THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Workers’ Comp Fix Likely

From The News Service of Florida

WORKERS COMP FIX LIKELY

But the House is likely to spend some time this week on a workers compensation bill, according to Acting House Speaker Larry Cretul, who on Tuesday is expected to drop the “acting” from his title. Cretul said this week that he wants the House to pass a bill – possibly in the first week – that restores a lawyer fee cap in workers compensation cases, reversing a Supreme Court decision from last year. Cretul also said the House would probably take up in the first week a measure that brings state tax law in line with federal law allowing businesses to use a new depreciation aid.

PHONE COMPANIES WANT TO YANK BACK THE LIFELINE: The Florida Public Service Commission will take up a request from several phone companies to deny discounts under the federal Lifeline phone assistance program to customers who sign up for bundle packages. The commission previously ruled that companies had to apply the Lifeline discount, which takes up to $13.50 off the phone bills of customers who receive other forms of public assistance, to the local service portion of bundle package. That ruling was protested by Verizon Florida, Sprint-Nextel, and Alltel Communications, leading to Monday’s hearing, when the PSC will hear testimony from the phone companies and consumer advocacy groups. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center Room 148, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee)

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2009

OPENING DAY: The Legislature will open its two month session with a regular, traditional occurrence, opening speeches by the presiding officers. But this year things are different, for sure, in the House. The House will first have to elect their presiding officer, which is normally done in the year before. It’s still a foregone conclusion, Acting Speaker Larry Cretul will be voted in as speaker. But it’s unusual for a man who just a couple of months ago had little power in the House to suddenly have the power to run it. Cretul will outline an agenda that few know much about when he gives his opening speech. The former building contractor from Ocala gave a few hints in media interviews after ascending to the post in the wake of a scandal that led Rep. Ray Sansom to give up the speakership. Cretul is generally anti-tax and pro-business, with a strong interest in reducing regulations that might hinder job creation. Senate President Jeff Atwater is much better known as he prepares to take over the Senate. A banker, he’s financially cautious, but thought of as a realist more than wedded to any political ideology. While many House Republicans cling to a no-taxes philosophy, Atwater has said that times are just too tight and revenue increases have to at least be considered, a sentiment he’s likely to hit on again Tuesday. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., House and Senate chambers.)

STATE OF THE STATE: Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday evening gives his State of the State address. While any neutral observer would say the state of the state looks grim – lawmakers haven’t had a $5 billion shortfall in a very long time – if anyone can find a sunny side of that it’s Crist, Governor Sunshine. In the address to the joint session of the Legislature, the optimist-in-chief is likely to try to convince Floridians that the state of the state is strong. For the first time in many years, the reaction to the speech may be as important as the address itself. Are lawmakers going to buy Crist’s everything-is-OK vibe? If they were to accept Crist’s budget proposal as is, there wouldn’t be much of a problem balancing this year’s budget – relying on the federal stimulus Crist actually proposes to grow the budget and cut taxes. As for specifics of the speech, the governor has kept close to the vest, and it will be interesting to see whether he proposes any new initiatives in such a tough economic year. Crist’s speech is again scheduled to be in the early evening, a change he made to try to make it possible for people outside Tallahassee to watch the speech on television or the Internet. Previous governors have always given the speech in late morning. (Tuesday, 5:30, House chambers.)