Lawmakers convene 2009 regular session
TALLAHASSEE (AP) – The Florida Legislature convened its 2009 regular session Tuesday with the state in such a dire financial condition that even the staunchest conservatives said lawmakers would have to at least consider tax and fee increases.
The emphasis, though, clearly will be on finding ways to save money and reduce spending before raising revenues in both Republican-controlled chambers during the 60-day session.
“I don’t like tax increases,” House Speaker Larry Cretul said. But he added, “I’ll listen to any idea.”
That includes proposals being floated for temporarily raising the sales tax, permanently increasing taxes on cigarettes and alcohol and imposing a fee on bottled water.
The state also expects to get $12.2 billion in federal stimulus money over the current and next two budget years, but many lawmakers are leery of relying on that money for day-to-day expenses. That’s because the state would have to find other revenue to pay for that spending when the stimulus ends.
Gov. Charlie Crist urged lawmakers to make full use of the stimulus money in his State of the State address later Tuesday.
“There might be instances where, quite frankly, it might be a situation where taking the fiscal stimulus dollars might be good in the short term, but in the long term it’s going to paint a much different picture,” said House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach.
Crist contends the stimulus will help tide the state over until the economy and revenues bounce back.
“Why wouldn’t you use it,” Crist said. “You know, it’s kind of like winning the lottery and saying I’m not going to use the money ’cause I may not win the next time. It’s the right thing to do. … We’re blessed.”
The Legislature already has cut spending by about $7 billion over the past two years to avoid a constitutionally prohibited deficit. Those cuts have fallen heavily on education, the single biggest item in the budget.
“I commit to you to do everything in my ability to prevent further spending cuts to Florida’s classrooms, but I need your help,” Senate President Jeff Atwater told his colleagues.
“We must examine every area of spending,” Atwater said. “Is there a program, a service, a board or commission or a mountain of unread reports and studies that if suspended or eliminated would provide additional funding for classrooms?”
Cretul, R-Ocala, said at a news conference that he shared the same outlook as Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, when it comes to education but “the details might be little bit sketchy at the moment.”
The bleak financial outlook did little to curtail opening day festivities on the 164th anniversary of Florida’s statehood.