rushing through cuts, or Democrats stalling the Legislature’s constitutional mandate to balance the budget.

“We have no idea what principles are guiding their decisions and what they plan on doing next,” Gelber said.

Not so fast, House Speaker Marco Rubio says.

"I can assure you we have a plan,” the speaker said Wednesday after talking with the Central Florida Partnership at the FSU University Club. “We've known this was coming for a long time … We’re going to reduce government to the level the economy can afford to sustain."

While that might not shed much light, Rubio added every area of government would have to absorb the projected $3 billion less in revenue, but that some vital services like courts could be spared from the worst of it.

“Clearly, liver transplant patients’ anti-rejection medication is going to take priority over a water or environmental project somewhere,” Rubio said. “So, there will be prioritization, but everybody is going to feel reductions because the bottom line is the government doesn’t have the money because our economy is doing poorly.”

Another door he left open: trust funds reliant on recurring fees or taxes.

While the GOP Legislature has resisted tapping one-time sources of cash so far, Rubio said his members were willing to look at trust funds that receive regular, yearly income from fees or other charges. He singled out the transportation trust fund lawmakers beefed up when the passed a growth management reform in 2005.

"Some people have set up these recurring trust funds and they’re never examined. They’re isolated from the rest of the budget and never have any scrutiny. They’re budgetary sacred cows,” Rubio said.

“There are recurring transportation dollars, for example, through the growth management bill that we pulled out of general revenue, and now we’re paying the consequences for that.”

Orlando Sentinel

State tax collections drop amid bleak outlook

TALLAHASSEE — Calling Florida's financial picture "bleak," "dismal," and "dicey," state economists on Tuesday projected that state tax collections are down $1 billion this year - $400 million more than anticipated.

They also predicted the state's income would be $1.9 billion less next year - a 7.3 percent decrease from November's estimate.

The panel forecast state tax collections would not exceed the amount gleaned in 2005-06 until 2010.

The gloomy picture, they cautioned, could get even worse than what national economists predict.

"Don't be surprised if they don't have it pegged right yet, and don't be surprised if it gets worse than what we think it is now," House economist Don Langston said.

The budget discussion at the Revenue Estimating Conference set the tone for the remaining weeks of the legislative session, in which lawmakers are preparing a pair of lean budgets.

They are expected to vote today on $512 million in cuts to this year's budget and to use about $400 million in reserves to cover the remaining deficit. Then, by the end of the session, they have to approve a budget for next year with $1.9 billion less than what they thought they had to work with.

Florida's constitution requires the legislature to have a balanced budget, and already for this fiscal year lawmakers have reduced spending by more than $1 billion to fulfill that.

The causes for the depressed forecast are a combination of a slump in housing sales, decreased sales tax collections dampened by the weak real estate market and rising energy prices that are expected to continue to escalate.

The Revenue Estimating Conference is a panel of economists led by Langston, Senate economist Alan Johansen, the legislature's Bureau of Economic and Demographic Research coordinator Amy Baker and Christian Weiss, an economist in Gov. Charlie Crist's office.

The myriad of flagging economic conditions results in significant uncertainty in economists' ability to forecast not only how bad the state's finances will get but when they will get better.

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Florida tax revenue drop persists

TALLAHASSEE - Like lots of Floridians, the state found out Tuesday it won't bring in any extra money next year to help with rising costs.

State economists said Florida will collect $1-billion less in taxes this year than expected and that the state will have about the same amount of money next year.

The bleak fiscal outlook, produced to help the Legislature write the 2008-09 budget, cited familiar culprits.

Construction is slow and housing prices are dropping, prompting less consumer spending and thus less sales tax collections. Also dropping are taxes on investments, property transactions and corporate income.

Legislative economist Amy Baker said the mortgage crisis, inflation and higher energy costs "will prolong the downturn in the state's housing market."

Not until late 2009 will conditions begin to improve, she said.

It marks the fourth consecutive time since last March that state economists have lowered their estimate on tax collections because the economy's downward spiral is worse and longer than anticipated.

"When you get into a recessionary period, a slowdown period, it's hard to see where the turning point happens. You don't see it until it's too late," said Don Langston, a House economist and member of the team of forecasters.

