Florida lost more than 38,000 businesses last year and more than 1.1 million hard working Floridians are unemployed. The Florida Chamber of Commerce has a multi-point plan to change all of that in 2010. While government doesnt create jobs, the Florida legislature can, and should, do everything in its power to send a strong message to entrepreneurs that job creation is job one in the upcoming legislative session.
As Florida emerges from one of the worst recessions in history, there is still much work to be done. The decisions made in the next 60 days in Tallahassee can either speed our recovery or bring it to a grinding halt. While Florida transitions from a low-cost, low-wage state to an innovation center with higher wage jobs and a knowledge economy, Floridas businesses and families are counting on lawmakers to make policy decisions that support a robust recovery in our state and set the table for greater economic opportunities in the future.
The Florida Chambers 2010 business agenda provides a roadmap to achieve these goals. Our specific proposals fall within three primary areas lawmakers should focus on this session to improve the economy now: Do No Harm, create a Jobs for Florida package and further reform our education system so todays children have increasing opportunity as they move into the future workforce.
DO NO HARM
Our members represent Florida businesses that range from the very smallest to the largest employers in Florida. They have weathered the worst economic storm in recent memory. Today, those businesses are emerging stronger and smarter. They are ready to expand and put people back to work. As House Speaker Larry Cretul recently said, we cannot tax, regulate or litigate our way to prosperity.
Fair and predictable tax system
A tax on small business is a tax on job creation, and we will fight any proposal to raise business taxes or create new fees that will hinder job creation, economic growth or productivity. We ask the Legislature and governor to immediately reduce the $1.2 billion unemployment compensation tax increase scheduled to hit businesses next month.
In addition, there is one tax solution we support. Remote sales tax on Internet purchases is a legally owed existing tax, and Floridas failure to collect the tax puts our states retailers at a competitive disadvantage. We support legislation to streamline Internet sales tax collection, so Florida can start capturing as much as $2 billion in sales tax revenue that currently goes uncollected.
Lawsuit abuse reform
Florida is ranked as having one of the most unfair legal systems in America and we need to fix this. Businesses need the predictability of knowing they are responsible for their actions, not those of others, and therefore we will pursue lawsuit abuse reform at every opportunity.
Property insurance
Simply put, Florida is financially unprepared for a major hurricane, and we urge the legislature to make needed free market reforms to our states property insurance market. Our citizens are paying $5 billion in hidden hurricane assessments right now. We ask the legislature to responsibly fix this before the next big storm hits Florida and our residents are hit with thousands of dollars in assessments.
JOBS FOR FLORIDA PACKAGE
Four out of five new jobs in Florida will be in small businesses. As the world recovers from the recession, Florida should immediately make targeted investments in industries that are ready to hire. Those industries include health care, technical and professional businesses - especially those related to STEM projects and computer services.
Measures supported by the Chamber include:
Cost and Benefit Analysis Legislation, allowing legislators and the public to see the cost and benefit of proposed legislation before it comes up for a vote. This bill will help the Legislature and public better understand the expected Return on Investment and prioritize state spending.
The Commercialization Matching Grant Program, which helps increase a companys likelihood of success, creates high-wage jobs and speeds innovations to market.
The Research and Development Tax Credit Program, which stimulates the economy with job creation, attracts high-wage professional research jobs to the state and encourages corporate R&D activity statewide.
The Qualified Target Industry Program, a fundamental job creation tool for economic development in Florida. Without it, we would not be successful in growing existing or new targeted businesses to create jobs and invest capital in our area.
The Quick Action Closing Fund, which will enable the state to respond quickly to extraordinary economic opportunities. This measure positions Florida to compete for projects that involve significant capital investment to create high-wage jobs.
We also believe small investments to jump-start tourism, trade and space jobs will pay huge returns, and are calling on lawmakers to:
Increase tourism promotion by at least $10 million this year. Every $1 invested in tourism promotion has a $3.26 return on investment.
Significantly grow Florida exports now. In addition to preparing for the Panama Canal expansion at our ports, exporting our service businesses such as engineering, accounting and medical excellence is a sound strategy with significant returns.
EDUCATION REFORM AND ITS IMPORTANCE ON GROWING OUR ECONOMY
The people of Florida, not an agency or policy, will lead our employers to greater growth and prosperity. If we want our people to create and excel in high-value, high-wage jobs, there must be a coordinated effort to help them develop knowledge and skills for all of our people for all of their lives, from birth through retirement.
Talent is the new world currency and fundamental changes are needed for Florida to successfully compete in the new economy. A joint report from the Florida Chamber and Florida Council of 100 issued earlier this year identifies key reforms that are needed. Simply put, we have to generate graduates who are prepared for the skills needed in the jobs we are targeting and growing over the next several years.
As your elected lawmakers converge in Tallahassee, the Florida Chamber team will be actively working with them to evaluate their policy proposals, and measure them against the bottom line jobs for Floridians. While some people see Floridas challenges as negatives, we see them as opportunities to do things smarter and prioritize what government does with the resources and capacity it has. While the Federal government grows, Florida should focus on growing our private sector and shrinking our public sector. True prosperity is only possible with free enterprise and free enterprise works best when government resists the temptation to increase lawsuits, taxes, mandates or regulations.
Mark Wilson is president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
