Sen. Mike Haridopolos Wants Early Primary

Senate President Mike Haridopolos stated Thursday he is against moving back Florida's date for the presidential primary in 2012.

Democratic legislators have filed a bill to move the date back from the end of January, and newly-elected Republican National Committee Chair Reince Preibus urged his party to move it back during a recent trip to Tampa, the site of the 2012 Republican national convention.

"I think it's a bad idea," Haridopolos said of moving the date back.

In 2008, both the Democratic and Republican national parties threatened to ignore Florida's delegate count in determining their nominees for president because of the earlier voting date.

Speaking from a press conference in his Senate office, Haridopolos also praised Gov. Rick Scott's budget proposal and said he was largely in agreement with his recommendations.

"The good news to report is that on the big items, we agree," Haridopolos said.

He also stated he wants to work with Scott on implementing his plans to cut corporate income and property taxes, but said that his main focus was on cutting $3.6 billion worth of spending to fix the state's deficit.

One area where Haridopolos did rebuff Scott's budget was his recommendation to eliminate the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which has been praised by Attorney General Pam Bondi as a tool that can help law enforcement officials and doctors crack down on "pill mills." Bondi held a press conference last week urging legislators to approve more stringent rules to crack down on unscrupulous physicians and doctor shoppers.

"I think that when Pam Bondi's idea comes out, I think you'll find us very supportive of it," Haridopolos said.

Scott's recommendation to get rid of the Office of Drug Control was also panned by Haridopolos.

"I don't agree with that one, either," he said.

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