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And They’re Off: 2011 Florida Legislative Session Opens
March 8, 2011
The Florida Legislature began their annual sessions Tuesday morning, with both the House and Senate on the floor.
House Speaker Dean Cannon said Tuesday in session opening remarks that lawmakers won’t bow to simple politics of soundbites, fear and anger. While hitting highlights of problems the House will try to address, from prescription drug addiction to courts he says have overstepped, Cannon also lashed out at Washington, saying that many of the problems lawmakers face – including the state’s budget shortfall – were created at least in part by a federal government that has created “a paralyzing web of entitlement programs.”
Senate President Mike Haridopolos (pictured) returned to familiar themes of curbing Medicaid spending increases and making state employees contribute to their retirement in a 15-minute opening day speech that also including a gentle warning to Gov. Rick Scott that 2011 may not be the year to provide property tax or corporate income tax relief as the state climbs out of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. “Whether we can actually reduce taxes, at the present time, in a responsible way remains to be seen,” Haridopolos told members in his opening speech. “If anyone can show me how we can realistically feed the increasing multitude with even fewer fish and less bread than we have now, then I will gladly follow him,.” he said.
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3 Responses to “And They’re Off: 2011 Florida Legislative Session Opens”
What is it with Republicans and their propensity for giant gavels?
we are taxed enough already just register your vehicle onto the state for the first time it’ll cost you almost 500 dollars. where as Alabama it don’t cost but about a hundred dollars.
Waiting to see if they take benefits away from the working class (Blue collar) workers, and will they take it away from themselves. My guess is no. They will figure out how to exempt themselves while screwing the working man/woman. The 6 year vest program (Fl retirement) was created just for them, which means if they are lucking enough to serve two terms (And most do) they will be entitled to a retirement. of 2.8% X 8 years (2-terms) on a average salary of $125.000.00 = about $2800.00 a month. This is what we need to stop. Thier salaries are two high for what we get from them. And just imagine if they stay in office for 30 years (X 2.8%) like WD Childers how much the taxpayer pays for all thier years of ripping up off. Can anybody say honestly anything that bunch in Talahassee and Washigton has done for the working man/woman that they would deserve a retirement after just eight years. I bet you would have to dig deep to even think about ssomething they did.