NO BUTTS: SENATE CIGARETTE TAX TO INCLUDE ALL TOBACCO

By KEITH LAING, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

www.newsserviceflorida.com

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 30, 2009……….Backers of a proposed tax increase on cigarettes who said this would be the year the plan would get serious consideration were not just blowing smoke: the chairman of the Senate Finance and Tax Committee announced Monday he is backing an expanded version of the fee hike.

Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, said during a Capitol news conference that the Finance and Tax Committee’s package this year would include SB 1840, which would raise cigarette taxes by $1 a pack.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, also now will call for a $1 per ounce surcharge to other tobacco-based products, including cigars, chewing tobacco and snuff.

Altman said the proposal was primarily to address a health care need, despite the fact that backers say it could generate $850 million for a state beleaguered by a deficit that could be as high as $6 billion without federal assistance.

“Protecting Florida’s Health is legislation that would align the cost of Medicaid to the products and behavior that are driving the state’s health costs higher and higher each year,” Altman said, adding that the tax money that’s currently collected doesn’t cover health care costs that arise from smoking.

But Altman did acknowledge the impact the tobacco tax, which he called bipartisan and “a giant step forward for Florida,” could have on the state’s bottom line.

“The purpose of this surcharge…is to help close (the health care gap) and to move past the point we’re currently in where non-smokers are essentially subsidizing – to the tune of close to $600 per year – the cost incurred by the state as a result of those who choose to smoke and use other tobacco products,” Altman said. He said Florida was currently 47th in the nation in revenue collected to offset tobacco-related health care costs.

Deutch partly pinned the state’s cloudy budget forecast on the growing amount of money it is spending on health care.

“It is abundantly clear that our current budget predicament is due partly to the fact that over time, we’ve let what the state spends on tobacco related illness get way out of balance with what we take in from users of tobacco,” Deutch said.

But Deutch too cited the health care benefits of lighting the fire under the tobacco tax, saying that research shows the largest deterrent to youth smoking is pricing them out.

“When you consider that 90 percent of adult smokers tell you that they started smoking in their teens or even younger, this is an enormous prevention opportunity for us,” Deutch said. “Not only will Florida be healthier in the long run, but the drain on our long term Medicaid budget can be mitigated.”

Deutch added that it was more fair to tack the extra fee on all tobacco products than it was to single out cigarette users, as the original proposal did.

“Tobacco products don’t just need to be rolled into cigarettes to be deadly,” he said.

But Philip Morris spokesman David Sutton snuffed out that notion, saying that proposed tobacco tax was not fair, even if it was just applied to cigarettes.

“It’s a highly regressive tax on Florida’s adult tobacco users,” Sutton said. “It’s an unreliable revenue source and can create unintended consequences as people seek to find ways to avoid the excise tax by making their purchases in other places.”

Sutton said that Philip Morris believed a better way to generate revenue from cigarette users than implementing a blanket tax on all tobacco is to get manufactures that do not currently pay into the Lawton Chiles Endowment to contribute. Sutton said a proposal from the tobacco industry to add a 40 cent per pack fee to cigarettes produced by non-settlement manufacturers would level the playing field with companies like Philip Morris that do pay into the trust fund and would generate about $80 million for the state.

Sutton added that with the federal cigarette tax already increased, raising the state fee could be a job-killer Florida can ill-afford with unemployment at record levels. That’s because of the degree to which many small retail outlets rely on cigarette sales.

“It’s a difficult economy out there,” Sutton said. “The federal government just increased its excise tax on cigarettes by 62 cents a pack. In a state like Florida, where you’ve got over 19,000 retailers, there’s potential to lose jobs.”

Sutton said Philip Morris would deliver that message to the Legislature as it considers the tobacco tax, which has yet to be endorsed by the House.

“Philip Morris is opposed to the cigarette excise tax and we are actively communicating our viewpoint to elected officials,” Sutton said.

–END–
03/30/2009

WEEKLY ROUNDUP – THE NUMBING NUMBERS

(Recap and analysis of the week in state government)

By KEITH LAING, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

www.newsserviceflorida.com

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 13, 2009………It’s not often that a bunch of economists are in the spotlight, but when they know for sure what everybody else already thinks is true, the stars shine brightly.

Such was the case for the numbers guys late this week, as official Tallahassee gathered ’round to hear what state economists had to say about Florida’s economic woes. As expected, the economists again were not the bearers of good news, saying once more that things were worse then they previously predicted. Preliminary estimates show lawmakers will have $1.1 billion less in taxes coming in to spend for the current fiscal year ending June 30, and $2.4 billion less for the upcoming fiscal year.

