Gulf Coast Business Review
by Matt Walsh
April 30, 2011
When Florida Gov. Rick Scott delivered his first State of the State address in March to the full Legislature, he urged lawmakers: “Don’t blink.”
“I did not fight to become the 45th governor of the greatest state in the nation to settle for a status quo that does not promote the enormous potential of our people,” Scott said. “I am completely committed to this mission. It is achievable.
“A vast majority of legislators were elected, as I was, on our promise of smaller government, lower taxes, less regulation, support for job creation, individual opportunity, individual accountability and more freedom.
“Don’t blink. Don’t let special interests persuade you to turn your back on the people who elected you …”
They blinked.
And they missed a big opportunity to make a big impact on the forward momentum of Florida’s economy.
The Legislature has about a week before finishing its regular 2011 session. And in that time, it doesn’t look as though lawmakers are likely to embrace the most significant pieces of Scott’s agenda — eliminating the corporate income tax and cutting property taxes to reduce taxes by $2 billion.
Had they done this, imagine the national media attention it would have garnered, and imagine the message it would have sent nationwide: that our “jobs” governor and the Republican-dominated Legislature were and are indeed determined to resurrect Florida’s economy, and that Florida is open to business.
Instead, what are we getting? What message is Florida’s Legislature sending to Floridians and the nation?
How about this: Ho hum. Or better yet, to paraphrase that famous 1980 Boston Globe headline: “More mush from the wimps.”
Name one thing the Legislature has done so far that will shake the economic landscape. The answer is: Blank.
Lawmakers likely believe they delivered a major accomplishment by trimming about $4 billion in spending — the expected gap between next year’s state spending and revenues. While that is indeed significant and delivers to an extent on the promises by the governor, House speaker and Senate president to shrink state government, many Florida taxpayers will look at the new budget and say, “Big whoop. That’s your job.”
In the end, the balanced budget will mean lawmakers shrank the budget a piddling 3%.
They deserve a little due. State employees will be required to contribute to their own pension plans. But even this change was not as dramatic as it should have been and not exactly a show of high-risk political courage.
And they adopted some Medicaid reform. But like the pension issue, this wasn’t one that would resonate with the average Floridian as a step toward boosting Florida employment and attracting businesses.
As of this writing, meaningful measures that would move Florida toward a friendlier economic climate and a more limited government sat stalled. To wit:
• The phasing out of the corporate income tax;
• Cutting or eliminating the locally required state school property tax;
• A taxpayer bill of rights limiting the annual growth of government to the combined rates of population and inflation growth;
• Tort reform.
These measures would have rocked the state’s foundation for the better. But instead of joining with Scott to move Florida ahead, Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos maintained the status quo. That is, they were not going to let a rookie governor push them around. They have their power to protect.
Scott won’t give up. But now he has a good measure of the opposition — the wimps who show little courage of conviction and are happy to operate in the margins.
http://www.review.net/opinion/detail/more-mush-from-the-wimps-they-blinked/
