Rubio calls swap 'potential recipe for disaster'

House Speaker Marco Rubio says he has always viewed the revenue cap and tax swap as working in concert. But now that the cap has been killed by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, Rubio says the swap is "a potential recipe for disaster."

It's a marked difference from last month, when Rubio excitedly promoted the swap plan before the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. "You're our last hope," urged Rubio, who appointed seven of the 25 members. "If you’re waiting on the Florida Legislature to cut taxes, it isn't going to happen."

But Rubio told reporters this afternoon that the swap must work with a cap on government revenue. Otherwise, governments could get creative in raising fees or taxes to get more money, he said.

Asked if the swap should be taken off the ballot -- a vote the TBRC will make later this week -- the Miami Republican said, "I'm very concerned there is a swap without a cap. If you're not going to do a revenue cap, you shouldn't do a swap."

Comments

"He's always viewed the revenue cap and swap as working in concert."

Sounds like the Information Ministry in the Republic of Rubio has gotten to the Times again.

Whatever Rubio is for, I am against.

I have applauded Rubio's continued efforts on property tax reform and agree there should be a cap. However, this appears to be the only hope for true relief for those crushed in taxes. There was no cap in Amendment 1, yet he supported that crappy proposal. So why not the swap? A 25% property tax reduction will undoubtedly give more relief than a penny sales tax increase for many.

[Can't wait to see the back of him]

"He's always viewed the revenue cap and swap as working in concert."

Translation: "If we're going to screw the people of Florida before we're termed out, we must do so absolutely, completely, and leaving them with no hope whatsoever."

Is the quacking is getting louder from the lame duck caucus or am I just imagining things?

"Rubio says the swap is 'a potential recipe for disaster.' It's a marked difference from last month, when Rubio excitedly promoted the swap plan before the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission."

Wow - so Rubio switched sides just like he did with Amendment #1. This man is such a hypocrit - looking for the "winning" side to lay the groundwork for his run for Governor.

He knows which side his "bread" is buttered on - Insurance (that's why we haven't had any bill addressing the problem); CSX (he's hoping our $700 million keeps him in their good graces); and $265 million to his BFF.

Wakey, wakey governor wannabe - you're still supporting the reduction of medical care for the chronically ill children; your still supporting the reduction of foster care workers; you're still cutting nursing home inspectors; hospice; education; after school programs; and too many to list other social services.

Oink, oink, oink - the sound of Rubio, Pruitt, Webster, Posey, Hasner, Sansom feeding at the trough.

Republicans - turning the "middle class" into the "working poor" one big business subsidy at a time.

8:34 I think "One oink at a time!" was your very best.

Et tu, Marco?

This is the FIRST time he has ever stated that the two concepts MUST be linked...total BS

[terminator]

after the impassioned speech before the tbrc, one would think he thought the idea was manna from heaven for property owners.

the cap gets killed and jeb's voucher program gets killed, and all of a sudden it's a disaster?

Hypocrisy lives.

Hey, termie,

How is your best buddy in the world, Marco?

Tell me again how you have 3 decades in this business. Make some more predictions about what your heroes will do to save (destroy) the State.

termie -

even you had to figure this was all about vouchers.

What the F??? Marco it's not like you're not already the biggest joke around throwing out 5 plans a week before, during and after Amendment One. Now after you've stood before the TBRC and advocated for this you're gonna cut and run.

How bout you grow a set and stop letting Daddy Jeb tell you what to do. This sounds like vintage Jeb scorched earth policy. If I can't get things my way, I'll burn the mother down.

Brilliant future you have in politics you moron.

Do these guys ever aim before they shoot? Seriously, this is ridiculous. He just found out the tax cap died?

Rubio is not ready for prime time. Unfortunately, he has been in over his head and thus he has performed like an immature politician. He has no judgment whatsoever on when legislation is ripe. He has no patience whatsoever. Worst of all though he does not appropriately evaluate the merit of legislation.

We should not want to cut our property taxes by 25% - the increase in sales tax because government may increase fees or other taxes. Please, no one is falling for that. Just try it and lets see how it unfolds. It certainly beats anything you will get passed this term.

Well, camp is almost over and he can go back to full time influence peddling soon!

11:36 Please take your own advice. You have no judgement whatsoever when legislation is ripe. Cutting taxes in any way right now is not "ripe" because we are in a budget crisis which was caused by...cutting taxes! Now take your "tax reform" mentality and go hide it under a rock for a few decades, and when we've undone all the damage that GOP tax cuts for the rich and corporate welfare have caused, and when "drunken spending" is a reality and not just a slogan invented by anti-government pro-buisiness lackeys, then dust it off and maybe the time will be "ripe" for it.

Vote out all democrats for going against the will of Floridians.

These fat cat democrats led by Steve Geller & Dan Gelber support the continued DRUNKEN SPENDING by local government.

[Better Late Than Never!]