The 2009-2010 figure reflects a 10-percent decline in general revenue compared to projections made in November, when economists estimated a general revenue budget of $22.4 billion. Based on the previous estimate, lawmakers in January trimmed $2.3 billion from the current year budget.

Sales tax revenue was way off. Real estate taxes, down as well. And corporate income taxes, don’t ask about that either. Gas tax collections are down too.

Officials from the state Department of Transportation told lawmakers this week that collections of fuel taxes are projected to be down $816 million over the lifespan of the DOT’s 2008-2013 year workplan because people are either by driving less or buying more fuel efficient vehicles.

Gas tax collections for the current fiscal year alone are expected to be off by $21 million and next year’s take is expected to be short $140 million, officials said this week. They added that DOT’s 5-year workplan has been already reduced by $7.2 billion over the last two years.

All told, the lower estimates make a difficult job more so, as lawmakers begin crafting a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Ideas for blunting the awfulness include liberal use of federal stimulus dollars, striking a deal with the Seminole tribe for a cut of their gambling haul, cutting some sales tax exemptions, collecting Internet sales tax, increasing fees, and increasing taxes, particularly the cigarette tax.

But if revenue collections continue flying south for the winter, there might not be much of a budget left to craft.

THE UNSTACKED COURT

Any governor would envy a chief executive who gets to appoint half the Supreme Court in his first two years in office, a chance for a Gov to fundamentally alter the course of state law long after he or she departs the Governor’s Mansion. If they were so inclined, that is. And apparently, Florida’s straight down the middle governor is not inclined.

Crist tapped Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Judge James Perry this week for an opening on the Florida Supreme Court, marking the governor’s fourth high court nomination in less than a year. Perry, who is from Sanford, beat out three others for the spot, left open by the retirement of Justice Charles Wells.

Crist’s Supreme Court appointments could be the biggest influence the governor has had on Florida in the two years he’s been in office. His first two appointments, Charles Canady and Ricky Polston, are widely viewed as conservatives. But his second two, Jorge Labarga and now Perry, are viewed as more moderate choices.

Crist’s highway median Supreme Court choice, came much to the chagrin of hardliner Republicans if the party faithful’s muted reaction is an indication. Conservative lawmakers and interest groups, who praised the Canady and Polston picks, have anxiously waited for the chance to replace a Supreme Court largely nominated by former Gov. Lawton Chiles. It was a court that gave the party fits during the disputed 2000 presidential election and clashed with the Republican-led Legislature repeatedly since.

So to the hardest of the GOP hardliners, anything less than an FDR-style court packing plan would have probably been underwhelming. But this week’s nomination made it clear they are not getting any stack the court schemes from the self-proclaimed people’s governor, possibly leaving them asking themselves “Where’s the Justice?”

THE GREAT DEBATERS

Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, in the midst of a heated exchange this week with Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, over a proposal to repeal public financing of political campaigns in Florida, said that lawmakers were “supposed to debate.” And debate they did, about campaign money, seat belts, class size and a host of other things.

Neither chamber went into session this week, but there was no shortage of disagreement in the halls of the Capitol. And perhaps no debate this week was a great as the one between Storms and Smith about campaign finance during a Senate committee meeting that again devolved into a partisan argument about President Barack Obama’s decision to forgo public money during last year’s presidential election.

The divide between Democrats and Republicans on the campaign finance repeal bill (SB 564) was on full display during the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Committee, though the panel later approved the bill unanimously. Storms argued that Obama’s decision to spend money raised by his campaign instead of accepting federal campaign assistance demonstrated flaws in the public financing system.

But Smith who ultimately voted yes on the bill, took exception to the Republicans’ argument, disputing the relevance of a federal election to state campaigns. That led to some contentious exchanges.

Storms said Democrats were unhappy with criticism of “the messiah,” Smith said Storms speech was “ten minutes of my life I’ll never get back” and accused her of trying to “jump through all kinds of intellectual hoops” to criticize President Obama. He then told her not to “piss on me and tell me it’s raining,” stunning the committee’s audience and its chair.

Debate over a proposal to allow police to pull over and ticket adult drivers if they see them not wearing a seat belt did not rise to that level of back-and-forth, but nonetheless was contentious. Currently the law is enforced primarily only for drivers under 18. Otherwise police can only ticket adult drivers for not being buckled in if they pull them over for something else and happen to notice they are not belted in. But a bill (SB 344) that would change that was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee this week over the staunch objections of Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, and Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis.

