Volume 7

May 18, 1998

Number 10

Those involved with the legislative process all agreed that the 1998 Legislative Session was very different from others of recent years. But there were good reasons for those differences. It was the goal of this legislature to complete and vote on the $45.3-billion state budget an entire week prior to the session end, whereas that is usually the last vote they take before leaving town for the summer. The Governor even issued his vetoes before the hanky dropped on May 2! Another significant difference was that the state was flush with new money due to a strong economy and the first installment of the $11.3-billion tobacco settlement. There was so much new money, in fact, that legislators couldn’t resist giving some of that $2.7 billion away in the form of corporate tax breaks. Not to mention the $50 check to approximately 3.5-million homeowners that will most likely arrive in mailboxes just prior to the first primary election in September.

It was also a good year for passing legislation. Almost all of the SUS priority bills passed in relatively good shape (see Spotlight on Bills).

With this year’s session barely over, we now turn our attention to next year’s budget and legislative agenda. November is an election month which will bring changes in leadership and legislative membership. Representative John Thrasher, a Republican from Orange Park and an FSU alumnus, is slated to become the next Speaker of the Florida House. Other FSU alum are in line to hold important chairmanships as well.

In this final edition of this ‘98 Legisletter, I have summarized the legislation that passed and updated you on legislation of interest that did not. If you are looking for a bill that does not appear in this newsletter please feel free to contact me at 644-4453 or by e-mail, kdaly@govrel.fsu.edu..

Kathleen Daly