Rubio gets behind 'Prop 13'-like citizen petition

House Speaker Marco Rubio, unsatisfied with the Legislature's proposed tax reform, has thrown his weight behind a citizen petition that boasts a 26 percent average property tax cut statewide.

The plan would restrict taxes to 1.35 percent of the taxable value of any parcel of property. On a property with a taxable value of $100,000 with no exemptions, the owner would pay $1,350 in taxes.

"This plan is simple, it applies to all properties, it keeps Save Our Homes, and it cuts almost $8-billion in property taxes," Rubio said Tuesday in an e-mail to friends and associates.

Story here. (and see below for his message in full)

"As many of you know, over the last six months we have been working to lower property taxes in the state of Florida.  The Florida House passed a number of measures that would have lowered property taxes and stimulated our economy. However, none of them became law. Instead, on January 29th voters will have the chance to vote for a property tax amendment that falls short of what we so desperately needed.

After our last special session, I reached the conclusion that only a citizen led petition drive will ever result in meaningful tax reform and relief.  Today, I am writing you to encourage each of you to support a grassroots petition drive which is underway in Florida. This plan calls for a maximum tax of 1.35% of the taxable value of a parcel of property. This plan is simple, it applies to all properties, it keeps save our homes and it cuts almost $8 billion in property taxes.

I encourage all of you to go on the groups website www.cutpropertytaxesnow.com . Look over the plan and learn more about it. From the website, you can print and sign the petition. They need over 600,000 signatures by January 31st in order to put this question on the November 2008 ballot.

This is a true grassroots movement, led by citizen activists, not politicians. As such, it will take real activism to get it done. I encourage each of you to print as many copies of the petition as you can and get your family and friends to sign it as well. I encourage you to forward this e-mail to others as well. Share it with your co-workers, at church, and with your neighbors.  If each of us gets 100 people to sign we will be well on our way to clearing the first hurdle, the more than 61,000 signatures we need to get Supreme Court approval.

I wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving.

MARCO RUBIO

Comments

Sounds good. Not a sales tax substitution, but still a good plan. Just signed the petition.

Sore loser.

Rubio meets Dr. Death - this is like Freddy and Jason.

wait - i went to the website - last week it was a 1.25% cap. This week it is 1.35%. No wonder Speaker Rubio likes this group.

Mckalip is long time homesteader benefiting from SOH. This is simply a way to feed his enormous ego. Shame on Rubio for joining this whacknut.

[David McKalip]

Those who can't offer real plans to lower taxes (I suppose you like high taxes and big government) cast aspersions and sink to name calling.

I am Dr. McKalip and I am glad the Speaker has joined our efforts. As for ego stroking, I can tell you the hundreds of volunteer hours I have spent on this effort and the many nights of neglecting my family for tax relief have nothing to do with ego.

It is time for average citizens like me and others to get our big government under control. That is what is driving all of us....we are ready to take back our country from the arrogant elitists who are taxing us all out of existence.

David McKalip, M.D.

[John]

This is wonderful. We have been waiting for Speaker Rubio to get behind one of the citizen's initiative.
Hopefully, the whole state will unite and support this initiative.
United, we can get statewide support fast.

[John]

David McKalip,

I think I met you at one of the Pinellas property tax forums in St Petersburg.
I have been working with Speaker Rubio on the statewide effort since around January. I am glad we have a proposal that will really give meaningful relief.

Hopefully, we can unite the other statewide groups under 1 proposal. Have you contacted the other groups yet about uniting? Let's make this a real grass-root effort.

We need to move on this if we are going to get the 611,000+ signatures.

I'll be at some of the Bucs remaining games. Hopefully, I can get a stackful of signatures.

[Gene Smith]

Marco Rubio has just admitted that he is incapable of doing his day job - Speaker of the House. That job requires him to pass legislation that is beneficial to the citizens of Florida. That means he has to be able to craft legislation that is acceptable to the House, the Senate and the Governor. That is the process set out by our Constitution.

