FEDC Inside Track for Legislative Affairs: Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy December 11 Meeting Report

Above:  Senator Don Gaetz Chairs the newly-formed Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy

 

On Wednesday, December 10, 2008, the Florida Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy (“Committee”), chaired by Senator Don Gaetz (R-Ft. Walton Beach), met for the first time.

Senate President Jeff Atwater (R-Palm Beach) created this Committee to serve for two years, unlike most select committees which only serve to address one issue and create a recommendation for a single piece of legislation.

Senator Atwater provided opening remarks to begin the meeting, during which he stated that the Committee would be responsible for rebuilding Florida’s economy for the long term.  He noted the merit of the group’s structure, as evidenced by two past Senate Presidents (Senators Jim King and Ken Pruitt), as well as all five Senate Policy and Steering Council Chairs being among its membership.

Chairman Gaetz said the Committee would both draft and vote on legislative bills.  Its mission is to identify and remove duplicative and burdensome requirements by the government, determine those practices that have been successful in building Florida’s economy and eliminate others that are outdated and unproductive.

It was clear that this Committee has an aggressive agenda and is committed to resucitating Florida’s economy.  By next week, the Committee will launch a website that will post open-ended questions regarding solutions for Florida’s economy.

The Committee, which is planning to host statewide workshops to give local economic developers the opportunity to present their ideas, hopes to hear from those “on the front lines” about ways they can help restructure, enhance and remove barriers and deterrents from doing business in Florida.

The exact dates for each hearing schedule are expected to be released Wednesday, December 17, with all workshops due to conclude during January, 2009.

The proposed workshop locations are: 

• Jacksonville
• Orlando
• Tampa
• Pensacola 
• Two South Florida locations to be determined

The Committee will be joined by some of Florida’s leading economists who will help research the current economic climate and compare Florida’s economy to that of other states.  These economists also will analyze different proposals presented to the Committee for both short and long-term solutions, as well as the cost benefit for different proposals.

Dr. Rick Harper, Director of the University of West Florida HAAS Center for Business Research and Economic Development will lead this team and work closely with the Committee.  Dr. Harper stated that written commitments of participation from a number of his colleagues have been received from around the State.  To listen to audio reports on Florida’s economy by Dr. Harper, click here.

While the Committee will convene for the next two years, it expects to have its first piece of legislation on the Senate President’s desk for approval by the first week of March, 2009.

Numerous comments made during the meeting by Committee Members stated that while this may be a challenging time for Florida’s economy, they view it as an opportunity.  All were extremely excited to serve in this capacity and voiced their eagerness to look forward and begin their work.

Committee Members:
Chair: Senator Don Gaetz (R)
Vice Chair: Senator Jeremy Ring (D)
Senator J.D. Alexander (R)
Senator Michael S. “Mike” Bennett (R)
Senator Dan Gelber (D)
Senator Mike Haridopolos (R)
Senator Anthony C. “Tony” Hill, Sr. (D)
Senator James E. “Jim” King, Jr. (R)
Senator Ken Pruitt (R)
Senator Garrett S. Richter (R)
Senator Eleanor Sobel (D)

A press release from the Office of the Senate President about the Committee’s formation and purpose is reprinted below:

Senate President Jeff Atwater Names Chair and Members of the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy

Tallahassee, Fl – Describing economic recovery as the most important issue facing Florida and in keeping with his urgent desire to begin a thorough analysis of the economy and budget, Senate President Jeff Atwater named State Senator Don Gaetz as the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy on December 2, 2008.  State Senator Jeremy Ring will serve as the Vice Chair and the other committee members will include Senators Alexander, Haridopolos, Pruitt, King, Richter, Bennett, Gelber, Sobel, and Hill.

“I have selected Senator Gaetz because of his extensive knowledge and direct experience in the business economy,” President Atwater said.  “This committee will conduct an independent, thorough analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Florida’s financial infrastructure and regulatory policies in order to promote an environment of economic success for all Floridians.”

“Government doesn’t create prosperity and Florida’s economic downturn is part of an international and national recession,” Senator Gaetz said, “However, President Atwater is committed to our taking every possible action at the state level to improve the economic odds for Florida’s families and businesses.  In the long-term, the best way to deal with revenue shortfalls is to lay the foundation for economic growth.”

The Select Committee will have the authority to propose legislation that will create incentives and eliminate impediments to economic recovery and growth.  Additionally, it will develop policies that will cause government to function more simply, more transparently, less expensively and more effectively.

“This committee is not your standard governmental panel with an open-ended calendar and vague mandates,” Atwater said. “It is charged with identifying immediate steps and long-term policies to stimulate Florida’s economy. This is a crisis and we are treating it as such. We must ensure that Florida’s economy is competitive, productive, and secure.”

The panel is authorized to develop statutory and constitutional proposals.  Initial legislation is due by the 2009 Legislative Session. 

 

 

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Tracy Mayernick at Colodny Fass.