'A very hard vote' for House Democrats

[Times | Scott Keeler]

Unions and businesses both lodged serious objections to the Senate's take-it-or-leave-it property tax plan in a House Democratic caucus on Monday morning. And that may be sufficient political cover for Democrats to deny the Republican majority the three-fourths vote it needs to put the new version on the Jan. 29 ballot. 

Teacher union lobbyist Jeff Wright debunked the Senate's contention that portability under Save Our Homes will kick-start the economy and make up for a $2-billion-plus education cut over five years. Said Wright: "I can't go sell that to my leadership. I'm not going to try." Mike Williams of the building trades union warned that property tax cuts would mean the loss of public-sector jobs.

David Daniel of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, after making a pitch for the need for property tax relief, told Democrats the Senate's 10-percent cap on non-homestead assessments was too high and responded with silence when a Democratic lawmaker asked him how members should vote.

On top of all that, House Democrats are howling mad about having too little information to cast an intelligent vote, and some said their only information was the Senate plan summary posted here. Complained Rep. Shelley Vana, D-Lantana: "We don't have a written version except what we got off the blog."

"We're working with a bill that we don't know enough about. I think that's going to be a problem," said House Democratic leader Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, who scratched a caucus position and urged each member to vote his or her conscience. "It's a very hard vote."

"This is meatball surgery," Gelber said.

Comments

States like North Carolina and Georgia have personal income taxes, and it seems liek their growth has been as strong as Florida's in recent years.

Arizona has an income tax, and its a high growth state too.

Nevada and Texas are the only other compettive sun belt states with no personal income tax...and we know why Nevada doesn;t need it - we're unwilling to supplement revenues in the same manner that they have no problem with.

On top of all that, House Democrats are howling mad about having too little information to cast an intelligent vote, and some said their only information was the Senate plan summary posted here. Complained Rep. Shelley Vana, D-Lantana: "We don't have a written version except what we got off the blog."

... and look what the Senate Democrats are getting out of the plan...

Miami Democratic Sen. Larcenia Bullard just said she initially didn't understand portability and that "I thought it was some place to go to the bathroom."

Rollback taxes and spending to 2002 levels, and expand the SOH cap to all property, both residential and commercial.

Problem solved!

ok little confused...How can all the Senate Democrats vote for this bill and the House Democrats have serious objections? Aren't they in the same party?

Portability should not be scrapped or rejected solely because it will not jump start the economy "now." Portability is a good idea for the long term because it ameliorates some of the inequity between long term and short term ownership in the same neighborhood and it facilitates mobility through the stages of ownership, married copule, married couple with kids, empty nesters. Jump starting the economy "now" is a problem much bigger than just housing sales. Looked at the gas station sign in the last week?

Same as the Repubs in House not liking the what the Senate Repubs are doing.

Let us know how Long, Heller and Kriseman vote

Oh yeah this is sounding real promising. Bye bye tax relief.

[Dave]

Portability is not even constitutional. You can’t have a class of privileged tax payers who can move from property to property carrying credits! It will be challenged. Besides, the Senate’s plan totally fails to provide tax relief for people who purchased in the last 3 years at inflated prices. The problem is that they are trying to provide tax relief to people who don’t need it; i.e. the people who have been on SOH for many years.

Leave it to the Democrats. They finally have some power and they just throw it away.

[Debbie]

I'm with ya Dave! Personally I think there's enough of us out there that we WOULD be able to get rid of this unbelievably unfair tax system in this state. The free riders have had it easy long enough!

[Debbie]

I'm with ya Dave! Personally I think there's enough of us out there that we WOULD be able to get rid of this unbelievably unfair tax system in this state. The free riders have had it easy long enough!

VOTE OUT THESE DEMOCRATS HINDERING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF!!

They never had any intention to give meaningful relief. They are tax & spenders.

What is so damn hard about it - you people just voted on this matter last week!!!

[Lawrence]

What a bunch of clowns performing in the side show going on up in Tallahassee. It is embarrassing to me as a resident of this once great state and person who voted for these ignoramuses. I truly do not believe that they ever intended any tax relief to come from this session. These folks who call themselves lawmakers, are a pitiful excuse for the job. They all must be voted out of office as fast as we can. And although I voted for him, I now see the error of my ways, and Governor Coppertone must go as well.

Like you can't have a class of privileged taxpayers who get double the exemption because they have lived longer?? C'mon, rational basis will hardly stop portability. BTW, whose supposed to be responsible for buyers who purchased at inflated prices?

Let's see: The Senate plan cuts deeper into education, only means 240 dollars to homeowners, provides a facade of relief to businesses, and the portability component may be unconstitutional. How can you vote FOR that?

This Senate plan is a total joke. Hardly doing anything for Floridian homeowners & businesses. They can keep the $200 relief. We'll take care of it ourselves through a CITIZEN'S INITIATIVE later that will really give residents relief.

No Deal. No garbage "TALLAHASSEE SPECIAL" thanks.

Vote it down FL House