Session-Opening Speeches by Legislative Leaders Precede Governor’s Evening Address

 

Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio marked the first day of Florida’s 2008 Regular Legislative Session, March 4, with opening speeches to each Chamber, respectively.

Both lawmakers referenced their outlook for Florida’s insurance market, with the Senate President promising to move “aggressively forward” on property insurance reform.

Speaker Rubio called for further investment in mitigation programs such as My Safe Florida Home, and for fostering the growth of private insurance companies, rather than allowing the continued expansion of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. He also cited the success of innovations such as the Capital Incentive Build-Up Program.

Media coverage from The Miami Herald is included below, along with full-text versions of both speeches. Downloadable copies of each speech also are attached for your convenience.

Governor Charlie Crist will address a Joint Session of the House and Senate this evening at 6 p.m.  To view the Webcast, click here.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact this office.

 

House, Senate leaders present polar views

In speeches that seemed two worlds apart, the two leaders of the Florida Legislature opened up the 2008 lawmaking session Tuesday with fundamentally opposite approaches over what troubles the state’s economy or how to fix it.

Senate president charts safe course for session

No ”major” insurance revisions or tax-cut plans. Big budget cuts. Money for the wrongfully incarcerated. More legislative control of state universities.

Opening legislative round: Dems bash GOP on taxes, spending

Before Day One of the 60-day state lawmaking session began under stormy skies, Democrats sought to make the times even darker for the Republicans who control the Legislature by bashing the conservative chiefs for mismanaging the economy, the state budget and, therefore, Florida’s future.

 

Remarks by Senate President Pruitt

Senators, families, our professional staff, and our invited guests: Welcome.

When I took the gavel for the first time as President, I spoke about the beginning of our “journey” together. Today, I welcome you to the half way point. It’s been an incredible ride so far.

There are parts of this moment in history that occur as a result of choices we have made – yet there is one choice that a President does not get to make; that is, which Governor and Speaker we will serve with. You have heard me say time and time again how grateful during my term as president; I am blessed to have Governor Crist and Speaker Marco Rubio as my partners.

Governor Crist, what can I say? I love this man…his “‘can do,’ it’s always morning in America’” attitude is an inspiration to every citizen in our great state. It’s a sharp contrast to the ‘gloom and doom’, ‘it’s America’s fault’ attitude that pervades his critics and pundits and some in the media. – I count my blessings every day of Charlie Crist.

Speaker Rubio, I love you too. Sometimes he’s tough to love, but I do genuinely love him. He is a man who has the courage of his convictions – an inspiring leader who keeps us pushing the envelope of greatness at every turn. I am proud to be his partner.

As I look in across this Chamber at the faces of our families and loved ones, I see lot of genuine smiles – smiles not yet faded by the extra responsibilities and sacrifices that they bear because of the duties that take us away from home. You may not be elected, but you truly are public servants of the highest order, and we thank you.

To my bride. Aileen, it’s been quite a year. You are the strongest person I have even known. You have lifted me when I was at my lowest points, you your joy and laughter has brightened my darkest days, and, above all, you have been the perfect match to complete my soul. Aileen, I love you.

Opening days are one of those unique jewels in the treasure chest of Senate tradition. They give us the chance to stop for a moment and reflect on what has been done – and what is left for us to do.

Tonight, our Governor will give the State of the State speech – this morning, I have the privilege of reporting to you on the “state of the Senate.”

Senators, I am proud to say, the state of our Senate is very, very good.

One year ago, we rededicated ourselves to the goal of putting aside partisanship to rise above our individual interests in order to better represent those who we are called to serve.

We committed to working together with a united front to do the people’s work.

And while many words will be spoken today, and many ceremonies will take place, if I could step away from policy and legislation for a moment to speak to you on a personal level, I would like to say to each of you with genuine gratefulness — “thank you.” Thank you for the honor and privilege of being your president. Thank you for your continuing efforts to be a united Senate.

