House Speaker Richard Corcoran laid out the law of the land and his political agenda as he vowed to crack down on wasteful government spending and push for fairness and transparency in his Opening Day remarks Tuesday morning.
Corcoran, who began his first year as Speaker of the House in 2016, reviewed a growing list of reform measures the House has undertaken to bring transparency to the people of Florida.
The Land O’Lakes Republican recalled new ethics regulations to change the culture of lobbying in Florida. Gone, Corcoran said, are the days of lawmakers flying with lobbyists on private jets and taking text messages on House floor.
Corcoran also reflected on the ongoing battle to make massive cuts to state government agencies like Enterprise Florida, which the Speaker says has failed Floridians by squelching taxpayer dollars all while not meeting its job promises. That position has put Corcoran and the majority of the House at odds with Gov. Rick Scott, who has touted both Enterprise Florida and the state's tourism agency as pivotal parts to a booming economy.
“We questioned an agency’s spending and exposed its failures and abuses,” said Corcoran.
Corcoran also took a shot at Visit Florida, which the House has criticized for lack of transparency and for spending too much money trying to bring visitors to the Sunshine State.
“We forced another agency into the sunshine, sued a rapper and won, only to reveal even more wasteful spending,” he continued.
For any other organizations and agencies trying to take a page out of Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, Corcoran had a message: We’ll come after you, no matter what the cost.
“For those organizations and agencies unwilling to change; who see themselves as being special; as being exempt and above the law, then know this: we will continue to fight for the taxpayers and we don’t care if that battle takes place in committee rooms or courtrooms,” he said.
The speaker vowed to oppose property tax increases, to fight for 12-year term limits on appellate judges and to protect public education and expand school choice.
Corcoran has long been an advocate of the state's school choice program, which has come under fire in recent years for funneling money away from the public education system.
“These are big ideas -- complicated ideas,” he said.
As Corcoran stood at the podium, looking out on the House Chamber, he said the House's work was only just beginning.
“We haven’t even scratched the surface,” he said, vowing to ride into battle for what's right for taxpayers. “We have taken on each of these fights because they are the right thing to do."
Members, Corcoran advised, should not cower in fear from intense debates or controversy -- instead, they must focus on doing what’s right.
“We will not fear big ideas or hard choices - what we will fear is becoming one of those poor timid souls who sat in these chairs and never stood up for one meaningful idea or made one meaningful change,” he said.
In the end, state legislators all have choices, and Corcoran said it was up to lawmakers to make the right ones.
“Let us choose courage over safety and people over politics,” he said. “Do not let the agonizing pain of regret be a part of your future. Never be afraid of fighting for what is right. Be afraid of being afraid.”
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
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