Tuesday's estimate was for just a fraction of the state's roughly $70-billion budget. But the general revenue fund pays for operations, from schools to universities, highway patrol to emergency management, prisons to state courts.

This year, the state will collect $24.5-billion for the general revenue fund, the economists said Tuesday, roughly $1-billion less than predicted previously.

Next year, collections are predicted to reach $24.6-billion; far less than the $29.2-billion economists predicted a year ago. Sales, property transaction and corporate income taxes make up the bulk of taxes that flow into the general revenue fund.

State legislators sliced $1.1-billion in spending last October and today will vote to make another $512-million in cuts to the current year's budget. Education, with $346-million in cuts, will take the biggest hit.

Lawmakers say they won't need to make further reductions to the current year budget because they have enough unspent money set aside. But in the coming weeks, they will have to craft next year's budget with about $2-billion less than economists had estimated in November.

Gov. Charlie Crist used the new revenue slide to again prod lawmakers to spend reserves as an alternative to more budget cuts. But lawmakers strongly resist such short-term fixes, saying they build future holes in the budget and leave less money for major emergencies like hurricanes. Their solution: more cuts.

House Speaker Marco Rubio said it would be "irresponsible and unfair" to raid trust funds and reserves to balance the state's books, because the slump will not end for some time.

"I'm looking right now at something that looks like a three-year downturn," Rubio said. "I'm a termed-out legislator. The easiest thing for me to do is go into trust funds and reserves and make this year the best possible year."

Visiting with constituency groups, Crist downplayed the severity of the cash crunch.

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Florida Republicans push ahead with budget cuts

TALLAHASSEE - House Republicans turned back a steady push Wednesday by Democrats looking to block cuts to community colleges, public schools and county health departments, forging ahead with $517 million in budget cuts.

Republicans also made it clear that there was no chance they would support tax increases while the state's economy is staggering.

"We're not going to raise taxes, we're not going to expand gambling, and we will reduce expenditures where we can," said House budget chairman Ray Sansom, R-Destin.

Breaking mostly along party lines, the House approved the package of cuts 75-41, with the Senate poised to take up a similar roster of budget reductions today.

Lawmakers plan to OK final cuts to this year's $70 billion budget next week -- before turning their attention to chopping as much as $2.5 billion out of next year's spending plan.

"No one is excited about cutting the budget," said Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. "But we're here to live within our means. And what we're going to have to do to the 2008-09 budget pales by comparison."

Sansom tried to downplay the overall impact of the current round of reductions -- which come only five months after lawmakers slashed $1 billion from the same spending plan because of the weak economy.

"Remember that the reductions we are making today are less than 1 percent of our overall budget," Sansom told lawmakers.

House members endured five hours of debate over the cuts, as Democrats sought to eliminate funding cuts to historically black colleges, public defenders and universities, among other programs.

House Minority Leader Dan Gelber of Miami Beach said Miami-Dade Community College has been forced to reduce 1,000 classes in his home county, denying as many as 30,000 students the courses they need to graduate.

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Panel sends competing property tax cut plan to full commission

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A second major property tax-cutting proposal advanced Thursday in a commission that proposes state constitutional amendments, but only one is likely to go on the November ballot.

The new plan being considered by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission would cut taxes about 12 percent a year when fully implemented. It would provide a 25 percent "super exemption" for all residential properties including second homes and rentals. They'd get only get half - 12.5 percent - in the first year.

For the first three years, the amendment would impose a 0.5 percentage point increase in sales tax to temporarily replace some of the money - about $4 billion to $5 billion a year - that school districts and local governments would lose.

A commission committee sent the proposal to the full panel for a vote. Another approach that would cut taxes 25 percent was previously cleared for commission action after getting committee approval.

"I think it would be wise to have the full commission have both of these tools available so they can make the ultimate choice when they're fully vetted," said Commissioner Carlos Lacasa, a former state representative from Miami, who is sponsoring the super exemption plan.

The competing plan would repeal that portion of property taxes the Legislature requires school districts to levy in return for getting state aid. The Legislature would have several options for replacing the $8 billion annual revenue loss, including a 1 percentage point increase in the sales tax and repeal of certain sales tax exemptions.