By standing together we not only called upon, as Abraham Lincoln eloquently so described, “the better angels of our nature,” but we have also been able to fulfill our very special role in American democracy as the thoughtful, deliberative, and inclusive chamber. Because of you, our work product represented the best and brightest ideas of all Senators – without regard for party, seniority, or alliances. Our work product represented Florida.

And the results speak for themselves.

With a united voice, this chamber passed comprehensive property insurance reform. The legislation has made significant progress in stabilizing a shell shocked market. It’s frightening to think of what this market would be without those reforms. Rates are finally going down for consumers. The patient is stable, yet we know that there is more to do in order to continue the process of healing and recovery.

We started the 2007 Session by with a strong commitment to public safety by passing Florida’s Anti-Murder bill. Again, by unanimous vote, this chamber passed legislation to keep dangerous criminals locked away from hurting our children, our seniors, and our neighbors. And it is working.

Senators, we took on Property Tax Relief and Reform, one of the most contentious and complex issues that I have seen while serving in the legislature. I cannot tell you how proud I am of the way you conducted yourselves during the heat of the battle.

Last year, I called you the master architects of the process — and you were just that. Property taxes are lower today because of you. Despite the many, many, MANY critics and pundits, Floridians got the last word on the issue. They said yes to our reforms by an overwhelming 64%, in one of the largest primary turnouts of BOTH PARTIES in Florida’s history. That’s a pretty impressive seal of approval.

And though it is less written about, the statutory revenue cap on cities and counties that this Senate championed is working. We’ve all seen what’s come to be known as the “Webster Chart” — the line graph that measures the revenue collections of local governments. We said we wanted to end the unaffordable, unsustainable spikes in property taxes, we said taxpayers should not be burdened with the crushing weight of massive increases. And thanks to your efforts, they won’t have to.

Our number one priority for the 2007 Legislative Session was to invest in Building Florida’s Future – or “BFF” as we affectionately called it. Senators, we invested over 5 billion dollars of non-recurring revenue into Florida’s economy. We’re building more roads, schools, community colleges, universities, heavily investing in our water quality systems, and most importantly injecting significant “seed money” to grow a new “knowledge-based” sector for Florida’s economy.

We are seeing great success in our efforts. Last year I listed the growing cluster of research-based industries locating to our state: Scripps, Burhnam, Torrey Pines, SRI. These are the trailblazing pioneers of a new economic frontier for Florida. Because of the Senate’s BFF initiative, we now can add the world-renowned research institutions Max Plank, VGTI, and Genomics to the growing list. Senators, our efforts have caught the attention of the world like a sonic boom. We are growing a new economy in Florida, and I believe that 10 or 20 years from now, Floridians will point to this Legislature as the leaders who had the vision and courage to make it happen.

These new initiatives occurred against the backdrop of our long-term and continuing commitment to our state’s priorities: Health Care, our Seniors, our Environment, and Education.

In 2008, we will press on. The first two quarters have been played, but there is still a second half to go.

In some ways, it feels like we have never really stopped. I realize the special sessions and additional meetings have taken their toll. It would be tempting to let up, but we cannot. We must not. We are going to keep aggressively moving forward.

There are new challenges. Revenues continue to drop. And while there is no unified opinion among the experts or pundits as to whether we are in a recession, near a recession, or will barely avoid a recession, one thing is certain – we are experiencing challenging economic times.

Senators, we will have less money to spend this year than we had last year. Less money means having to say no a whole lot more. It means fewer bills and no special projects.

It’s times like these when our metal is tested. It’s a whole lot easier to lead when there is a lot of money. The pressure will be on as we reduce costs, find efficiencies, and say no to new initiatives. Now, more than ever, the traditional role of the Senate is going to be vital.

Any legislator who plans on focusing solely on the “here and now” is going to have a long, long session. Seasoned veterans of this process will tell you, you can’t live solely for today – we must view our decisions based on the long-term results for Florida.

Senator Margolis, you served as Senate President in 1990, presiding over the last major economic downturn in Florida. Senator King, you led this Senate in the aftermath of 9-1-1. This body did not only get through those tough times, we came out better and stronger than before.

