Tea partiers' hopes that their legislative priorities would receive a fair hearing in the 2013 session seemed to be vindicated Tuesday, as high-ranking lawmakers kicked off a rally hosted by Americans for Prosperity (AFP), galvanizing free-market activists in town to lobby their representatives.
I see some signs that say 'No Medicaid Expansion,' observed Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, who serves as chair of the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee and vice chair of the Select Committee on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA --i.e., Obamacare), before a crowd of some 250 citizen lobbyists. Let me tell you, it's not just 'no,' it's 'Heck, no!'
Hudson's remarks followed those of House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, who signaled the support of House leadership for the agenda promoted by AFP, whose activism he credited with helping to make Florida a freer and more prosperous state than others.
As a country, I believe we are less free than we were four years ago, and unfortunately, with the occupier at the White House, that trend will probably continue for the next few years, he said. But that presents [us] with an amazing opportunity to create a pocket of freedom right here in Florida.
That pocket, he said, was being created by Republicans' promotion of education reform, government accountability, school choice and the expansion of virtual education opportunities, lowering of taxes and regulations, and the House's attempt to reform the state's old, archaic, and outdated pension system for state workers.
There's a troubling trend that's going on in this country, and I'm calling it 'cartel federalism,' he explained. [It's] the idea that the federal government can buy-off states with so-called 'free' money, [in order to] make us more entitled; it's a bad thing for the state of Florida, and I'm here to tell you, the state of Florida will not do it,America should not do it, and we should turn [down] any Medicaid expansion that anyone's talking about, he concluded, his voice drowned out by cheers from the crowd.
Hudson echoed the sentiments.
Imagine anything that your tax dollars get spent on by the federal government and ask yourself whether it's national parks or the military in today's fiscal climate, would they possibly be able to adhere to a 10-year funding plan? he asked, referring to federal promises of Medicare funding that many conservative activists are skeptical of. If they cant take care of our military, then you gotta kinda ask yourself how in the world they can possibly take care of anything else.
Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami, who chairs the House's Choice and Innovation Subcommittee, followed Hudson by taking shots at taxpayer-funded incentive programs for private businesses.
What's going on with these select tax breaks, with the $400 million tax rebate and tax increases that inure unproportional benefits for a man that's worth $4.4 billion, is worth standing up [against], he said, in an apparent reference to the Miami Dolphins' proposed renovation plan for the Sun Life Stadium.
Too many [businessmen today] decide that the way to create wealth for themselves is not through just taking risks and creating a better product and creating value for their customers, he said. Why do all that if you can work a system and increase your wealth by coming here to Tallahassee and getting a special tax break?
House Majority Leader Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, was the last legislator to address the crowd, endorsing AFP's 5 for Florida Plan and encouraging the activists to share it with their representatives.
Abigail MacIver, director of policy and external affairs at AFP-Florida, tells Sunshine State News the speaker's pension reform plan, essentially converting the current entitlement to a 401(k), was taken right off of our Five for Florida Plan, and that she's confident her organization will see several of its legislative priorities realized.
Americans for Prosperity published those priorities 10 days ago, taking stances on at least 17 pieces of legislation before the House and Senate. They include:
Oppose Medicaid expansion andcreation of a state insurance exchange
Reform unsustainable pensions
SB 534 / HB 599 Local Government Pension Accounting -- Support
HB 7011 401(k) Plans for New State Employees -- Support
Increase government accountability and transparency
HB 23 / SB 50 Speaking at Public Meetings -- Support
SB 406 / HB 641 Improved Reporting of Taxpayer-Funded Incentives-- Support
HB 563 / SB 572 Public Reporting of Incentives -- Support
SB 1150 State Contracting Accountability -- Support
End corporate welfare
Oppose funding for Enterprise Florida and taxpayer-funded incentiveprograms
Oppose SB 306 / HB 165 and any bills providing taxpayer-fundedincentives to professional sports teams
Encourage school choice and innovation
SB 862 / HB 867 - Parent Empowerment for Failing Schools -- Support
HB 465 / SB 1108 Parental Rights for Disabled Students -- Support
HB 7009 Charter School Accountability -- Support
HB 7029 Access to Digital Learning -- Support
Lower taxes
HB 401 / SB 562 Increase Corporate Income Tax Exemption Support
SB 88 / SB 316 / HB 497 -- Taxes Internet Sales --Oppose
Decrease government regulation and red-tape
HB 121 / SB 670 Local Regulatory Transparency -- Support
HB 203 / SB 1190 Reducing over-regulation of agricultural lands --Support
SB 320 / HB 4001 Ethanol Repeal -- Support
SB 720 / HB 7023 Decreased occupational licensing burdens --Support.
Reach Eric Giunta at egiunta@sunshinestatenews.com or at (954) 235-9116.