Both versions also would cap annual assessment increases on all property, except primary homes, at 5 percent. That would replace a 10 percent cap in Amendment 1, which voters approved Jan. 29. Primary homes, or homesteads, already have a 3 percent Save Our Homes limit.

The commission has not yet set a date for voting on the property tax proposals but has a May 8 deadline.

Lacasa's plan received unanimous approval from the Governmental Procedures and Structure Committee, two days after Gov. Charlie Crist said in his State of the State address that he is looking to the commission for more property tax relief.

Some committee members prefer the school tax cut but voted for Lacasa's proposal so all commissioners can take part in the final decision.

The super exemption applies only to homesteads valued at more than $50,000. Homesteaders also would continue to get an existing $25,000 exemption but would lose their Save Our Homes benefits unless they are a better deal than the super exemption.

The measure would repeal a second $25,000 homestead exemption that's part of Amendment 1 and applies only to non-school taxes.

Another commission committee narrowly voted 6-4 to send the full panel a proposed amendment that would cap state and local revenues - taxes, fees and other income sources - after making some changes. The caps would let revenues increase to match inflation and population or school enrollment growth plus 1 percent.

The Planning and Budgetary Process Committee, though, removed a provision that also would have limited spending and added one that would require voter approval of new taxes or fees. Another change would let local government bodies exceed the caps for up to 10 years with a three-fourths vote. The Legislature could do the same with a three-fourths vote in the House and Senate.

The same committee also sent the full commission two measures that would affect schools. One would water down class-size reduction requirements and the other would lift a ban on state aid to parochial schools and other religious organizations in return for providing public services.

TBO.com

Pelham offers new option 'Citizens Planning Bill of Rights' offered in response to 'Hometown Democracy'

Frank Govett of Leon County said he signed a statewide petition to require that voters approve land-use changes after watching developers get what they want at county commission meetings.

"If that is the way the county is going to operate ,then the people have to have some way — for lack of better term — to protect themselves," said Govett, who last fall fought a proposed new housing development east of Tallahassee.

Florida Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham says public frustration with planning in communities led to the petition drive to require local voters to approve land-use changes. Although the Florida Hometown Democracy movement in January failed to get enough verified signatures to get on this year's ballot, it can use the petitions it has collected to go before voters in 2010, Pelham said.

Industry groups oppose the proposed constitutional amendment as does Pelham, who described it as an "extreme measure."

But he also is warning opponents to heed the frustration and support changes in the growth management system. His agency is proposing changes that he calls a "Citizens' Planning Bill of Rights" to increase public trust in local growth management.

The proposal includes reducing from twice to once the number of times per year that local governments can submit land-use changes to the state for approval. His proposal also would prohibit local governments from changing a proposal within seven days of the final vote unless there are no objections.

"We think that it is wise to try to address some of the concerns that seem to be motivating that (Florida Hometown Democracy) movement," Pelham told the Senate Committee on Community Affairs Thursday.

He also said the department is working with various stakeholders to draft a bill that will enjoy broad support.

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Budget agreement expected today

House and Senate leaders were still haggling Thursday over a few remaining differences after agreeing to most of the more than $500 million in cuts to this year's nearly $70 billion state budget.

House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, and Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, are expected to sign off on a final deal today with formal passage early next week.

The Senate voted 26-13 on Thursday morning to approve a $504.3 million plan, despite repeated pleas by Democrats to dip into a $1.2 billion "rainy day" fund or to close corporate and sales tax loopholes to soften the blow.

Former Senate President Gwen Margolis of Sunny Isles Beach was the only Democrat who voted for the measure.

Republicans refused to consider raising new taxes in a punishing economic climate and warned that dipping into the emergency "budget stabilization fund" would only delay the inevitable.

"There are very high standards for how you access that fund. I'm not sure how we would be able to pay it back," said Senate budget chief Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey. "It is a road that once you go down, it is very, very difficult to come back from."

The Senate plan was only slightly less punishing than the $518 million in cuts that Republicans pushed through the House the day before.

Negotiators for both chambers agreed to the largest portion of the cuts, public education, within an hour of the Senate vote. The Senate went along with a House proposal to restore $8 million in raises to teachers who earn national board certification.

