Hot Issues
Sign-up for the September 14th Regional Rally on Amendment 4
WHAT: Vote No on 4 Regional Rally
WHERE: The Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 North Mills Avenue, in Downtown Orlando
WHEN: Tuesday, September 14, 2010, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
WHY: Rally the 7-county region to action to stop Amendment 4 on Election Day
RSVP: Rick@HBAofMetroOrlando.com
BONUS: After the Rally, there will be a reception with refreshments including an open bar
Osceola County Commission Schedules Public Hearing on School Impact Fee
On Monday, August 16th at 5:30 p.m., the Osceola County Commission will hold a public hearing on the revised Osceola County School Impact Fee Ordinance. The meeting will be held in the BCC Chambers, 1 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741. All interested parties are encouraged to participate.
Mid-PAC Endorsed Candidates
To: Membership
From: Ray Bradick, Mid-Florida Political Action Committee Chairman
Date: August 10, 2010
Re: Primary Election: Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Primary Election
After careful consideration of each of the candidates for the August 24th Primary Election, the Mid-Florida Political Action Committee has officially endorsed and encourages you to consider voting for the candidates listed below. In addition, we hope you will share this information with your family, friends, & employees and let them know how vital it is to support industry friendly candidates by making time to vote.
Vote Early
Good news: we can cast our ballot early! Starting August 9th, early voting is offered at a library near you; or you can vote via mail by requesting an absentee ballot. For details, please click on the appropriate blue hyperlink below:
|
Orange County |
Osceola County |
Seminole County |
Mid-PAC Endorsed Candidates for the August 24th Primary Election
State Legislature
Mike Horner House District 79, Republican
Orange County Commission
Jennifer Thompson District 4, non-partisan election
Ted Edwards District 5, non-partisan election
Orange County School Board
Bill Sublette School Board Chair, non-partisan election
Daryl Flynn District 2, non-partisan election
Osceola County Commission
John Quinones District 2, Republican
Osceola County School Board
Nancy Gemskie District 1, non-partisan election
Tom Long District 5, non-partisan election
Seminole County Commission
Mike McLean District 2, Republican
Carlton Henley District 4, Republican
If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to call me at 407/843-5120 ext. 3115.
AMENDMENT 4: WHAT EVERY FLORIDIAN SHOULD KNOW
What are the facts?
On November 2nd, you will be asked to vote yes or no on a plan to alter Florida’s Constitution called Amendment 4. Special interest lawyers, adult entertainment interests and population control groups have designed, funded and proposed this amendment to our Constitution. Take a moment to learn more about who’s backing Amendment 4 and why.
What is the issue?
Amendment 4 will prolong the recession and put recovery out of reach for thousands of working Floridians. As a result, leading business, labor, and civic groups oppose Amendment 4
What will the measure do?
This proposed change to Florida’s Constitution would require a taxpayer-funded referendum for every single change to a local government comprehensive plan. Simply stated, Amendment 4 would force Floridians, not the representatives they elect, to decide hundreds of minor, technical comprehensive plan changes each year on issues like drainage, traffic circulation, and intergovernmental coordination.
What does that mean for you?
Here is what Amendment 4 means for you: (1) a Florida with drastically fewer jobs, (2) a significantly weaker economy, and (3) unbearably higher taxes to feed the Amendment 4 “litigation” bureaucracy.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce asked leading economists to study the impact of Amendment 4. The study indicates that Amendment 4 would likely put more than 267,000 Floridians out of work, shrink Florida’s economic output by more than $34 billion annually, and take nearly $12 billion out of the pockets of working families.
With Florida’s jobless rate reaching well into double digits, our state’s top business and labor groups have put politics aside to oppose Amendment 4. Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce wrote: “If you like the recession, you’ll love Amendment 4.” Frank Ortis, executive board member with Florida’s AFL-CIO noted that “Amendment 4 will devastate Florida's economy by costing hundreds of thousands of jobs and driving the unemployment rate even higher.”