This isn’t the time to shrink back or bunker in; it’s the time to act. We are not only going to get through these challenging times, but we are going to move Florida forward.

It’s why we are going to continue investing in Florida’s infrastructure and economic innovations with Building Florida’s Future 2. It is my hope that we can match or exceed the investment that we made last year. The fact remains that non-recurring dollars are best spent on one-time initiatives. It’s why we are promoting Building Florida’s 2 – a plan to strategically invest our non-recurring dollars to stimulate Florida’s economy.

And we are going to continue to move aggressively forward on Property Insurance reform. The Select Committee on Property Insurance Accountability is meeting and already they have had an impact. Immediately after Senator Atwater and Senator Geller announced that they were bringing insurance executives in under oath – and by subpoenas if necessary, OIR received calls from several companies who suddenly wanted to call off their challenges to the lower rates that OIR demanded. We are going to keep the pressure on, we will continue to get answers, and we will change the law if needed to ensure that consumers in Florida get the rate reductions that we intended for them.

And we will move forward on Energy independence for our state. We are all aware of the scientific and political debates on global warming. Let’s not get caught up in that debate. Rather, we must realize that increasing Florida’s energy independence can only benefit our state. Let us forge ahead on alternative energy policy so that we can leave a healthy and vibrant Florida for our children and their children.

We have made tremendous investments in our precious environment, including the Northern Everglades Act passed just last year, and we plan to continue the efforts. Our focus this year will be creating a successor program to Florida Forever, extending our environmentally sensitive land purchase program to take us into the next generation.

We are going to move forward on Education accountability with a constitutional amendment that will put the selection of an Education Commissioner back in the hands of the voters. By doing so, we not only give Floridians a meaningful role in the direction of our education system in Florida, but we also elevate education back into a cabinet level position, a place that it rightly deserves.

The amendment will also address the deficiencies in the constitutional amendment authorizing the Board of Governors in 2003. The authors – for whatever reason – left out what was probably the most important question when the BOG was created. Senators, we are going to allow the people to have a clear and transparent vote on the issue. Do they want an unelected board to set tuition, or do they want their legislature – a body elected by the people – to set it?

And finally, we will move forward with an initiative to protect our most vulnerable population — our seniors — from financial and criminal predators.
To all those, including companies, who confuse and deceive seniors out of their savings with financial schemes that scam thousands upon thousands of dollars from our Seniors– we are putting you on notice. We will partner with our CFO and the Department of Financial Services to implement severe penalties to protect our Greatest Generation.

Senators, as I said in my opening, we have finished the first half, but there is still another half before us. When the final gavel falls in just 60 days, I believe we will be able to look back with pride and satisfaction that we did our job, and we did it well. It is also likely that we will finish this Session with a little bit of sadness – for the end of Session will also mark the last day of legislative service for six of our Senators.

With the departure of these beloved colleagues, we will lose 116 years of combined legislative service.

As I read their names, undoubtedly a wave of memories, emotions, and appreciation will flood each of our hearts:

Senator Gwen Margolis

Senator Burt Saunders

Senator Mandy Dawson

Senator Steve Geller

Senator Lisa Carlton

And Senator Daniel Webster.

Each one has made significant contributions to our state and indelible marks in our lives.

Thank you for your incredible service to the Senate, and to our state. This is your last Session, and we plan to make it your best one yet. Most of our “send-off” ceremonies will happen during the last week of Session, but I thought it would be fitting to begin your final session with a public tribute to each of you for your incredible service to our state.

Senators – I invite you us all to take this moment to watch a brief photo presentation honoring our six Senators.

Senators, let us take every opportunity to spend time with these special people in the last days of their noble service in the Senate. They have fought many battles and navigated through some very choppy waters. They have much to offer, and we should take every chance we can to tap into their storehouse of institutional wisdom.

And so it begins. The 2008 Legislative Session. Our second half. I am proud of the work that we have done, aware of the challenges that are ahead, and confident that together we will accomplish an agenda that will result in a stronger and better Florida for generations to come.

