Rubio talks taxes and gets surprised by Crist

House Speaker Marco Rubio met with top business interests today to talk property taxes. Bottom line: The cuts ordered up by the Legislature this year are a good first step.

Rubio urged support for the Jan. 29 "super" homestead exemption because, "No. 1, it’s hard to get a tax cut out of government to begin with and No. 2, it’s hard to get a cut of this magnitude. It will help a lot of people save a lot of money. ... And now that our governor has come out in favor of it so strongly, he’s going to lead that effort, and we hope that we can work together and make that happen.”

But the Miami Republican made clear that the intent of the strategy session was to form ideas for the next step  -- whether the amendment passes or fails. Business wants an end to the assessment practice known as "highest and best use," a revamped system for appealing valuation and simply lower taxes for non-homestead property.

Gov. Crist made a surprise visit and offered encouragement. But the appearance (watch the video) hinted at tension as both Republican superstars compete for the upper-hand in leading the charge for lower property taxes.

At the table: The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Realtors, Florida Retail Federation, Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Most of those groups were not enthusiastic about Rubio's "tax swap," which would increase sales tax to do away with property taxes on primary homes. The idea died with opposition in the Senate, but Rubio remains interested. Still, he shifted attention away from that today. "My goal at the end of the day is to fix the property tax crisis in Florida."

No hard decisions were made and Rubio said the group should keep talking. He said the expedient route for change is through the Legislature but warned that if things do not happen, people will start a ballot initiative. The timing of which would come just as he leaves the Legislature.

Comments

There was only one "Republican Superstar" in the room...and it was not Rubio.

[Lisa]

Well it wasn't Crist either. So who are we talkin' about?

[tyr]

Does CC actually work or does he just appear in photo ops?

All the Republican superstars were in the men’s room assuming their wide stance.

Looks the speaker's meeting was a real effort to set goals for additional tax reform and relief. Unlike the governor's photo op press conference on monday. Nice of the governor to drop by for yet another picture. Where's the substance?

From watching that video it is very clear there is a monsterous battle on our horizon between those two guys. That was uncomfortable to watch.

If they both lead the charge for lower property taxes. GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why does Charlie have to barge his way into everything with a camera ?

300-

I think 250 was using "" to say that crist wasn't a republican....or at least that is what I was gathering

Cheesy Charlie strikes again!

There's no battle looming. In 8 months Rubio's term will end and he'll go make a bunch of money in the private sector so he can take care of his growing family. Crist will run virtually unopposed for re-election in 2010. Then maybe an older, wiser Rubio will start working toward 2014.

The Frenchman cleary does not want Rubio doing anything that could potentially upstage Charlie. Just sit around the Capitol for a few days and you are bound to see the Posse (Lemieux, Charlie, 5 FDLE's and a few hacks) come darting around a corner towards a camera. If you are in the way you will trampled like a Spaniard in Pamplona.

Wherever there is a camera, CC is there.

[Reality]

Simply put; the answer to lower property taxes, and the subsequent benefit of forced fiscal responsibility on the local governments, is a rollback to 2001 market prices, followed by the expansion of SOH (at its current structure) to ALL homes and businesses.

What are you all talking about? The Governor was a complete gentleman, expressed his support for efforts to pass the tax reduction amendment, and even called Rubio his friend. Crist was elected statewide, he is the leader of the Republican Party of Florida, and he has every right to lead this effort...in fact the only hope for this to pass is for the Governor to support this effort.

3:42

You clearly have no clue about the Governor and his motives. Do you really think he was there to "Support his friend" ?

[One of the Bosses]

Just watched video. Charlie sounded like Eddie Haskell talking down to everyone.

Friends, i thought they were in love. is that what our well dressed leader said. Bodganoff's body language said it all!

Right. If the governor was there to solve the problems of our state, he would have taken his jacket off, rolled up his sleeves and gotten down to real work for one day in his life.

[james]

looked like a liitle boy looking up at his daddy- & ellyn could be his mother

that, my friends, was what we call an "upstage."

Poor Brett Doster.

That's what we call a media hound...

[Bruce Carlton Jordan]

I used to love it when Charlie surprised me. There usually weren't any cameras around, though.

It's like the little kid who doesn't get invited to a birthday party, but he shows up anyway...

good call, 4:49... Charlie doesn't even care why he wasn't invited, he just sees an opportunity to get in front of a camera and he can't resist...

That's not the case at all. He knew exactly what he was doing. He probably had it planned for weeks. Someone should check his schedule and confirm that he had just gotten out of a "board meeting."