According to the Orlando Sentinel, “The cost to local governments of [Amendment 4] would soar into the millions.” Those costs would be shouldered by Florida’s taxpayers who could expect to see not only more government waste, but also nonstop lawsuits as special interests wage war in court over the technical wording of endless ballot summaries. Referencing a failed experiment in Amendment 4-style rule in the small Florida town of St. Pete Beach, the St. Petersburg Times wrote that Amendment 4 leads to “short-term thinking” and “invites lawsuits…”
What is the conclusion?
Florida’s jobless rate is high—but it could get much, much worse with the passage of Amendment 4. At a time when many families and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet, that’s the last thing we need. Please take the time to learn more about Amendment 4 by visiting www.Florida2010.org.
Paid political advertisement - paid for and sponsored by Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, Inc. 610 South Blvd, Tampa FL 33606
June 29th Kissimmee CRA Workshop
The City of Kissimmee Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is seeking input to update their Community Redevelopment Plan.
Citizens are encouraged to attend a Public Workshop at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29, in the Commission Chambers at Kissimmee City Hall, located at 101 North Church Street.
The City is asking residents to help shape the future of downtown Kissimmee by sharing their vision and ideas for the redevelopment and economic viability of the overlay district. This is an opportunity to make Kissimmee's historic downtown more successful.
For more information, please contact Gail Hamilton, director of the CRA at 407.518.2544 or send an email to ghamilton@kissimmee.org
Vote No on 4 Coffees
If you are interested in learning more about Amendment 4, please plan to attend one (or more) of the Vote No on 4 coffees scheduled in June, July, August, and September…and bring a friend! If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Rick McKee at Rick@HBAofMetroOrlando.com
Date & Time Location
Thursday, June 17th Friendly’s Restaurant
9-10 a.m. 12185 Collegiate Way
Orlando, FL
407-381-2275
(Located near UCF off University Blvd)
Thursday, June 24th Panera Bread,
9-10 a.m. 8600 Vineland Ave.
Orlando, FL
407-842-1300
(Located near Premium Outlets)
Thursday, July 1st Panera Bread,
9-10 a.m. 1117 Florida Mall Ave.
Orlando, FL
407-856-6706
(Located across from the Florida Mall, near Red Lobster restaurant)
Thursday, July 8th Friendly’s Restaurant
4-5 p.m. 12185 Collegiate Way
Orlando, FL
407-381-2275
(Located near UCF off University Blvd)
Thursday, July 15th Panera Bread,
4-5 p.m. 2480 State Rd 434 W.
Altamonte Springs, FL
407-478-6325
(Located on State Rd. 434 & Montgomery, across from Publix)
Thursday, July 29th Panera Bread,
9-10 a.m. 1210 S. International Parkway
Lake Mary, FL
407-804-8340
(Located in Plaza with Stonewood Tavern & Peach Valley restaurant)
Thursday, August 19th Panera Bread,
4-5 p.m. 1117 Florida Mall Ave.
Orlando, FL
407-856-6706
(Located across from Florida Mall, near Red Lobster)
Thursday, September 9th Panera Bread,
4-5 p.m. 696 E. Altamonte Springs Dr.
Altamonte Springs, FL
407-332-7600
(Located on the corner of State Rd. 436 & Maitland Ave.)
Thursday, September 16th White Wolf Café,
4-5 p.m. 1829 N Orange Ave
Orlando, FL
407-895-9911
(Located 2 Blocks South of Princeton on Orange Ave.)
Governor Signs Two HBA Priority Bills into Law, and Vetoes Another
Three of the Home Builders Association’s member-identified Top Legislative Priorities saw action by Governor Crist today when he signed two priority bills into law, and vetoed one.