 

Remarks by Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio

By tradition, today we are joined here by members of our families. They sacrifice a great deal so we can serve. We are excited they are with us here today.

But for the first time that we know of, we are joined in the chamber by members of our staff. The men and women who work so hard, throughout the year, helping us convert our ideas into public policy.

During the next 60 days, long after many of us will have left this building for the evening, and even long after many of us are sound asleep, the members of our staff will be here working to make sure that everything we need will be ready the next day.

On behalf of the members of the Florida House, let me thank you in advance for all of your hard work and your dedication.

While today may be a day of customs and traditions, the times in which we live are not.

Never in our history have Floridians been more anxious about the economy.

Our people still carry a property burden too heavy to bear.

Our property insurance market remains unaffordable. Now it is also unsustainable.

And never have we worried more that our children are not being equipped to win the future.

The leaders of the Florida House have never had any illusions about the times in which we live.

Last year, you led the way on property tax reform, because you understood then, as you do now, that we needed to do something meaningful and comprehensive to help Florida prepare for an impending economic downturn.

I am proud that in October this chamber passed a bi-partisan plan that would have lowered property taxes on all properties in a fair and meaningful way.

Ultimately, we supported Amendment One. A “no” vote would have been a vote to do nothing at all. But we were disappointed. Because we knew it would not help our state reverse troubling economic trends.

Last year, our state failed to confront and solve the economic problems before us in a meaningful way. And now, we are facing the consequences.

Our real estate market is in complete collapse. Florida is second in the nation in foreclosures. Three of the top twenty cities for foreclosures are in Florida.

Soon, our construction industry will have worked its way though it’s commercial construction backlog. With no new work in either the residential or commercial sector in the pipeline, unemployment will rise.

And next week, Floridians will wake up to the news that the state’s general revenue will be almost $4 billion dollars less than what we had estimated just 12 months ago.

This is not just another year. This is one of the most important years in Florida’s history.

These problems are not going to go away all alone. They will not solve themselves.

Unless we act boldly, our economy will continue to be worse than the national economy. And because of our reliance on real estate and growth, our recovery will lag behind the national recovery as well.

We need to unite behind our shared vision of Florida’s future.

A Florida with a vibrant and diverse economy that allows people to once again afford to own a home, save for retirement, and give our children a chance at a better life.

This session, I am asking the House to concentrate on three specific initiatives which will lead us to this future we all desire for our state.

First, we must limit Government

Florida needs meaningful revenue caps at both the state and local level

Today, I sent a letter to each member of the Tax and Budget Reform Commission asking them to place this on the ballot. But if they do not, I hope the Legislature will do so.

We need transparency in government spending.
We need to put each government expenditure online so every Floridian can see where their tax money is being spent.

We must continue our work on property tax relief

I know some people are hoping that all this focus on the budget will get us to change the subject. However Amendment One passed as a result of a very specific promise, that we are going to do more. Now it is time to keep that promise.

Just remember this… If we do nothing, later this year property tax owners are going to get their tax bill and it is going to look a lot like the one they got last year. They are going to be angry.
Maybe some have “property tax fatigue.” But if we do nothing, come November, voters are going to have “incumbent fatigue.”

Over a 10 week period this winter, grassroots activists in Florida gathered close to 150,000 petitions in favor of a plan to limit all property taxes on all properties, to no more than 1.35% of the property’s taxable value. I ask that you take this initiative seriously and give it the attention it deserves.

We should also deal with some of the inherent unfairness in our property tax system items such as the presumption of correctness.

We must balance our budget by living within our means.
We should not spend money that we do not have. And we should not rely on gimmicks.

Second, we must bring relief and reform to our unaffordable and unsustainable insurance system

We should continue to invest in what we know works in insurance reform.

One of the most successful innovations in last year’s insurance legislation was the Capital Incentive Build-up Program.

What Florida needs is 40 small private companies competing for our business. This program encourages the growth of private insurance companies instead of the continued growth of Citizens.

We also know mitigation works.

