Last Wednesday marked the halfway point of the 2001 Legislative Session and most of this year's major issues remain unresolved.
The most important of these is the state budget. Each chamber of the Legislature passed its spending plan and legislators now await the recommendations of the budget conference committee (see related story).
The battle over the Governor's "Service First" proposal continues to dominate headlines. Although this legislation is very likely to pass both the House and the Senate, lawmakers from our local delegation continue to wage war on the proposal, which will move 16,000 Career Service workers to the Selected Exempt class. As such, these workers would not have appeal rights for a firing or demotion; in addition, the burden of proof for such actions would be placed on the employee - rather than the state - in any appeal. In protest to this legislation a mass rally is planned by the state employees' union, which will take place at the Capitol today.
Bills eliminating the second primary in Florida passed last week in an effort to reform elections in Florida. The bills also set up a loan program for counties to buy election equipment similar to that used currently in Leon County.
In education news, the State University System governance bills will be heard again this week. Senate Bill 2108 will be heard tomorrow in the Senate Governmental Oversight Committee, where it is expected to pass with additional amendments. House Bill 1533 is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday morning in the House Education Appropriations Committee. Again, several amendments will be offered, but the bill is expected to advance to the House floor by sometime next week. Another significant bill allowing prayer at high school graduations and other non-sporting -related school events passed a House committee last week. (See Spotlight on Bills).
Florida State University was again represented by its outstanding alumni last week at the Capitol. Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback Chris Weinke was honored by the House of Representatives last Wednesday. Chris was on the House floor to speak briefly and sign autographs for the lawmakers. And, last Monday, two Florida State University officials, both former astronauts, joined their peers on the House floor to connect with crew members of the International Space Station. Dr. Norm Thagard, Executive Director for the Challenger Center and Captain Winston Scott, Vice President for Student Affairs attended the live event as part of "Space Day in Florida"
The Legislators will finish their business a day early this week, leaving Tallahassee on Thursday in observance of Good Friday and Easter. Although it will be a short week, it is expected to be very busy. As always, please feel free to contact me at kdaly@govrel.fsu.edu.or at 644-4453 with questions or comments on issues that may concern you.
Last Tuesday, both chambers unanimously adopted their vastly different spending plans. The budgets are now ready for the conference process, which may not begin until after the holiday break next week because the conferees have yet to be named. The conference committees are made up of both House and Senate lawmakers to hammer out the differences in the budgets. And the differences are many. The biggest is the $350 million gap between the plans due to the tax exemption issue. The Senate did not include money to buy tax exemptions in its budget and instead uses the additional dollars to fund education, health care and transportation programs. The House, with the support of the Governor, endorses cutting the tax on stocks and bonds, and supports continuing the popular sales tax holiday, a nine-day reprieve from the sales tax levied on clothing and other items. Rumors of an extended session because of the tax cut issue are already circulating through the Capitol. For a summary comparison between the House and Senate budget proposals, please go to www.houseprioritybudget.state.fl.us.