Siplin said he worries it will bring more racial profiling and Eustis said it simply creates too much of a nanny state. Backers argued those concerns were trumped by the number of lives they say the bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, will save and injuries they contend it will prevent.

For fans of great debate, it was certainly whirlwind week. But the best is yet to come, because with the news about dwindling revenue collections Friday, the big fight over the budget is just beginning.

STORY OF THE WEEK: The numbers are in for the state’s revenue collections, and they could not be any further south if they were in Key West. State economists broke the bad news this week about the state’s intake, which is now more than $6 billion below projects, making for a very unbalanced state checkbook.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “People have definitely changed their driving habits. When I saw Eli Manning last year getting a Cadillac Escalade hybrid (after winning the Super Bowl), I knew we were in trouble,” Kevin Thibault, Florida DOT Assistant Secretary for Engineering and Operations, lamenting the fact that state’s gas tax collections, which are a key component of the overall state revenue estimate, are running on fumes.

–END–
03/12/09

GAS TAX DECLINE COULD MEAN CLEANER AIR, BUT LESS ROADS

By KEITH LAING, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

www.newsserviceflorida.com

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 12, 2009……….As Floridians use less gas, either by driving less or buying more fuel efficient vehicles, the state is left trying to figure out how to afford road construction, which is primarily paid for with gas taxes.

The formal Revenue Estimating Conference will not meet until Friday, but as lawmakers start seeing bits and pieces of the overall picture, its not a pretty painting. Kevin Thibault, Assistant Secretary for Engineering and Operations for the Florida Department of Transportation, told the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Committee Thursday that gas tax collections are projected to be down $816 million over the lifespan of the DOT’s 5 year workplan.

That people are using less gas is music to the ears of environmentalists, who have been pushing the state to adopt tougher car emission standards. But to those in the transportation industry, who have to plan projects years in advance, the downward spiral of gas tax collections sounds like nails on a chalk board.

Its a catch-22 described to lawmakers by Thibault during the committee meeting Thursday.

“People are just not consuming as much fuel as they used to,” Thibault said. “There’s a lot of hybrids and more fuel efficient vehicles and its great for the environment, but not for the traditional form of funding transportation projects.”

Thibault told the committee that the DOT will not know for sure how bleak the picture will be until document stamp tax collection numbers are revealed by the Revenue Estimating Conference Friday. But he said the department, which relies primarily on gas tax collections, had a similar-sized reduction in the November revenue estimate. That decline caused $1.3 billion in projects to be halted because transportation projects require differing levels of financial commitments through their development, a phenomenon Thibault compared to a bell curve.

Gas tax collections for the current fiscal year alone are expected to be off by $21 million and next year’s take is expected to be short $140 million, Thibault told the committee. The DOT’s 2008-2013 workplan has been reduced by $7.2 billion over the last two years.

And there might not be much that can be done to stop the downward spiral, Thibault said.

“Because the country has changed how we travel, consolidating trips and so on, that’s just something we have had to deal with,” Thibault said. “People have definitely changed their driving habits. When I saw Eli Manning last year getting a Cadillac Escalade hybrid (after winning the Super Bowl), I knew we were in trouble.”

Thibault said the state fuel tax was 18 cents per gallon, which he told the committee was middle-of-the-road among the states. The problem is depending on the fuel tax to almost entirely fund state investment in roads, he said.

“The system we have today was created in the ’50s when Eisenhower created the interstate system,” Thibault continued. “Everyone had 8-cylinder vehicles. The only difference was if it had a wing in the back or not. Now everybody’s saying fuel efficiency. If you do the math, 20 miles per gallon, 15,000 miles a year, you’re only paying $9 a month.”

The irony of the situation was not lost on the committee. Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, said it was quite a conundrum.

“While we should be celebrating the fact that people are using less gas and are more energy efficient…we still have a tax system that bases money for roads on bad behavior,” she said.

Committee chairman Mike Fasano told Dockery that it was possible for the Legislature to change the funding mechanism for road projects, but he acknowledged that it was not very likely to happen.

“There are some proposals out there that would generate additional revenue to the trust fund,” Fasano said. “I don’t know if they will ever get to us, but there are some ideas and suggestions out there. I’d be more then happy to have some of those groups come before us and throw those suggestions out there so we know what’s available.”

But, “they’re not the most popular proposals,” Fasano quickly added.