"The process works," said House negotiator Thad Altman, R-Merritt Island. "This is very big for Brevard County. We have more than 400 teachers who are nationally board certified. They did the right thing and they were about to get their money."

House education chief Joe Pickens, R-Palatka, quickly pointed out that the latest reduction only whittles down a 7 percent per-student spending increase approved last year to a 4.5 percent increase, or $302 per student.

Victor Crist, the Tampa Republican who chairs the criminal justice spending committee, said lawmakers "squeezed" every corner of the budget to find $2.5 million in additional dollars to stave off furloughs for public defenders and prosecutors. The House and Senate agreed late Thursday to a plan that would give the prosecutors and public defenders the authority to share money collected from court fines, with the understanding that not all the money would have to tapped.

Florida Capital News

Rubio re-fires '100 Ideas'

House Speaker Marco Rubio this morning helped launch 100Ideas.org -- and his political future.

The organization is designed to further the "idea-raising" concept Rubio helped design and used as a platform for the House agenda. Now he will help the organization of the same name raise money and spread the word through speaking engagements. Of course it will keep the term-limited Miami Republican in the public eye.

"People have wonderful ideas in this state .. and where do those ideas go, how do they get to Tallahassee? I think today we can be less complacent than we were in the past," board chairman William Holly (pictured center) said during a news conference at the Florida Press Center.

"100 Ideas isn't just a product," Rubio said. "People focus on the book and the product, the ideas. Obviously that's important. But it's more about the process. After about seven, six years of being here, I came to realize if you look at the legislative agenda, so much of it historically has been driven by the people who are hired to come here and talk to us about issues ... But that should not be the sole source of our agenda in government."

The Board Members of 100Ideas.Org, Inc. are:

• William Holly of Coral Gables, Chairman
• Bertica Cabrera Morris of Orlando, Vice-Chair
• Mark Proctor of Tampa, Secretary/Treasurer
• Robin Hoffman of Palm Coast, Board Member

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Rubio re-fires '100 Ideas'

House Speaker Marco Rubio this morning helped launch 100Ideas.org -- and his political future.

The organization is designed to further the "idea-raising" concept Rubio helped design and used as a platform for the House agenda. Now he will help the organization of the same name raise money and spread the word through speaking engagements. Of course it will keep the term-limited Miami Republican in the public eye.

"People have wonderful ideas in this state .. and where do those ideas go, how do they get to Tallahassee? I think today we can be less complacent than we were in the past," board chairman William Holly (pictured center) said during a news conference at the Florida Press Center.

"100 Ideas isn't just a product," Rubio said. "People focus on the book and the product, the ideas. Obviously that's important. But it's more about the process. After about seven, six years of being here, I came to realize if you look at the legislative agenda, so much of it historically has been driven by the people who are hired to come here and talk to us about issues ... But that should not be the sole source of our agenda in government."

The Board Members of 100Ideas.Org, Inc. are:

• William Holly of Coral Gables, Chairman
• Bertica Cabrera Morris of Orlando, Vice-Chair
• Mark Proctor of Tampa, Secretary/Treasurer
• Robin Hoffman of Palm Coast, Board Member

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One cut the TBRC didn't expect

The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission is revered by some as a holy body, the wise elders who will figure out the state's woes and place "thoughtfully" crafted items on the November ballot.

But it's not too important to avoid the budget knife.

The TBRC could face cuts up to $700,000 under the Legislature's plan for the current fiscal year. "We're going to get whacked just like everyone else," Chairman Allan Bense said during this morning's meeting.

Staffer Susan Skelton said the commission should be OK because funds were set aside for emergency purposes.

"Ms. Skelton is very cheap," Bense said. As awkward laughter filled the room, he added, "Frugal, sorry."

But there is no funding in next year's budget and if the TBRC is to continue past May, something will need to be done. Bense said he would like the panel to take a breather but then perhaps take a detailed look at the method for funding schools and transportation allocations.

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2008 Legislature roundup

The Florida Legislature is in session through May 2. The key issues yesterday and what's coming up:

TOPIC: BUDGET

WHAT HAPPENED: House gave final passage of its $544 million cutting plan to the current year budget, beating back Democrat objections and amendments.