We hope to expand the MySafeFloridaHome program and look for ways to partner with the private sector while making it easier to begin home mitigation through a Zero-Interest Loan Program.

Finally we must bring our public education standards into the 21st Century

The House is committed to creating a world-class curriculum to improve the rigor and relevance of our schools. We need to prepare our kids to compete with children in India and China, not Mississippi and Georgia.

We should seriously consider supporting the vision the university presidents offer to enter into a comprehensive higher education accord, similar to ones that exist in California and New York.

Our universities play a critical role in making us globally competitive. We can not have a vibrant economy, without vibrant universities.

There is one more thing I hope we will do. It applies not just to our economy, but to the very essence of who we are as a nation.

In America today, we have a crisis of historic proportions. It is the tragic tale of what is happening to young African American males. Today more young black men are headed to incarceration than to graduation.

The impacts of this tragedy are profound.

These are gifted young men and our nation is not benefiting from their talents.

Many are also absent fathers, and so we have hundreds of thousands of young single mothers left to struggle alone with their children.

It is intolerable and unacceptable that an entire segment of our population has come to believe that the American Dream is not available to them. And we can never be the nation God intended us to be so long as this tragedy persists.

Before this session concludes, I will ask this House to pass comprehensive and legislation to deal with this crisis. Rep. Thurston and Rep. Needleman have taken the lead in crafting what will be national model legislation.
It will be comprised of the recommendations of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Juvenile Justice. In addition, I hope this package will include the creation of a Children’s Zone in Liberty City modeled after a highly successful program in Harlem.

This legislation will be aimed at addressing the underlying conditions that affect black men and boys. And our goal will be to, in conjunction with the faith community and the community at large, promote the values of learning, family, prosperity, unity and self worth.

If we accomplish this, it will serve as a lesson to the rest of this nation on how to address what is a national tragedy.

Of course there are critics who believe that no matter what we do, the Florida dream is over. They claim that we must accept the idea that inevitably our future is one of high taxes and big government.

These critics have right to their opinion, but they do not understand our state.

For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options.

Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for.

But those who believe that what our people desire is big government are living in a state of delusion.

That is not what Florida has ever been. And as long as we are here, that is not what Florida will ever be.

You see, Floridians are a diverse people. But we also share a powerful common link. One best illustrated by a story told to me by a young waiter.

It is the story of a 69-year-old bartender the waiter worked with. The bartender worked banquets. Most days he had to load up the bar cart, push it to the event site, set up the bar, then stand on his feet for five hours during a wedding or other function. When it was finished he had to push the bar cart back and unload the bottles. On many nights he would start work at 2 pm and not finish until well after midnight.

The young waiter always wondered why a man past retirement age still worked so hard. And one day he asked him. The bartender told him his life’s story.

When he was only six, his mother died. The day after she was buried, he went to work with his father selling coffee. He held a job every day since.

He never went to school. He never had a childhood. He never had chance.

As an adult he made it the mission of his life to insure that his children would have all the opportunities he never had. That everything that had gone wrong in his life, would go right for them.

He was especially proud of his son who was soon going to be a lawyer. And so at 69 he was still working, so his son could finish school.

This particular story is special to me. That elderly bartender was my father, and I was the son he was working for.

In Florida, my story is not unique.

Behind almost every Floridian is the story of someone who struggled so they would not have to.

A father who worked two jobs to feed them.

A mother who raised them all alone.

Parents who died hoping they left them with a chance at a better life.
Each of us here today has someone who made our future the mission of their lives. And their hopes and dreams for us, that is what Florida is all about.

That is why we will never allow Florida to become like the place our parents came here to get away from.

The world we live in is the result of what the leaders before us did and failed to do. So, too, will the future we leave our children be defined by the actions we take now.

An affordable and vibrant Florida is the only future we will accept. And the task of achieving that future belongs to you and me.

What we do and fail to do over the next 60 days will help define the next 60 years. We can not let this moment pass us by.

As Floridians, the ability to leave our children with a life better than our own is our common heritage.

Now, let us make it our common destiny.

 

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