The other process is the Budget and Taxation Reform Commission. There, thoughtful citizens appointed by the Governor and the Legislature have the power to put amendments directly on the ballot and to recommend legislation to the Legislature. Apparently Speaker Rubio figures they won't like any of his harebrained schemes either.

The good news in all of this is that the Speaker will be just as unsuccessful in this effort. And then soon we will be rid of him.

Thank you Dr. McKalip.

Let's see how many of those who take pot shots at you on this blog have the balls to tell us who they are!

Probably none of them.

Gene,

Your one of the local lackies that is supporting local government's drunken spending.

If this thing gets on the ballot, it will pass just like PROP 13 did in Calif. , just like TABOR did in Colorado.

Local government lobbyists kept nagging at the proposals by the FL House. Now, the citizens of FL will show everyone how to cut taxes. No more scapels, here comes the ax.

[John]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-20-2007/0004709637&EDATE=

Did McKalip just call himself an "average citizen"??????????

I am confused. With my SOH protection I paid $1373 in property taxes (which of course increases by 3% each year).

Under Rubio's plan I'd pay $2,700 (because there would be no homestead exemption?).

This saves me how?

[zenator]

Nary a day seems to go by without some sort of announcement of "new idea" for reforming some aspect of government from Rubio. Often today's "new idea" differs radically from that of yesterday. Marco's process seems to follow the same pattern-- out with the old "new idea" and in with the new "new idea."

For example,how many new, conflicting proposals for tax reform has Rubio embraced the past year?

Zenator - I feel the same way. Rubio's tax plans remind me of those Dilbert daily tear off calendars - you know, a new page everyday.

[terminator]

the revolion is coming.

either get behind it or be crushed by it.

I can't believe you chuckleheads (supporters of Crist/Senate plan) would rather pay higher taxes.
Would you mind paying for mine too since you don't seem to care about how much you're taxed?

Gene:
you've really got to stop drinking that George Soros cool-aid bro!

[terminator]

that's "revolution"
sorry guys, my fingers got ahead of my brain!
haven't had my coffee yet

[MCO]

Gene,

Its almost not even worth responding to the trash you spew, because sadly, you truly believe most of the crap that comes out of your mouth. You're like the little kid that comes up with these whacky stories but 40-50 years later you still believe them.

5:36 AM

I guess you were educated in Florida. Read the text of the Amendment. You DO NOT lose your SOH protection or exemptions. DUH!!!!

Did anyone hear LeMieux on "Good Day Tampa Bay" this morning? Pathetic.

Russell Rhodes could have called him out on some things but gave him a free pass instead.

No. I am listenting to Marco Rubio on Preston Scott. He needs to slow down. He should take a few breaths in between all of his insults of others and self-congratulations.

[zenatress]

terminator -

You always move me to violate the adage about a certain contest with a skunk. Having said that, you appear no different than zenator's observation of house leadership.

you promised a revolution with your gubernatorial candidate (he lost), and now you've hitched your wagon to the speaker. He is a very nice and well-meaning man, but I fear he listens too much to those around him who have their own political future in mind - the tax system be damned.

There aren't enough hours in the day to read all of your posts, but I seem to recall you claim to work in the education arena. You are either contradicting your client's interests, or you are a former TG campaign hack trying to disguise your identity.

Either way, you fail to comprehend that "auction-style" reform proposals (do I hear 1.25? gimme 1.35!) further erode public confidence in the legislature's ability to govern.

5:36

the point being that the reason you only pay $1375 now is because thousands of other homeowners and businessess pay 5x as much...this brings it a little closer to the median for everyone.

As long as any 'plan' includes SOH, it will STILL be discriminatory. Fair taxation - 8:30 a.m. is correct. So many others are filling the gap for those not paying equitably! And I'm not talking about snowbirds or second homeowners in general. There are a lot of first time homebuyers and potential first time buyers who are supporting everyone else. Blatantly unfair.

