Even with no budget passed in Tallahassee, as the stalemate over Medicaid expansion necessitated next months special session, free-market advocates Floridians for Government Accountability (FGA) found much to celebrate in the 2015 regular session.
On Monday, FGA unveiled its Champions for the 2015 session which includes legislators who protected taxpayer dollars and advanced a free-market agenda for the state.
The Florida Legislature is filled with a number of leaders who work hard to make fiscally responsible decisions and protect and increase economic freedom in Florida, said FGA Chairman Jim Hart on Monday. We want to recognize and thank them for their good work on behalf of Floridas citizens.
FGA honored Gov. Rick Scott for his $670 million tax cut proposal, most of which comes from reducing cellphone and TV cable taxes, which was a casualty of the standoff in the Legislature.
The group also singled out Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, and incoming Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Lutz, for trying to cut taxes.
Speaker Crisafulli, along with Appropriations Chair Richard Corcoran, pushed the House to advocate for a larger tax cut than the governor, and he saved taxpayer dollars by adjourning his chamber when he believed there was no more business for them to conduct," FGA insisted. As House Appropriations chair, Speaker-designate Corcoran stood firm against the growth of government and unwise government spending.
But the group also praised Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a frequent sparring partner of Corcorans over Medicaid expansion and the budget.
While we wish that Senate Appropriations Chair Tom Lee was more enthusiastic about tax cuts, we applaud him for being cautious in agreeing on a budget before knowing the full impact of the Obama administrations decision regarding health-care funding, the FGA noted. It continues to be disappointing to see how Washingtons poor decisions impact Florida in multiple ways.
FGA also honored Rep. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah Gardens, for his work on education and Rep. MaryLynn Magar, R-Hobe Sound, for looking to kill the manufacturing sales tax.
But the group also listed Chumps including Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), for his role in the fight over ticket sales.
After Rep. Ingoglias big win as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, he left many supporters scratching their heads when he sponsored pro-Ticketmaster legislation to benefit one big company at the expense of free-market principles, FGA insisted. Given his recent rise to power in a conservative caucus, this was perhaps one of the chumpiest moves we saw this session.
FGA also took Rep. Randolph Bracy, D-Ocoee, to task for looking to legalize marijuana for recreational use and tax it.
Bracy filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana and to try to score a quick tax hit off the business side, FGA noted. Government has no business getting into the business of illicit drugs and the bad behavior that goes with them."
Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Cutler Bay, was also a Chump" in FGAs book for looking to raise the minimum wage.
Bullard filed a bill to raise the minimum wage, FGA insisted. Sounds good, but it may cause small businesses to either fire or lay off a worker or two. Spread across the state, it could result in thousands of job losses. This is not in the best interest of the people that government is supposed to serve.
FGA also pegged Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, as Chump over a bathroom bill.
She filed a bill to force small businesses and retailers to allow customers to use their employees-only bathroom, FGA noted. Really? Weve got nothing better to worry about in Tallahassee without putting yet another superfluous regulation on the books?
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