One proposal that’s been studied in several states is a vehicle miles traveled fee – essentially taxing people based on how much they drive – though that idea hasn’t gained any serious legislative traction in Florida. Another would be to actually increase the gas tax.

Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, railed against both those ideas, pointing out that the federal government is already contemplating raising its levy on gallons of gasoline 10 to 15 cents.

“I know some here would like us to raise gas taxes…but not me,” Storms said. “I’m not interested in that and in case anybody is wanting us to explore the mobility tax, which is popular to discuss right now, in case somebody wants to float that idea, let me just be the first in line to say that I’ll be loading up my bazooka to blow that out of the water.”

–END–
03/12/2009

TEMPERS FLARE IN SENATE PANEL ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPEAL

By KEITH LAING, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

www.newsserviceflorida.com

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 12, 2009……….Debate over a proposal to ask voters to end public financing of Florida political campaigns devolved Thursday into a partisan argument about President Barack Obama’s decision to forgo public money during last year’s presidential election.

The divide between Democrats and Republicans on the bills (SB 564, SJR 566) was most on display during a testy exchange between Sens. Ronda Storms, R- Valrico, and Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, during a meeting of the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Committee, though the panel later approved the bill unanimously.

Storms joined the bill’s sponsor Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, and Sens. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, in arguing that Obama’s decision to spend money raised by his campaign instead of accepting federal campaign assistance demonstrated flaws in the public financing system. But Smith and Sen. Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville, who both ultimately voted yes on the bill, took exception to the Republicans’ argument, disputing the relevance of a federal election to state campaigns. That led to some contentious exchanges.

“I understand that some are uncomfortable with candidate Obama’s failure to keep his word and then those of us who didn’t support him calling people’s attention to that,” Storms said. “I would be uncomfortable if my candidate did that and then became president. But it’s not outside the realm of discussion or debate, because it goes to credibility. I can completely understand it makes folks uncomfortable and they don’t want to talk about the messiah having a flaw, but actually it was a flaw.”

“My concerns weren’t that we debate President Obama,” retorted Smith. “I could care less. We have 4 years to do that. We can stand all day and talk about Obama and federal law all we want, but we’re here to discuss state law, and I felt that by taking the time to take shots… we’re taking time away from important state business.”

Smith, who also referred to Storms’ speech as “ten minutes of my life I’ll never get back,” said he did not support repealing public campaign financing, but he was OK with leaving the decision to the voters, so he was not opposed to the bill. He told Storms he was opposed to her rhetoric on the issue, however.

“You can jump through all kinds of intellectual hoops to justify what was done earlier, but don’t piss on me and tell me it’s raining,” Smith said to the surprise of the audience. “I know what you were doing and I called you on it.”

That led Fasano, who largely agreed with Storms’ take on the issue, to jump in to referee the dispute between the senators.

“Please be respectful of the president,” Fasano said to Storms before telling Smith that he was “way out of line. I think it’s important that regardless of who fills that seat, he is the president of the United States.”

Turning to Smith, Fasano said, “I would suggest that you think twice about making a statement like that again in this committee. It is not called for and out of order and actually outrageous.”

Storms said later that she resented Smith’s attempt to cut off debate on the bill.

“It’s a threat to democracy if members are not permitted to have the opportunity (to debate),” Storm said. “We should not be intimidated from the debate. It’s part of the process. We’re supposed to present bills, we’re supposed to discuss bills, we’re supposed to debate bills and we’re supposed to vote on bills.”

Once tempers cooled off, Smith apologized for the tone of his remarks, calling his choice of words “colorful.”

“I stand by the content of my comments, however, the choice of language was unbecoming of a senator and unbecoming of this setting,” Smith said.

The legislation that sparked Thursday’s contentious debate calls for a 2010 election for a constitutional amendment that, if approved by three-fifth of voters, would end the system of public funding for statewide races. The proposal has continued moving in both chambers, despite spirited debate before each panel that sees it. Before passing in the Transportation and Economic Development Committee Thursday, the proposal was approved by Senate Ethics and Elections, the House Government Affairs Policy Committee and the House Economic Development and Community Affairs Policy Council, despite staunch opposition from some Democrats and good government advocacy groups.

For the amendment get to the polls though, lawmakers in each chamber will have to pass the measure by a three-fifths vote, as opposed to the simple majority required for most legislation that doesn’t seek to change the state constitution.

–END–
03/12/2009

DOCKERY UNABLE TO STOP SUNRAIL IN COMMITTEE

By KEITH LAING, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

www.newsserviceflorida.com

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Mar. 4, 2009……….Over strong objections from its biggest critic, the legislative roll of the proposed SunRail commuter train in the Orlando area stayed on track Wednesday, clearing a key Senate panel despite contentious debate.