WHAT'S NEXT: Senate must pass its version, then negotiations before passage early next week.

TOPIC: PRIMARIES

WHAT HAPPENED: Gov. Charlie Crist joined Michigan's Democratic government to call on both national parties to seat their states' presidential nominating delegations, stripped entirely or in half for voting earlier than party rules allowed.

WHAT'S NEXT: Crist's GOP is more likely to fold first with a presumptive nominee now in Arizona Sen. John McCain.

TOPIC: MARIJUANA

WHAT HAPPENED: "If you grow, you go" ... to prison, that is. A House council approved Rep. Nick Thompson's bill (HB 173) to lower the criteria for qualifying as an indoor marijuana grow house and increase the penalties if convicted.

WHAT'S NEXT: A Senate version is moving through that chamber.

TOPIC: WETLANDS

WHAT HAPPENED: A House committee moved forward a bill (HB 147) that would ease permitting requirements and shorten times for decisions on wetlands and stormwater regulations. Proponents say it will help economic development. Opponents say it will lead to less review of undesirable development.

WHAT'S NEXT: A compromise moved the bill Wednesday, more is likely as it moves through the process.

Florida Capital News

House Votes To Cut Current Budget By $517 Million

TALLAHASSEE - House lawmakers voted Wednesday to slash the current state budget by $517 million, despite the protests of Democrats who tried in vain to blunt the cuts to education.

State revenue is falling short for the remaining fiscal year and next by as much as $3 billion, leaving lawmakers with the daunting task of making up the difference with budget cuts. With $325 million of the proposed cuts for the current year coming from K-12 and higher education, Gov. Charlie Crist and Democrats are urging GOP lawmakers to cushion the blow by digging into state reserves, but the House and Senate continue to reject that approach.

"Good business doesn't always equal good politics," said Rep. Ray Sansom, R-Destin, Policy and Budget Council chairman and speaker-designate for the House, who repeated his objections to shoring up the budget through expanded gambling, raiding reserves, borrowing or raising taxes. "We are not going to spend money we don't have."

Looking ahead to the coming fiscal year, GOP lawmakers touted plans to free up state funding by eliminating bureaucratic red tape and shrinking state government. Democrats have countered with proposals to raise money by ending tax exemptions and loopholes, but neither party has found a solution that comes anywhere close to closing the $2.5 billion gap in 2008-2009, apart from cutting deeply into the budget.

The House passed its budget cuts for the 2007-2008 fiscal year along party lines with a 75-41 vote. The Senate takes up its budget plan today, followed by conference negotiations between the two chambers to finalize a joint proposal.

Of the 11 amendments offered by House Democrats on Wednesday, the only one that succeeded would restore $8 million for a bonus program that rewards nationally board-certified K-12 teachers.

The Senate has not restored the money in its budget, but House Schools and Learning Council chairman Joe Pickens said he expected to resolve the issue with the Senate today.

The vote to restore the bonus money was a rare moment of bipartisan accord during House proceedings, which quickly turned caustic as debate over reducing cuts to college financial aid devolved into sniping back and forth between the parties. Democrats demanded to know how many private college students would lose any or all of their financial aid grants as a result of proposed cuts, only to learn from Pickens, R-Palatka, that the proposed cut would remove only excess money from the fund and deny aid to no one.

Democrats also lost fights over the House plan to cut funding for public schools by $233 million.

"We recently got an 'F' for spending on public schools by Education Week," said Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, D-Miami, who proposed restoring the funds by dipping into reserves. "So I guess after today, it will be F-minus. But again, it doesn't have to be this way."

Community Colleges Not Spared

Her amendment failed, as did those to shield universities from a proposed cut of nearly $50 million and to spare community colleges from a $21 million cut. The Senate is proposing similar reductions.

Pickens said the community college cut was especially hard to swallow, given the fact that the colleges have maintained an open-door admissions policy in spite of last fall's budget cuts.

"This is the reduction that I least wanted to make," he said. "It is correct that when the economy is down, enrollment in community colleges goes up."

But as with K-12 school funding, he said, the cut reduces the increase in funding that community colleges received this year over 2006-07 funding levels.

