Appropriations Committee Week Wrap-up
This past week the Government Operations Appropriations Committee , on which I serve, met each day to go through the budgets of the departments that they oversee. The purpose of the budget workshops were to go line by line through the budget to find ways for each of the departments to reduce their budgets to operate more efficiently and responsibly.
In the tough budget times that we face, we need to seize the opportunity to reduce the size and cost of government. We asked each department to submit a list of programs and areas that they recommend to be cut and a list of areas that must be protected. Our objective is to reduce spending rather than increase taxes, and to avoid as many cuts to Education and Health Care as possible.
This process has been long and tedious but necessary.
These Departments fall under our Jurisdiction:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Department of Financial Services
Office of Insurance Regulation
Office of Financial Regulation
Department of the Lottery
Department of Management Services
Department of Revenue
Public Service Commission
Pensacola’s 450th Anniversary
As part of the celebration of the 450th Anniversary of the first settlement at Pensacola, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain will be visiting Pensacola on Thursday February 19th. A ceremony will be held Plaza de Luna at the south end of Palafox Street at 11:30 am.
Events like these highlight the rich history of Pensacola as well as the status of our area and Florida in the world today. Florida is a leading state in foreign exports and last year increased our exports by 25%. It is important that we continue to foster our relationships with countries such as Spain, as we remember our heritage and maintain or leadership in world affairs and commerce.
We hope you join in the celebration of the Royal visit as our shared history has brought us together on this occasion.
FORD SPONSORED LEGISLATION 2009 SESSION
In the next few Ford Updates, I will be highlighting the legislation I have sponsored during the upcoming legislative session. Each Representative can sponsor 6 bills during a legislative session.
HB 103– Voyeurism
HB 141– Annuity Contracts for Senior Consumers
HB 187– Motor Vehicle Registration Fees
HB 745- Prepaid Services for Children with
Development Disabilities
Credit Counseling Organizations
Homestead Property Assessment
HB 187– Motor Vehicle Registration Fees
Currently, certain types of motor vehicles pay a $1.50 fee that is designated to go directly to the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund; this fee currently generates over $20 million dollars to fund additional transportation services in every single county in Florida.
Last year alone, over 1 million trips were denied to Florida residents due to a lack of funding.
This increase will raise additional funds for Florida’s elderly, disabled and low income individuals to gain much needed access to health care, employment or other life-sustaining services.
HB 745- Prepaid Services for Children with
Development Disabilities
This bill explores the concept that the State of Florida could institute a prepaid service plan modeled after the prepaid college tuition program. The financial stability of the college tuition program is based on a combination of private pay, investment earnings and not having tuition increases outpace the private pay and investment earnings of the fund. The comparable “rate of inflation” in the developmental disabilities arena which translates to the increase in rates paid for services under the Developmental Disabilities Waiver program has actually lost ground in the past decade for many services.
Suggestions and Public Appearances
I and my staff use the newsletter as a cost-effective tool to keep you in touch with what is happening in your State and in your Florida Legislature. We welcome all suggestions and comments. Do not hesitate to contact my District Office to let us know of issues you are concerned about and would like us to address in this newsletter.
As my schedule allows, I am happy to speak at local community events or groups about issues of interest. My Legislative Assistant, Ray Walker, or my Secretary, Mary Katherine Peebles, will be happy to work with you in making such arrangements.
Utilizing email as a newsletter distribution tool is a fiscally-responsible means to distribute information to my constituency about what is going on in their Florida Legislature.
Please feel free to e-mail The Ford Update to your friends and relatives. Alternatively, please let others know they can be added to my email list by going to www.gulf1.com/ford.
As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any of your needs or concerns. My district office is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The address is:
1804 West Garden St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 595-5550
Emailing me will allow for the most prompt reply to your issue. Please feel free to email me.
To view my Committee assignments, please visit www.myfloridahouse.gov. Click on the Representatives tab for an alphabetical listings of all Representatives. This website provides a multitude of other legislative information including Committee Schedules, Legislative Bill Search Engines, a Kid’s page, End-of-Session Reports, etc.