By a 6-3 vote, the bill (SB 1212) that would clear the way for the Department of Transportation to buy 61 miles of existing track from CSX Corp. to run commuter trains in the Orlando area was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill was sponsored by Sens. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, and Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, who chairs the transportation committee.

Constantine hailed the measure as a job creator and congestion reliever.

“We’re in tough times, everybody knows that, but before you, you have a bill that provides economic stimulus, builds new transportation modes throughout the state, and protects the environment,” Constantine said.

SunRail advocates have said that the proposed commuter train would create 13,000 jobs and generate $4.6 billion for the construction sector over 20 years. Supporters have also said the train would spur 113,000 construction projects within a half-mile range of 17 stations that would be built between DeLand and Poinciana and would remove the number of cars that fill one lane of Interstate 4 during weekday rush hours.

A companion measure (HPCB 09-01) has already cleared the House Economic Development and Community Affairs Council and is ready for a full floor vote. The Senate bill will now head to the Judiciary Committee.

Leading the opposition in the transportation committee Wednesday was Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, who voted against the measure after unsuccessfully introducing 11 amendments. Dockery has long been against the deal that would create SunRail, though she often says that she is not opposed to the train itself.

Opposition to the measure is partly based on the fact that it will shift freight traffic elsewhere – primarily Dockery’s hometown of Lakeland. Dockery and other opponents also complain about the measure’s indemnification arrangement – a “no fault” plan that will have the state and CSX each responsible for its own equipment, workers and passengers no matter who causes an accident. That puts the state on the hook for some of the liability it doesn’t currently have. CSX says the sale of the rails is contingent on that agreement, meaning the project relies on the bill passing.

“The bill before us is not about commuter rail,” Dockery said during the debate. “It’s about shifting liability off a private freight rail company and onto the taxpayers of the state of Florida. This bill does not say we’re going to have SunRail in central Florida. Voting against this bill doesn’t mean you’re against commuter rail, and I’m not.”

The commuter rail proposal was one of the Legislature’s biggest fights last year, as opponents of re-routing freight trains through Lakeland, including Dockery, and trial lawyers opposed to lawsuit limits on railroad contractors killed the plan. But the $1.2 billion project gained a high profile supporter this year in Gov. Charlie Crist, who largely stayed above the fray in the effort to get the project moving last year. Also, the bill this year was changed to remove the limits on suits against private contractors working on the railroad, removing trial lawyer opposition.

Dockery said Wednesday that she was still angered by the cost of the project and plans for the state to share legal responsibility for accidents with the freight company.

Dockery said that her amendments, which were all greeted unfavorably by the bill’s sponsors, were meant to improve SunRail, not derail it. Among the amendments introduced by Dockery were measures that would have eliminated state liability for accidents that occurred in rail yards and that involved non-passengers.

And Dockery strongly disagreed that Lakeland’s problems had been solved.

“I am Lakeland,” Dockery said. “I am the senator from Lakeland. Lakeland asked me two years ago to work on their behalf. Lakeland has tried to be good neighbors to our friends in the Orlando area. Our problem is not with commuter rail, our problem is with taking the brunt of this.”

Dockery was joined in opposition to the SunRail deal by Sens. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, and Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, though neither was as vocal as the senator from the 15th district. Still, Siplin defended Dockery’s interest in the details of the SunRail proposal.

“We’re all senators here,” Siplin said. “I would expect that this body would give me deference on any issue that affects my district. I would ask that you would give comity and consideration to Sen. Dockery, because when we get to the floor, it’s all about unity.”

However, when the vote was called, Dockery did not find much additional support, though she said she expected a different result in later roll calls on SunRail.

“This committee is not indicative of entire Senate,” Dockery said. “The make-up of this committee is heavily constituted by central Florida.”

Dockery predicted she would have more success opposing the SunRail deal as it moves through the Legislature, though she acknowledged the battle could be tough.

“The other side of this issue has at least 100 lobbyists,” she said “I find myself out here alone as the voice trying to educate.”

–END–
03/04/2009

DEMS LARGELY AGREE WITH CRIST STATE OF THE STATE

By KEITH LAING, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

www.newsserviceflorida.com

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Mar. 3, 2009……….Florida House Democrats tapped Rep. Geraldine Thompson to deliver their official response to Gov. Charlie Crist’s State of the State address Tuesday, though the Orlando Democrat agreed with the governor more often than not.