A hotly contested $4.5 million cut to the state court system resurfaced in debate as well, with opponents charging that it falls short of meeting the constitutional requirement of the Legislature to fund the third branch of government.

"It doesn't say we can provide partial funding, it doesn't say that we can short-change the courts when there is a recession," said Rep. Mary Brandenburg, D-West Palm Beach. "It's written in plain English - we must fund the courts."

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Senate votes to cut $500 million from current budget

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- State spending this year would be about a half billion dollars less than planned under a bill the Senate passed Thursday.

With Florida's economy in a tailspin and residents not spending money, incoming taxes are expected to be about 13 percent lower this year than what legislators initially expected to have when they wrote the budget last year.

Senators passed the roughly $500 million reduction in the current year's approximately $70 billion budget to bring state spending in line with lower-than-expected tax collections.

The House passed its budget-cutting proposal a day earlier and representatives of the two chambers worked out many of the differences between the plans Thursday afternoon. Lawmakers were hoping for a final vote on the shrunken budget by next Wednesday.

Only one difference remained - an issue involving the rate paid to hospitals, nursing homes, county health clinics other health care providers under the Medicaid program.

That could be a difficult sticking point, however. The House is reluctant to go along with a Senate plan to freeze automatic annual increases in those rates.

The chairmen of the budget committees in each chamber, Sen. Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey, and Rep. Ray Sansom, R-Destin, will try to work out that issue Friday.

Late Thursday, the House and Senate reached a key agreement on giving prosecutors and public defenders access to $2.5 million in money collected in fines that would ensure they wouldn't have to take unwanted time off.

Sen. Victor Crist, who chairs the Senate committee that writes the criminal justice part of the budget, warned that when lawmakers start writing next year's budget, there will still be difficulties.

"This is a quick fix to help them get through this year's budget," said Crist, R-Tampa, who sponsored the amendment shifting the money.

The Senate also agreed Thursday not to shrink the budget for a teacher bonus program that the House wanted to preserve, avoiding an $8 million hit to the program.

The bill to make the cuts (HB 7009) passed the Senate 26-13, almost entirely along party lines, with Republicans in favor and Democrats against.

Democrats had urged that the state dig more deeply into its savings accounts to avoid deep program cuts and consider finding new sources of money - possibly including tax increases.

Republicans in control of the Legislature, however, oppose tax increases.

AP

Senate approves health care cuts, hopes for "miracles"

The Florida Senate OK'd roughly $500 million in cuts to the state's $70 billion budget Thursday, capping a grim opening week for a Legislature facing even more reductions to next year's spending plan.

Senators then turned around and began taking an ax to the 2008-09 budget, agreeing to erase automatic increases that nursing homes, hospitals and other health-care providers get each year as payment for treating low-income Floridians.

Facing the need to cut as much as $2.5 billion, leading lawmakers said it was time to get serious, even if it meant risking harm to the needy.

"The state's very resilient," said Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, when asked if there were any chance of such automatic increases ever returning. "And I believe in miracles," added Peaden, who is in charge of the Senate's health and human services budget and recommended the rate cut.

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Another Victory for the Taxpayer Protection Amendment!

By a vote of 6 - 4, the second and final subcommittee of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission approved the Taxpayer Protection Amendment today.

The legislation will now move to the full Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. If approved by the full commission, it will be placed on the November '08 ballot as a proposed amendment to the state Constitution.

For more information on the Taxpayer Protection Amendment, click here.

For a detailed explanation of the Taxpayer Protection Amendment, click here.

Several amendments were made to the legislation. One amendment proposed would exempt the city of Jacksonville from this legislation. Initially, this amendment passed. This meant that the Taxpayer Protection Amendment would be valid in every county in Florida, except consolidated Jacksonville/Duval County.

However, AFP members from Jacksonville were present at the hearing. During public comment they spoke strongly and eloquently against this unnecessary exemption.

After hearing the passionate citizen comment from Jacksonville residents, the amendment to exempt Jacksonville was withdrawn.

Jacksonville residents owe a sincere thanks to Jeff Hunt, Sarah Lovett and Victor Wilhelm for defeating this amendment. If not for their efforts, Jacksonville would not have been included in the Taxpayer Protection Amendment.

