Gov. Rick Scott is aiming to make tax increases more difficult in the Sunshine State by requiring a supermajority vote from the Florida Legislature.
Scott made the announcement in Lake Mary Monday morning.
“I will fight during the upcoming legislative session to give voters the opportunity to amend the Florida Constitution to require a supermajority vote by future state legislatures to raise any taxes or fees,” Scott said.
Scott touted his record of slashing taxes across the board for hard working Floridians.
“I am proud that by working with the Florida Legislature, we have cut more than $7 billion in taxes and I look forward to cutting even more taxes next year,” Scott said. “While cutting taxes is important, we must prevent against unfair tax increases in the future so our progress is not undone.”
Though he did not release specifics, the governor said more information about his proposal would be available “in the coming weeks.”
Scott said a constitutional amendment was the key way to get the supermajority proposal into Florida law.
The governor’s proposal would be placed on the ballot for 2018 and Florida voters would need to approve it before it hits the books. Sixty percent of voters would need to vote in favor of Scott’s measure in order for it to become law in Florida.
In addition to having the state legislature approve his proposal, Scott announced he would push the measure to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, the group responsible for changing Florida’s Constitution every 20 years.
“Because this issue is so important to ensuring future economic growth in our state, I will use every tool available to ensure Florida voters have the chance to consider this proposal,” said Scott.
The supermajority means more than two-thirds of lawmakers would need to support tax increases before they could be approved.
The Florida House was quick to hop onboard in support of Scott’s proposal. On Monday, House Speaker Richard Corcoran said the supermajority measure would help bring “common sense” back to government.
"For almost seven years we've worked alongside our Governor to bring common sense back to governing. We cut taxes. We cut regulations. We cut fees. Now we need to make sure the taxpayers' pocketbooks are protected,” Corcoran said. “Requiring in the Constitution a supermajority to raise any tax or fee will do this.”
Corcoran called the proposal “pro-family,” “pro-future” and “pro-taxpayer.”
Future chairman of the House’s tax panel Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, also endorsed the supermajority initiative.
"Florida is a place of prosperity and opportunity because we have put our trust in free people and free markets, refusing to follow the high tax, high regulation, and big spending states who mortgage their children's tomorrow to overspend today,” Renner said. “This amendment, along with our requirement to balance the budget, will help protect Florida's long-term economic future.”
Other states like California already have the supermajority rule in place, though it is uncertain whether Florida's policy would end up being similar.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
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