Insert entire rationale for "Contract On America" here:

Problem Solved!

[Tom]

11:46 I am in full agreement. The ideas that McKay and the rest of the TBRC came up with are undesireable at this time and do not need to be discussed any further. As for anyone suggesting the Dem's are the cause of our Budget crisis, that person obviously has no clue the Republicans hold the majority in the legislature. If the citizens have a bone to pick with anyone it is with McKay himself and the rest of the legislature who served from (1990 to 2002) when 105 of the 246 exemptions/exclusions were added. These just happen to be the exemptions/exclusions that are brought up that need to be deleted from the list.

Tom your days in your job are so numbered aren't they?

11:46

Why do you all keep insisting these cuts are only for big business? What about homeowners like myself, who are brunting the burden? Why can't the government live with the budget they had prior to real estate values escalating? How about cutting out the extra employees and programs they added when they found themselves with a surplus of money. How will they balance the budget if values keep declining? And they will, unless something is done to give new buyers relief from property taxes or they just won't buy homes, which will increase revenues from the taxes they charge on sales.

And if your are a longtime homeowner who benefited from keeping your SOH tax shelter wherever you go, one who pays at a rate of less than 1% on the market value of your home, then how about offering to pay more to help balance the budget.

Tom you act as if you actually served in the Legislature during the 1990-2002 period since you talk about that in every other post you make.

Maybe you were a punk staffer who ended up pushing paper at the party.

7:56 Serving in the legislature is no guarantee of intelligence or honesty. Is Tom right about the exemptions/exclusions which I assume were passed by GOP led legislature to benefit business and take money out of the hands of the rest of us?

I like the 120 plus years the democrats were in control... they sure did lay the foundation well, didn't they?

8:39 I don't know; who cares? It's the Republicans who are the menace right now. After we've taken care of that problem, maybe we can discuss an official apology?

[termiantor]

Marco's right. Without TABOR the swap would have been emasculated.
Should have done an extra two cent sales tax increase for the elimination of all property taxes save the school portion.
The TBRC was a complete waste.
I applaud Senator McKay's efforts but too much additonal baggage was brought into play (vouchers, etc.)
We'll just stick to the 1.25%
the REAL terminator.
Man I must be popular when people want to impersonate me!

[Macro Bubio]

9:29 It would be more effecive if you could spell your own name.

Calling Rubio a hypocrite is completely out of line. He's admitting there are problems and is trying to rectify the situation. At least he's trying to do something about these out of line proposals the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission are voting on. Take a look at the facts!
www.protectfloridasfuture.com

11:46 protests cutting taxes so loudly. Of course it would be shocking to learn they voluntarily sent in additional funds to the state to fuel more spending.

The problem is not cutting taxes instead it is the government spending too much.

One prime example is the $5 billion+ spent annually to provide social benefits for illegal aliens?

Cutting that out would solve your so called budget crisis and allow for taxes to be cut. Heck, I would even agree to allow Democrats to decide how to spend every $ not spent on illegal aliens!

In the mean time I want to pay as little tax as possible to subsidize cheap labor for the Chamber Crowd while at the same time helping to prop up out of control government spending.

As for the "ripe" issue just let the people vote on the tax swap and see what they pick off the tree!!!

10:57

Then why didn't he oppose Amendment 1? This was a dispicable piece of legislature that not only lacked any caps whatsoever, but made an already unfair property tax structure, even more unfair.

You got it 12:02

11:46 is probably a government employee in fear of losing his/her job

Don't forget the cap that was passed and signed by the Governor prior to Amendment 1. Together they were a great start. NOW GIVE US SOME MORE HELP!

12:48 is probably a carpetbagger developer in danger of losing his empty overpriced condos, who whined and cried about every penny he was forced to pay for wetlands destruction. Luckily he DID receive a state permit to pave over the Gopher Turtles, or the deal would have been a no-go.

Problem Solved!

[Tom]

Tom is too old to be a staffer from 1990 thru 2002. What makes you think a regular citizen can't have some knowledge about state taxes and the budget process? You think you do, so why am I different? BTW you can find the exemption and exclusion info on the TBRC website. Did any of you guys read about the increase in court fees expected to be roughly $97 million in the coming year? Fees are not federal income tax deductible. I agree you and I are not the kind of person that are going to be charged court fees, but drver's license fees went up too. License plate fees already went up. We cannot get Court records over the internet for free anymore. What next? The state and local governments are going to find ways to fee us until they make up the difference in lost revenues.

I don't want to be you or to impersonate you, termie.

tom:

you really are an idiot. the same republicans you support did the fee increases.

terminator: you claim to support schools, blah, blah, blah, then talk about the 1.35 cap, which most schools and counties oppose.

so you must be a hired (cap) gun that hasn't a clue.

or loyalty.

tom:

love the third person convo you are having with yourself.

"Tom" maybe you're an old has been "tax guru" from, I dunno DOR? Oh the glory days when you ran the joint!