House bill would delay class-size restrictions

TALLAHASSEE — Smaller class sizes in Florida public schools would be delayed for two years under a bill being considered by the Florida House.

Instead of meeting the strict limits this fall, districts would have until the constitutional deadline in 2010 to obey the voter-approved caps.

Lawmakers hoped to comply with the constitutional amendment by this fall and provide a two-year window to round up rogue schools.

The House measure is expected to save some of the $3.2 billion Florida Education Department officials say they need in the fall to meet the limit of 18 students in elementary classes, 22 in middle schools and 25 in high schools. That's about $533 million more than districts received this year for class-size reduction.

Also Tuesday, House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, said his chamber would not vote to increase property taxes this year to help pay for schools. Lawmakers approved a property-tax increase last year of $326 million, despite ordering local governments to cut property taxes by $15 billion over five years and putting Amendment 1 on the ballot, which could cut property-tax collections another $9 billion over that time.

In the past nine years, state lawmakers have approved $2.6 billion in property-tax increases to help pay for schools, according to a Palm Beach Post analysis.

"We've been wrong and we can't do that anymore," Rubio said. "We won't do that - not in the Florida House."

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Crist sidesteps state's woes in address

TALLAHASSEE --

After moving the annual State of the State speech to 6 p.m. so Floridians could watch their government in action, Gov. Charlie Crist turned his 30-minute address into a laundry list of his initiatives, making scant mention of the state's economic turmoil or solutions for getting the state out of its jam.

Instead, the governor flatly declared that Florida faces ''extraordinary economic times'' and moved on.

His recipe for improving the economy: a call to legislators to stay the course ``by keeping taxes low, by creating jobs and fueling an economy that ranks ahead of most nations of the world.''

Absent were any clear directives to a Legislature that's ideologically torn over how to approach what will be $4 billion in budget cuts -- a 16 percent reduction in state revenues since last year. He not only offered no new policies or solutions, he dwelled on his insurance reform's successes from last year and said nothing about sacrifice or about the budget cuts.

Crist's speech and his de rigueur self-mention of his optimism left legislators wondering, if not simply bored.

''There was no wow moment,'' said Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, a Miami Republican. ``There was no goose-bump moment. There was no acknowledgement of severe economic times. He says he's an optimist, but he needs to be a realist when things are this bad.''

Miami Herald

Rubio sets sight on taxes, schools, status of blacks

House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, set the tone for the 2008 legislative session in his chamber by calling for lower taxes, a more rigorous curriculum for public schools and a “crisis” among Florida’s black population.

“It is intolerable and unacceptable that an entire segment of our population has come to believe that the American Dream is not available to them,” Rubio said. “And we can never be the nation God intended us to be so long as this tragedy persists.

“Before this session concludes, I will ask this House to pass comprehensive and legislation to deal with this crisis.”

Here’s a recap of the speeches from Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt to their respective chambers.

Check out a copy of Rubio’s speech here. And a copy of Pruitt’s speech here.

Palm Beach Post

Some legislators in for long, bumpy ride

Two of the state's most powerful politicians delivered their marching orders Tuesday to the Florida Legislature, signaling a 60-day session that promises to be a bumpy ride.

Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, is a 17-year veteran who urged his troops to look beyond short-term cures as they deal with a looming $2.5 billion budget shortfall this year and next.

"Any legislator who concentrates on focusing solely on the here and now is going to have a long session," Pruitt said in his opening remarks.

Pruitt outlined comparatively modest goals, including stimulus packages to attract more high-tech and bio-tech industries, renewing Florida Forever — the $300 million a year land conservation purchase program — investing in energy independence and asking voters to restore the state education commissioner to an elective post.

Pruitt, 51, is spending his last year in the Legislature. So is 36-year-old House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, who is also being forced by term limits to step down.

The two Republicans appear to have little else in common.

Rubio presented a far more aggressive agenda on Tuesday.

Florida Capital News

Rubio tells his father's story as symbolic of other working Floridians

House Speaker Marco Rubio gave his speech on the Opening Day of session Tuesday with a grim snyopsis of what he thinks the future of the state is. But, he said, his hope is based on people like his father who, at age 69 was still working -- just as he had done every day since age six after the death of his mother.

