Tallahassee Talk #2

Well, we have made it to Act 1, the opening scenes of the 2007 Florida Legislative Session. Each year the Florida Legislature kicks off the constitutionally required 60 day legislative session, usually the first full week of March. As we start the 2007 session please remember, the Legislature is only required to pass a balanced budget. In other words, they do not have to pass any new laws. However, we all know passing no laws would take all the fun out of the session. So, we start the legislative session with hopes and dreams that the legislature will resemble a rational deliberative body not just another side act to the FSU Circus.

This just in.... Tallahassee businesses have learned how to survive even with the 2004 lobbying guidelines. The laws which were designed to bring integrity back to Tallahassee. And, as it turns out, prohibit a lobbyist from giving a legislator or staffer a piece of gum...for fear of special favor by the legislator. A side note.. Senate President Ken Pruitt welcomed some lobbyists back to Tallahassee and to the Senate President's office. A refreshing change since all lobbyists were essentially banned from entering during last session.

As we lead into this session, we read the papers and hear talks about additional insurance reform, cutting or even eliminating property taxes (oh wait, we need to start CPR on another local government...property taxes are their budgets). We also hear talks about more focused funding on water projects, environmental protection, growth management, and transportation (interestingly, transportation issues have led to a new term in Florida.... Florida Royalty, with regards to Sen. J.D. Alexander and Rep. Baxter Troutman. Individuals whose family lines tie back directly to Florida Citrus baron Ben Hill Griffin Jr.) Yes, Gator fans the guy the stadium is named after. Interestingly, the hullabaloo-- a proposed Central Florida Parkway. A road plan which would open up the Florida Heartland and with any luck at all make driving down US 27 a much more enjoyable ride. Furthermore, the parkway could, in fact, help spur growth and economic development in the Florida Heartland--or for the cynics the parkway could provide some traffic relief for the urban sprawl known as Lake County. The bottom line is these leading legislators have been getting bad press...very undeserving.

March 6th, is the official kick-off of session. The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate will be calling their troops to order and gathering for Gov. Crist's 1st State of the State Address. Don't let the jovial nature of the legislature fool you... there are plenty of side acts and mini-dramas which are building under the surface of the "new bi-partisan" charge of the legislature. The state's budget coffers are roughly $1 billion dollars lower than expected and this will mean that lobbyist and legislator alike will be fighting for every penny. I think it is also important to remember "Everybody is equal but, some are more equal than others!" As we dive into the budget process and members see their projects cut from the budget; all bets will be off and it could very well be every member for themselves.

FNGLA continues to push for passage of key sales-tax exemptions which will help growers statewide. These exemptions include: correcting the sales-tax exemption for electricity, exempting the components of low-volume irrigation systems, and exempting materials used to rebuild, replace and repair farm buildings. We are also fighting to protect Agricultural Tax Assessments (a.k.a. Greenbelt). To date, Greenbelt has not been a part of the overall property tax reform proposals thus, we are monitoring every bill which addresses Property Tax valuation to ensure a nasty little amendment isn't added to the fold.

Finally, as things bounce off the wall here in Tallahassee and legislators transition from jovial optimistic soles into hardened fighters, it's important that everyone understands Florida's Legislative Process does indeed work. Even at its ugliest, there are some shining moments.....I'll let you know when we have one this session... It will probably be May 5th (the day after the Legislature adjourns). As always, if you have any specific questions about FNGLA's legislative agenda, or you would like to talk about specific bills, please feel free to shoot me an email (jspratt@fngla.org) or give me a call (850) 841-1013.

So long for now...tune in next time for more exciting Tallahassee Talk