HBA supported legislation that reauthorizes permit extensions and DRI exemptions and funds Phase II of an important passive alternative septic system study received favorable support by Governor Crist and are now law. However, the Governor vetoed HB 1565, a rulemaking bill that would have reduced agency rules that harm private sector job growth.
“While we appreciate the Governor’s support in providing greater certainty with permit extensions and DRI exemptions, and his funding approval for the second phase of a passive alternative septic system study, we are extremely disappointed that he chose to side with unelected bureaucrats in support of job killing rules when more than 1.1 million Floridians are out of work,” said David Hart, FHBA Vice President of Legislative and Governmental Affairs.
During the 2010 Legislative Session, the HBA experienced near-perfect success – five of the six Top Legislative Priorities passed. With today’s bill action by Governor Crist, three of HBA’s six Top Legislative Priorities are now law. Those include 1) prohibition of mandatory residential fire sprinklers, 2) reauthorization of permit extensions and DRI exemptions, and 3) septic treatment study funding. The final HBA priority bill awaiting action by the governor, condo bulk-buyer legislation (SB 1196), must be determined no later than June 1. The only priority that did not successfully pass during Legislative Session was a bill lifting the funding cap on Florida’s affordable housing trust fund program.
Below is a brief synopsis of the three bills that saw action earlier today by Governor Crist.
Permit Extension & DRI Exemptions – Signed Into Law
When Governor Crist signed SB 1752 into law earlier today, he eliminated the uncertainty Florida’s development industry has been experiencing with permit extensions and DRI exemptions. That uncertainty stemmed from a lawsuit filed against the 2009 growth management law (SB 360).
Under SB 1752, better known as the Jobs Bill, permit extensions and DRI exemptions are now reauthorized. SB 1752 by Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Milton, also provides additional benefits to the building industry and Florida’s economy. Specifically, it opens the window for additional permits to be extended, encourages Florida-based manufacturers to invest in machinery and equipment, and accelerates tax credits for capital-intensive industries in return for adding new, high-paying jobs.
Special thanks to Sen. Gaetz, Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, for their great work on this issue.
Passive Alternative Septic Treatment Systems – Signed Into Law
When lawmakers passed Florida’s $70 billion budget (HB 5001), it included $2 million for Phase II of the Department of Health (DOH) Septic Tank Nitrogen Reduction Study – a strong step toward reducing cost burdens on current and future homeowners.
The funding will allow DOH to field-test different technologies and strategies in a variety of soils and locations throughout Florida in both wet and dry seasons. Funding this study was vital. That’s because various state agencies and local governments in Florida have looked at establishing strict nitrogen limitations for existing and new onsite septic systems. Recently, the federal EPA has proposed even more strict numeric nitrogen limitations on Florida water bodies. If not the federal government, DEP will be proposing nitrogen limits early next year. Eventually, these rules are expected to have the effect of mandating high-performance treatment technology for onsite systems – costing upwards of $15,000 per home (new and existing).
In addition to the burdensome cost of this system, it has not been proven to achieve nitrogen reduction levels in Florida’s climate. Without completion of this study, builders and homeowners will have no alternatives available to handle new government mandates coming down the pike. Estimates for upgrading homeowners to high performance, engineer-designed septic systems in the Wekiva region alone are well into the billions of dollars. New nitrogen restrictions with no other solutions than high-performance systems will amount to an overbearing regulatory burden and fee increase to citizens and businesses.
Special thanks to Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales; Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis; Rep. Ralph Poppell, R-Titusville; and Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, for their strong support.
Rulemaking – Vetoed
Despite Florida’s 12.3 percent unemployment rate, some state agencies have moved forward with rulemaking efforts that would thwart job growth and eliminate even more jobs. Under HB 1565 by Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Heathrow, those job killing regulations will have been far less likely.
Under the measure, state agencies would have been required to complete a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs when rules have a negative economic impact on Florida’s private sector job growth and small businesses. If the regulatory impact was more than $1 million statewide over a five year period, the rule would have had to be reviewed and ratified by the legislature before taking effective.