"He never went to school. He never had a childhood. He never had a chance,'' Rubio said. "As an adult, he made it the mission of his life to insure that his children would have all the opportunities he never had. That everything that had gone wrong in his life, would go right for them.

That work ethic kept him working help pay Rubio's way through college and law school. "Each of us here today has someone who made our future the mission of their lives,'' Rubio said. "...That is why we will never allow Florida to become like the place our parents came here to get away from.''

Rubio's Dad was not in the audience. He had traveled to Las Vegas to attend the funeral of Rubio's aunt. "That story is not unique to me,'' Rubio said. "It's a very common Floridian story about someone who did a lot so he could get ahead.''

Miami Herald

Jeb urges a no vote on Pruitt's amendment

Marking the first time he has waded back into the thick of Tallahassee issues since leaving office, former Gov. Jeb Bush told The Miami Herald that he is opposed to a sweeping education constitutional amendment being proposed by current Senate President Ken Pruitt and sponsored by Sen. Lisa Carlton.

Bush's Foundation for Florida's Future is already urging members of the Senate Education PreK-12 Committee to vote against the measure when it meets later Wednesday, or strip the amendment of the provisions opposed by Bush's organization.

The Foundation does not like the idea of returning to an elected commissioner, saying it will weaken the power of the office of Governor, politicize education, and give the Legislature less control over education policy. Read the Foundation position on the amendment here: Download sjr_2308.doc

This now marks a second opponent to the amendment, which on Tuesday drew criticism from the Board of Governors who said it would be bad for the state's university system because it strips the appointed panel of its power. But the Foundation position paper makes it clear that the former governor and his allies are not taking a position on that part of the legislation.

Miami Herald

Rubio: property tax cuts must continue

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio stands during the Pledge of Allegiance on opening day of the 2008 Florida Legislative session. [Scott Keeler, Times]

Rubio has just begun his speech opening the 2008 session. (Here is the text) Rubio, in his final final year in the House, called for a cap on all government revenue and spending and for the 1.35 percent tax cap proposal.

He laid down an implicit challenge to Senate President Ken Pruitt and Gov. Charlie Crist, who sold Amendment 1 on the promise that more is to come.

"Just remember this: If we do nothing, later this year property tax owners are going to get their tax bill and it is going to look a lot like the one they got last year. They are going to be angry. Maybe some have property tax fatigue.' But if we do nothing, come November, voters are going to have incumbent fatigue.' "

During the 12-minute address, Rubio also called for the House to advance recommendations by state panels studying issues facing young African Americans. "I hope this package will include the creation of a Children’s Zone in Liberty City modeled after a highly successful program in Harlem."

St. Pete Times

Crist: state of the state is 'strong'

Delivering his second State of the State speech at a new, made-for-TV-news time of 6 p.m. Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Crist gave a glowing assessment of life in Florida -- downplaying the pessimism of those worried about budget cuts, a stagnant real estate market and other problems. As he did in 2007, Crist utilized his bully pulpit not to dwell on Florida's problems, but to radiate optimism.

"The state of the great state of Florida is strong," Crist told a joint session of the Legislature, speaking from the House chamber in the Capitol. "Florida's families and businesses are faced with extraordinary economic times, like skyrocketing gas prices, the threat of foreclosure and a softening housing market. And, like Florida's families, these challenging times will require us to meet the demands of declining revenue. And how will we do this? By keeping taxes low, by creating jobs, and fueling an economy that ranks ahead of most nations on the face of the planet, we will set a model at which others can marvel."

Crist praised voters for their 64-percent approval of the Amendment 1 tax cut proposal on Jan. 29, and he urged the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission "to give the people the opportunity to vote for another tax cut" in November. The powerful panel is weighing a plan that would cut property taxes by more than 25-percent, while directing the Legislature to make up the money by other means, such as eliminating sales tax exemptions.

Crist got a rousing welcome from Democrats and Republicans alike as he strode into the chamber, a tribute to his broad popularity with Floridians. But despite the upbeat mood, serious differences exist between Crist and lawmakers on policy issues, including Crist's preference for expanding gambling and dipping into rainy-day funds as alternatives to budget cuts.

St. Pete Times