With less than a week until the state Legislature convenes for the 2012 session, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association on Wednesday, representing more than 10,000 members in an industry that leads to $57 billion brought into the Sunshine State annually and more than 900,000 jobs, highlighted its legislative agenda.
The association, led by Carol Dover, who is the president and CEO of the association, came out swinging against proposed legislation by Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, that would expand gaming in Florida.
Florida is considered one of the most family-friendly destination locations in the world, the association argued on Wednesday in a release unveiling its legislative agenda. We should not gamble our decades of hard work in building our wholesome reputation on the risky proposition that big-spending foreign gamblers will solve our economic problems. The FRLA is against the expansion of gaming and believes the so called mega-casinos will cannibalize surrounding hotels, restaurants and convention centers currently in place.
Arguing that it would not hold up in court and would drain the states finances, the FRLA also came out strongly on Wednesday against attempts to introduce an Arizona-style immigration reform law to the Sunshine State.
Many states believe that our nations immigration policy must be revamped and are implementing their own immigration policies, the FRLA noted. Some would have Florida adopt the sweeping and controversial policies that mirror other states like Arizona, Alabama, or Georgia. However, Florida is not like other states.Every state thus far that has passed an immigration law has found itself in federal court defending it. The costly litigation does nothing to solve the real problems that we are facing. We believe that working with the federal government on a national solution is the best approach to the problem.
The FRLA joined much of the states business community on Wednesday by arguing against raising the minimum wage -- currently $7.67 in the state -- and expressed support for backing a proposed constitutional amendment to reform the current rate.
Florida businesses can no longer afford to continue to increase the pay of tipped employees who make well over the minimum wage, the FRLA maintained. In 2004, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that increased the minimum wage and tied future increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). FRLA is in discussions with Senate and House leadership regarding a possible legislative constitutional amendment that, if passed, would appear on a statewide ballot to change that requirement.
The FRLA also plans to fight offering tax advantages to online travel companies based outside the state, and supports workers' compensation reform and lowering the unemployment compensation tax rate for businesses.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