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

Problem Solved!

[Joe]

Bravo! Sign me up. 1.35% on non-homesteads too! Renters, take note: under this plan, your rents may even go down. Under the legistlature plan, if it passes in January, your rents will likely go UP. Honest landlords cannot withstand the property tax hikes any longer.

It is amazing that the Speaker has been reduced to supporting a half-baked plan by a local fraud (aka Dr. McKalip), who lives in a mansion and enjoys significant SOH benefits. Have you ever heard McKalip screaming incoherently at legislators, after which he promptly drives back to his cushy, SOH sheltered mansion? What a hypcorite!

What Marco is really saying... "Look at ME, look at ME, look at MEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Only, 170 days until we are rid of this self serving little weasle. Tick tock, tick tock.

The average Florida enjoys SOH and a reasonable tax bill. The only "elitists" in this picture are the rich, who will receive a huge benefit from an across the board cut.

Why should we cut taxes when the hurricane relief fund is empty and our educational system is in terrible shape? This whole idea of "tax reform" was invented by realtors and developers to try to make it more attractive to fill their empty properties.

Vote all cut-and-paste GOP lackey bloggers out of office!

Problem Solved!

Please stop the DRUNKEN SAILOR GOP corporate lackeys from throwing away our tax revenue on a huge tax cut for their developer and realtor friends. Support your local government and YOU retain control over how your tax money is spent.

I say we cut the realtors commissions in half since our property values have skyrocketed. They have seen a huge raise since the boom.

Please help 9:16 expand his retarded vocabulary.

What’s Marco (Punk in Man Clothes) Rubio up to now? Besides his usual narcissistic “I wish it was all about me” behavior…

“Vote all cut-and-paste GOP lackey bloggers out of office!

… Then who would be the Minority in Congress?

You all sure do FEAR Rubio!!!

I thought one of the few responsibilities of government was to be an equivocator, thus letting each of us persue prosperity based upon our own talents and opportunities - the current tax system - and this piece of crap amendment that just passed - make it horribly unfair to achieve personal dreams for some by creating an easy way out for others.

I wonder how long it will be until they start doing Marco Rubio skits on SNL.

Finally a true conservative. Cut Taxes and Keep the Legislation Simple. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

[Bill]

Rubio should be the poster child for requiring that elected officials have minimum age requirements.

I swear he doesn't seem to be able to organize any sort of coordinated long term thought!

"Oooh, look, something shiny....I like it!"

"You all sure do FEAR Rubio!!!"

Only when I'm in the men's room.

10:16 please give it a rest. No one fears the Sponge Bob Square Pants crowd. We continue to see an embarassing display of inexperience and over-reaction. It is time for the grown ups to take the House back.

9:34...what the heck are you talking about? We don't have a state income tax...that would fit your description far better. As for the amendment...it is a necessary first step.

[VPS]

I just went to the website, and looked at the screen which shows how much you will save.
Since I live outside of a city, in a small county, this proposal saves me nothing.

[terminator]

Zenatress:
The FEA opposes the Crist/Senate tax cut plan which will cost us billions and the Seminole compact as it does not require the state spend the money on education, nor does it require the $100 million be used for enhancement.
As far as my wagon, you seem to forget (or maybe you didn't know) we're one and the same.

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

Problem Solved!

[Omega83]

10:20 a necessary first step? for who? for the people who needed relief the most? no...they get nothing from this...they got nothing after the regular session...what guarantees are there that this "first step" is not the only step?

The truth is that government has to have revenue to provide the services that are required by the public. It is relatively cheap to live in Florida. Our taxes are a fraction of what they are in other states and we have no state income tax. All of these anti-tax, anti-government people are ridiculous. It takes money to have good schools, good transportation systems, decent law enforcement and that has to come from somewhere. I think this whole "tax crisis" is an effort to divert the public's attention away from the corruption of both political parties in this state.