Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Wednesday rolling back $400 million in vehicle registration fees enacted in 2009 by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed into law by then-Gov. Charlie Crist.
Last winter, we announced our intent to return $500 million to Floridians by cutting taxes, Scott said. Today, we are rolling back many of the 2009 tax increases on annual motor vehicle registrations. This will result in an annual savings of $25 per typical motor vehicle and will let families keep nearly $400 million of their hard-earned money in their own pockets -- because its their money!
Scott made the vehicle registration fee rollback one of his chief legislative items this year. But politics was clearly on Scotts mind as he took shots at Crist for signing the fees.
"We're here because in 2009, Charlie Crist raised this tax, Scott told the media. We are going to right the wrong of this 2009 tax increase that Charlie Crist enacted.Despite spending most of his political career as a Republican, Crist is the favorite to win the Democratic nomination and challenge Scott in November.
Crists camp hit back, noting that Scotts lieutenant governor, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, voted to enact the fees as did other prominent Republicans in the Legislature back in 2009. Crist and his team also insisted Scott took too long to repeal the fees.
Despite backing the fees in 2009, Republican legislative leaders supported rolling them back in 2014.
From day one of the 2014 legislative session, Gov. Scott and the Florida Legislature committed to making a reduction in vehicle fees the centerpiece of meaningful tax relief for Floridas families, said Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach. Gaetz praised Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, for his role in pushing the bill in the Senate. I am pleased to see Sen. Negrons bill become the centerpiece of the governors $500 million Its Your Money tax cut and honored to witness this recurring reduction in vehicle registration fees become law here today.
The Florida House was proud to make lowering fees for Florida drivers a priority this session, said House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. Gov. Scott has been a leader on keeping taxes low for Floridas families and I thank him for signing one of our top priorities into law today.
Both of Floridas major political parties also jumped in the fray. Lenny Curry, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), came out swinging at Crist for backing the tax fees in 2009.
Charlie Crist loves taxes so much he was willing to raise them by $2.2 billion in the middle of an economic downturn, even after promising Floridians that taking federal stimulus funds would prevent tax increases, Curry said. Im proud that Rick Scott is righting this wrong by reducing taxes for Florida families, creating an environment where over 540,000 private-sector jobs have been created.
But Joshua Karp, a spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party, pointed out that Democrats opposed the fees back in 2009 while Republicans backed it.
Floridians saw Gov. Rick Scott at his worst today, saying whatever he thinks it takes to win re-election, Karp said. In 2009, Democrats opposed this measure, and Rick Scotts GOP allies in the Legislature passed it -- and his own lieutenant governor whipped the votes to get it done.
"These auto tag fees were always a temporary measure that Rick Scott should have cut as soon as possible, and Democrats have consistently supported repeal, Karp added. Instead, Rick Scott waited until his election year to conduct a phony victory lap. Once again, Rick Scott has put his personal political advancement over the needs of Floridas middle class.
The business community was squarely behind rolling the fees back.
No new taxes or fees mean more freedom for Floridians and small businesses, and more economic growth for Florida, said Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Gov. Scotts tax relief efforts will put money back into the pockets of Floridians and small businesses and further help Florida to become more competitive. The Florida Chamber applauds the Florida Legislature and Gov. Scott for working to cut taxes on Floridas families and job creators.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
