News

With the Republican presidential candidates campaigning the length and breadth of the state while in the midst of also holding two nationally televised debates in advance of the Florida Presidential Primary on Jan. 31st - and not to speak of First Lady Michele Obama making three campaign stops in Florida for President Obama - it is little wonder many in Tallahassee might have been a little distracted from the legislative session last week. Despite these presidential election-year distractions, legislators continued their work during the third week of the 60-day legislative session on several important issues being followed by the Central Florida Partnership.

Redistricting is commanding considerable attention in the 2012 legislative session and last week saw a House Committee, under the leadership of 2013 House Speaker-designate Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel), approving the final version of its proposed congressional and legislative maps for consideration by the full House later this week. The plans were approved after Weatherford scolded Fair District proponents and their key leaders, including League of Women Voters head Deidre McNab of Winter Park, for submitting their proposed maps at the last minute and then refusing to explain or defend them before his committee. Under the plans approved, a number of Florida House incumbents may have to run against each other in 2012 or consider moving to another district. The Senate has already made considerable progress on its redistricting plans but, eventually, will have to reconcile its redistricting proposals with those of the House before the final plans are submitted for review by the judiciary and the U.S. Justice Department.

On fiscal matters, the House released its $69.2 billion budget proposal giving a boost to Gov. Scott's announced plans to increase funding for education by $141 per pupil by approving a $1 billion increase in public school spending. To pay for the education increase, as well as cover an anticipated $2 billion budget shortfall, health and human services programs, particularly Medicaid, appear certain to face sharp cuts and tuition would rise. The Senate is lagging somewhat behind the House in crafting the state budget but is expected to pick up the pace shortly.

A key component of the Florida Chamber's 2012 Business Agenda this legislative session is Personal Injury Protection (PIP) reform to correct abuses in the current system. This has set off another monumental battle between certain health care professionals and trial lawyers with the Florida Chamber and a coalition of business groups winning the first skirmish in a House Committee chaired by Rep. Eric Eisnaugle (R- Orlando). The Senate has yet to weigh in on the issue and may consider other approaches to the problem.

With unemployment compensation taxes set to increase dramatically in 2012, another top priority Business Agenda measure, Unemployment Compensation Reform, passed a Senate Committee last week. Its House companion is already on the floor ready action shortly. These bills would first require an assessment and then provide additional training to improve workforce skills of the unemployed.

Streamlining the often duplicative and burdensome permitting process is a key objective of Open for Business, a coalition of business organizations organized by the Central Florida Partnership. Further movement was seen last week in both the Senate and House of measures designed to accelerate the approval or denial process and bring common sense and certainty to businesses doing business with state agencies.

Later this week, we'll get the first indication as to how the session's most talked about and controversial legislation - the proposed expansion of gambling - will fare when a House Committee hears the legislation introduced by Rep. Erik Fresen (R- Miami). Already a Senate committee has approved a heavily amended measure by Sen. Elyn Bogdanoff (R- Ft. Lauderdale) that is seen by many observers as an even greater expansion of gambling than the House legislation.