If the businesses that make up the Florida Chamber of Commerce are a little excited about the 2011 legislative session, its with good reason.
The 2010 midterm election cycle saw Republicans sweep into supermajorities in the state House and Senate, riding a wave of discontent with Democrats in Washington, D.C. Businesses also have high hopes for Gov. Rick Scott, a business-friendly improvement over the vacillating former Gov. Charlie Crist, and the all-Republican Cabinet.
The Chamber helped foster that success, spending $5.5 million on its candidates during the campaign. Immediately after the results came in, the group boasted that 76 out of the 80 candidates they endorsed won election, 41 pro-trial lawyer and union-backed candidates lost, and the growth reform Amendment 4 was defeated.
Floridians have sent a loud and clear message that job creation is job No. 1, Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson said after the election.
Although the GOP has been in power for two decades in the state Legislature, Republicans say the 2010 wave ushered in a more conservative caucus and a more business-friendly environment. The new legislative leaders, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, got to work immediately, calling a special session two weeks after the election to use their supermajorities to override 10 of Crists vetoes.
I think that has to do with the lack of leadership that Florida has had the last four years. We now have a pro-jobs, pro-business governor in Governor Scott, said Edie Ousley, director of public affairs for the Chamber.
The Chamber originally backed Scotts opponent in the Republican primary, former Attorney General Bill McCollum, but supported him during the general election campaign.
Despite the veto overrides, the Chamber is eager to take advantage of the new political landscape, and is likely to bring up items on its legislative agenda that have been thwarted in previous legislative sessions.
I think that youll see many of the same issues, we'll resurrect, Ousley said.
The Chamber is currently compiling its legislative wish list, and will have the official roll-out of its agenda next month. Still, it's clear the Chamber has high hopes for 2011.
Obviously, its going to be a very pro-jobs, pro-business legislative session, Ousley said.
One issue the Chamber hasn't been shy in supporting, though, is education reform. Legislative leaders have stated they would like to see another version of SB 6, the controversial bill that tied teacher pay to performance and passed the Legislature but was vetoed by Crist last year, come up during this legislative session. Gov. Scott has also talked about reworking the tenure system and installing a program for universal vouchers, although some legislators have noted that courts have blocked voucher plans in the past. The Chamber and other business groups are supportive of such reforms.
"Effective teaching is the single most important factor in determining a student's success in school. While Florida has embraced some of the reforms necessary to create a world-class education system, there's still much work to be done. The Florida Chamber supports paying teachers based on market principles and performance, and replacing lifetime tenure with increased teacher evaluations," Ousley said.
Businesses are already reaping the rewards of a successful election cycle. One of the veto overrides passed by the Legislature was a law requiring legislative approval of regulations that could cost $1 million over five years. Gov. Scott backed up that move with an executive order halting all new rules and regulations in order to review their impact on job creation.
The order stopped $500 million worth of road projects throughout the state, but some of those projects have been approved after being reviewed by the governors office. Some business leaders who complained of job-stifling regulations were nonetheless miffed at the halt in road projects, but seem to be satisfied by the quick approval of some projects.
We are pleased that Governor Scott put an executive order in place on rules and regulations that put a moratorium on those, Ousley said. I think its a strong indication for businesses that are struggling to keep their doors open that Governor Scott is very focused on helping them survive, she added.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