HBA Leaders Tell the Truth About Amendment 4
President
Steve O'Dowd
Vice President
Marion McGrath
Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman
Ray Bradick
Governmental Affairs Committee Vice-Chairman
Associate Vice President, 2007
Rick Caccavello
HBA Legislative Priorities on Governor’s Desk
Five of the HBA’s six Top Legislative Priorities approved in the 2010 Legislative Session have been forwarded to Governor Crist. The Governor now must sign, veto or allow the bills to become law without his signature.
Here’s a brief review of each bill.
1. HB 5001 (budget/appropriations), containing funding for Phase II of the Florida Department of Health septic tank study.
2. HB 1565, preventing job killing regulations from agency rulemaking efforts, must see action by the Governor by Friday, May 28th.
3. SB 846, preventing mandatory residential fire sprinklers and HB 663, a building safety bill that also contains residential fire sprinkler prohibition language.
4. SB 1196, removing unnecessary barriers to condo bulk-buyers.
5. SB 1752, validating permit extensions and DRI exemptions, must see action by Governor Crist by June 1st.
Amendment 4 Ripe for Special Interest Lawsuits
On November 2nd, voters will be faced with a number of tough decisions at the ballot box. Fortunately, one of the most important decisions should also be the easiest. Amendment 4, a “Vote on Everything” proposal, would kill jobs, raise taxes, and lead to endless litigation at taxpayer expense.
Amendment 4 has been referred to as a ‘stimulus package for special interest lawyers’. And for good reason; this proposal would add costly new layers of bureaucratic red tape to an already complicated planning process. It would be virtually impossible to condense thousands of pages of technical planning data into the 75 word ballot summaries that are required by law. Inevitably, disagreements – and lawsuits – would ensue. Amendment 4 encourages the special interests that lose at the ballot box to take their case to court, at taxpayer expense.
That is exactly what happened to the small town of St. Pete Beach, which implemented a local version of Amendment 4 in 2006. The measure has decimated their economy and created chaos at the polls. To date, the citizens of St. Pete Beach have seen nearly a dozen lawsuits that have cost local taxpayers more than three-quarters of a million dollars in legal fees. When St. Pete Beach voters approved four pro-economy changes to their comprehensive plan in 2008, Amendment 4 lawyers sued to overturn the results of the election. Nearly two years later, the people of St. Pete Beach are still defending their vote in court. Ward Friszolowski, the former Mayor of St. Pete Beach wrote “Our experiment in Amendment 4 has turned St. Pete Beach into a battleground for special interests.” The same “copy and paste” lawsuits that plague St. Pete Beach would soon spread to every Florida town.
Moreover, under Amendment 4, residents most impacted by local planning decisions will lose influence in a process that inherently favors deep-pocketed special interests. This measure would turn the growth management debate into a political spectacle. Neighborhoods would lose representation in the public planning process, as communities across town make decisions about schools, hospitals, jails, and landfills in your backyard.
Worse still, Amendment 4 will introduce new delays into the planning process. This measure is so extreme that it does not even contain exceptions for vital community projects like hospitals, schools, police stations or fire trucks. Consequently, even important and uncontroversial community projects will likely experience paralyzing delays.
As Florida attempts to recover from this devastating recession, the last thing we need is Amendment 4, a proposal that would empower special interest lawyers to raid taxpayer’s pockets in order to finance special interest lawsuits. This November, VOTE NO on Amendment 4!
To learn more about Amendment 4, please visit http://florida2010.org
Pd. Pol. Adv. Paid for and sponsored by Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, 610 South Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606.
Osceola County Public Hearing on Fire Fees
On Monday, June 7th, the Osceola County Commission will be holding a 5:30 p.m. public hearing on their proposed Fire Fee methodology in the Commission Chambers at the Osceola County Administration Building, Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741.