Why didn't Charlie sit down at the table like everyone else? Is he better than the rest of the people at the table?

Ellyn did an excellent job of hiding her disgust. Rubio also looked very appreciative of the Governor's "pit stop." They both hid their feelings well.

[Jimmy 2 Times]

Here's what I want to know:

If property tax relief was one of the Governor's campaign promises, what was more important than the press conference today? Why wasn't it on his schedule from the beginning? Was a meeting with the South Florida Peace Pipe Gambling Coalition more important than the property tax reform issue?

Rubio and Bogdanoff couldn't look at each other or they both would have lossed it.

At one point Bodanoff's eyes shifted to Rubio. Crist is such an arrogant wind bag... He has some serious issues. He needs to embrace Rubio and Bogdanoff for working so hard on Property Taxes and PIP. He needs to recognize that by stealing their thunder he deters good, hard working people from helping Florida grow.

[Lifelong Republican]

where was Hasner?

Rubio's problem is that he wants to be the Governor so bad! Get over it little dude, you are NOT the Governor and you are NOT the leader of Florida.

3:38 so you think Goodtime Charlie can fool the voters again?

Yes

Charlie is a pro compared to Rubio. Bogdanoff is no comparison to either. She can sit there like the little spoiled school girl she is all she wants.

At least she knew well enough to keep her mouth shut and realize the Governor was in the room and behave herself.

Daddy had to come down to the junior high and tell people what's what.

Be mad as you want to be that was how it was.

I still have hope for Speaker Rubio though. He could go places if he just shed the childish stuff.

Crist a daddy? I thought he denied that?

Rubio has no good elections available to him in 08; thus by 2010, he's long forgotten and irrelevant.

This is a silly headline by the SP Times. How do you know they didn't invite him?

If they did, it is not a story. If they didn't it was an act unbecoming of a Governor.

By the way, I watched it on the Florida Channel. Did you notice that even after Crsit arrived the participants directed their comments at Rubio, not Crist?

Guys face it. The fact that the GOVERNOR of Florida is having to even try and compete with the termed out Speaker says it all!

At least Gov Crist is back in Florida instead of hobb-knobbing with Hollywood liberals in California.

Get to work governor. We are still waiting for property taxes to drop like a rock + homeowner's insurance reduction or else it's ONE & DONE FOR YOU.

9:13--You are EXACTLY right on! I watched on the Florida Channel too and it was sad to see him just sitting there.

St. Pete Times, I think you should post the ENTIRE video for everyone to see. No more biased journalism.

Charlie, ONE & YOU'RE DONE!

The press talks to Rubio because he has the power to get something done. Crist can't pee unless the legislature is on board with him. Look for him to be the man overboard during the remainder of his one term.

TACKY

TACKY

TACKY

I don't understand the one-upmanship over what is obviously a losing battle.

The majority of FL voters have already pegged this "tax cut" for what it is - another GOP program to benefit the wealthy; realtors, investors, developers, and flippers.

Hey Charlie, wake up and bail on this plan and keep your reputation as the people's governor. Hey Marco, you sold out a long time ago, so give it up. We see right through you.

[terminator]

8:58
Get off the crack.
This was vintage Charlie, the man of no substance inviting himself to a meeting he wasn't invited to in a lame attempt to upstage Rubio.
Typical govern by photo op. Charlie never met a camera he didn't like.
Even Lee used to complain how Charlie would come out of the woodwork at just the right moment in order to attach himself to someone else's proposal.
It showed how much of a media hound CC really is.
He hasn't done jack about property taxes and property insurance and he's afraid Marco is going to steal his thunder.
My advice to him would be to get off his butt and get out there and work for the "people" he professes to love so much.

[Ahab]

What a camera wh0re.

Low class, tacky camera wh0re.

[zenator]

What happened is both simple and obvious.

Rubio manufactured a news event in order to garner some free TV exposure and position himself as a rival to the Governor. Crist crashed the event and sucked out all the media air. Crist then left and the camera crews promptly packed up and exited with him leaving Rubio alone and fuming.

Message delivered...

[terminator]

Zenator:
How bout Charlie and Marco actually working together for the betterment of Floridians?
What a novel idea that would be!

[Reality]

Once again, and Simply put; the answer to lower property taxes, and the subsequent benefit of forced fiscal responsibility on the local governments, is a rollback to 2001 market prices, followed by the expansion of SOH (at its current structure) to ALL homes and businesses.