Thompson, the House Democratic Leader Pro-Tempore, echoed the governor’s call for bipartisan solutions to the economic problems facing the state in a videotaped speech aired on public television at the conclusion of Crist’s remarks.

“Our challenges – Florida’s challenges – need more than one-party solutions,” Thompson said in prepared remarks released at the start of her speech. “The people need Democrats at the negotiating table alongside Republicans. And we’re going to fight to get those opportunities.”

Like Crist, Thompson also encouraged state investment in education, saying that the solution to Florida’s budget crunch required “having courage to say ‘no’ to more reductions in state spending on our public schools, colleges and universities.

“And it means maintaining our commitment to universal pre-kindergarten education,” Thompson added.

Thompson also lauded the federal economic stimulus package, as Crist did in his speech.

“Today, there are more than $14 billion coming from Washington, D.C. with Florida’s name on it,” Thompson said. “These are monies to help cover uninsured children and adults’ basic health coverage. It’s money to provide for their education. It’s money to help grow jobs. It’s money that President Barack Obama and Congress have envisioned to give a lift to states like ours. It’s money that Florida taxpayers have already sent to Washington.”

Thompson praised Crist for proposing a budget that used stimulus money to avoid further major spending cuts. Prior to the start of the 2009 session, Crist proposed a $66.5 billion budget heavily propped up by the federal stimulus package.

Crist’s proposed budget was about $1 billion larger than the current-year budget, which was just cut by $2.3 billion during a January special session. Crist used about $4.7 billion in federal stimulus money in his proposal to avoid spending cuts or tax increases.

“Florida House Democrats applaud Gov. Charlie Crist for showing courage in writing a budget that puts federal stimulus dollars to work,” she said. “Using these economic recovery funds will be a win for everyone, especially our children, the uninsured, and Floridians worried about their jobs. We need these dollars to soften the blow of the recession, and to be a bridge to better days.”

Senate Democrats gave the governor’s State of the State address more mixed reviews.

“It was a thumbs up and a thumbs down,” Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, said in an interview following the speech. “I think it’s good the governor embraced some of the ideas that Democrats have been pushing for a long time. The only thing I’m concerned about is that we did not hear anything about tax fairness. We have given away $12 billion in corporate tax loopholes and (Crist) didn’t speak in terms of that.”

Lawson added that Crist also did not mention the job security – or lack thereof – of state employees, who are concerned about possible layoffs and furloughs.

“I didn’t hear anything about our most valuable resource, and that’s our state employees,” Lawson said.

Lawson added that he agreed with Crist that lawmakers have already done good job trimming the fat from the state budget, saying that the governor’s observation about Florida’s efficiency made the case for avoiding further spending cuts this session.

Other Senate Democrats expressed worry about how the state could continue to fund vital state programs, like education, if it faces a shortfall even with stimulus funds.

“Everyone knows that we’re going to take another hit and somebody’s going to have to explain to Floridians how we’re going to fund education,” said Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami, after the speech.

Republicans were generally more receptive to Crist’s message than the Democrats were, which would be unsurprising in most states, but not in one where the governor reaches across the aisle more often than party hardliners would like. Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa, said the governor’s speech set the right tone by not putting out specifics on cutting individual programs.

“We’re not in that climate,” Ambler said. “What he gave us was a general mission statement, a philosophy.”

Ambler and Sen. Thad Altman, R- Melbourne, also both agreed with the governor’s proposal of using stimulus dollars to plug anticipated holes in the upcoming budget, even though that idea has been met with some criticism in the past.

“I think that we have an opportunity and a responsibility to use those stimulus dollars in the most beneficial and maximum way that we can,” Altman said.

Newly anointed House Speaker Larry Cretul said the House would consider the proposals made by Crist in his State of the State address, though he did not signal the chamber would ultimately go along.

“We pledge to work with him and our Senate colleagues to do whatever state government can responsibly do to help deliver a sound, prosperous future,” Cretul said in a statement released after the speech. “There will be debates about the best ways to achieve these goals and the deliberative approach that will be taken will be respectful and appropriate to the healthy process of democracy.”

Cretul added that while questions about Crist’s legislative priorities were answered by the speech Tuesday evening, more queries remained about the state’s future.

“The question is not what is the state of state government, but what is the state of the taxpayer, the state of the small business, and the state of Florida’s families?” he said.

–END–
03/03/2009

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News Service of Florida Reporter Kathleen Haughney contributed to this report.