Haridopolos forming group to defeat 'tax swap'

Encouraged by powerful business interests, Sen. Mike Haridopolos is forming a political committee aimed at defeating the property tax swap on the November ballot. The paperwork could be filed by the end of the week or early next week.

The group may be called Protect Florida's Future, which is the name Haridopolos gave a Web site attacking the plan.

Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, is slated to become Senate president in 2010 and would inherit the burden of replacing billions in school property tax revenue with a higher sales tax and other revenue. He contends there is no way to make it work without a massive tax increase.

He already tried to stop the plan from getting on the ballot, by firing off a series of letters to the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, holding news conferences and a one-day public hearing. But the TBRC sent it to the voters anyway.

Haridopolos said he would wait to divulge more about the committee but noted that he has been approached by every major group rising in opposition to the plan. Think Associated Industries of Florida, Florida Retail Federation ...

That could bring some big bucks into the committee and pose a significant threat to former Sen. John McKay and other advocates of the plan, which needs 60 percent voter approval. Opposition to Amendment 1 was fairly mild but, as Haridopolos said, this round could be "a different kind of fight."

Comments

If he does this, he should just switch parties cause his career is over!!!

[terminator]

Adam, I think you guys got the name of Hari's 527 wrong.
It's called the "Protect Florida's Corporate Welfare for Self Serving Not Yet Ready for Primetime Politicians Group".
If Hari and his sleazy handlers are against the tax swap that's the best reason why every honest, hardworking taxpaying Floridian should wholeheartedly endorse it come November.
What a putz this guy is.
Thank goodness he lectures for the University of Floriduh and not FSU.

[Norquist = Abramoff = Haridopolis = Traitors]

9:26 Sorry, we don't want him; he's a GOP corporatista through and through. Please remember he's the one who invited the traitor Grover Norquist here to put in his two cents in favor of irresponsible prop 13/Tabor tax cuts for the wealthy in Florida.

[Clyde]

Here the Republicans have been telling us we shouldn't have to pay taxes and now, having given us the chance to vote on it, they're afraid we'll actually vote to stop paying them.

[Cletus]

Boy Howdy!

[Clem]

Dang Tootin!

[Billy Bob]

By Cracky!

Sugar on this train against, Broadcasters too. Mike H. will have money, if he has sense not to spend it all on tv ads featuring himself.

Realtors for passage. They have money.
McKay can raise some coin, how much needed to get to 60?

How much will teachers and unions spend?

Where will Charlie Crist be?

Mike,
Why won't you be honest with everyone? It's not a tax increase, and to advertise it as such is entirely dishonest. To advertise it as the largest tax increase in the state's history should be criminal. If you want to be senate president, grow a pair and stand for the conservative principles (ie cutting taxes) that got you elected in the first place.

10:10 Bang-O-Rang!

Even with Grover pulling for him, Hari is not fascist enough for the right wingnuts like you!

Alex, bad info. Barney Bishop is just looking for press. AIF has not money.Retail hates the Rs for supporting guns.

The amendment placed a new tax into the constitution, so doesn't it need 67% to pass?

Hari-be careful who you associate with.this is about your future and your reputation.Slow down on the advice your get from fellow academics - it's not reality.

Coker is looking for some coattails.

Who else is involved? What about the Chamber? Other business groups?

Aren't there people already opposed?

I know Sayfie doesn't spell check the ads on their site but the Jackpot Justice folks need to learn how to spell Delaware.

Haridopolos, what are you thinking? I thought you were smarter than this...

Haridopolos, what are you thinking? I thought you were smarter than this...

Alex - why are you deleting posts?

[John]

Gov Crist better get behind Amendment 5 so Floridians can get 25% off property taxes.

VOTE YES ON 5 FOR 25!!

The RPOF needs to get with the program and realize that the people want the tax swap instead of the lame tax legislation they continue to pass in Tally.

So what if Haridopolis is going to push his agenda, the voters are going to see right through his effort and render him unable to win reelection!!!

[Tom]

The amendment placed a new tax into the constitution, so doesn't it need 67% to pass?
What new tax are we talking about?
The Amendment placed an exclusion into law...it excluded real estate commissions and stock commissions from any future services tax IF services tax(es) were to be added in the future to offset the decrease in ad valorem taxes. Please tell me what NEW tax(es) are added.

[John]

This guy appears to represent the special interests rather than the taxpayers. He is a good example of why I will be voting anti-incumbant in all future elections and supporting their challengers.

Hari-be careful who you associate with.this is about your future and your reputation.Slow down on the advice your get from fellow academics - it's not reality.

Posted by: | May 06, 2008 at 10:33 PM

10:33 Just broke the code!

Tom 2:26--- NO you do not need 67% it has been researched and judicial constitutional opinion give NO IT DOES NOT NEED 67%!!! Stop asking the question.

Hari must think the people of Florida are stuip if he calls this a tax increase!! He goes around working against this amendment he won't have to worry about being President of the Senate during that time!! He will NEVER get relected!! That will be a great campaign post card--- "I want you to vote against lowering your extremely high property taxes by at least 25% so I can go to Tallahassee and spend it once again"!!
Oh yes, I forgot he is now working for a university whoes teachers union is against it
NOW is all makes sense! Self serving little wimp.

[Buzzard]

"powerful business interests": Every media-related company in the state that would have to pull their own weight by charging sales tax on the tens (hundreds?) of billions of dollars spent on advertising annually in Florida. Let the lying begin.

The RPOF can kiss off. I am sick of their anti-the average folks approach. This Hairidoplolis guy is not in my district but I will be pressing my Representative (Anderson) and Senator (Fasano)for where they stand and whether or not they will be campaigning to support this or not. If not then I will let them know straight up that I am not voting for them. I am a "tax swap" voter. Nothing matters more to me than getting government out of my pocket so I can afford to keep my home and hang in there.

“I want the best roads, schools, parks, law enforcement, street signage, firefighters, mass-transit, prisons system, judicial system, and assorted social programs I can get!”

“… What do you mean I have to pay taxes for that…?”

“… screw that; I want my $240 back.”

… dopes

The people have already decided. They are voting for this tax reduction. End of story

8:55 feel free to pay mine if you think it's such a good deal! You are the dope!!

Unbelievable. If anyone is still stupid enough to believe that anybody in Tally is working for YOU, think again. It's always more important to them to cater to big business than the people who pay their way. I'm stunned time and time again and I don't know why.

8:58,

Thanks for confirming my point...

"I want, I want, I want... so long as someone else pays for it!"

... pathetic dope

When it comes to tax cuts, the dinosaur FLGOP has a hard time deciding between "dumb" and "dumber." Wake up, dopes, we already can't meet the GOP created budget and they want to cut taxes some more??? Talk about letting your ideology get in the way of common sense. Let's hold off on tax reform until we have more Democrats in office. Vote Blue for fiscal responsibility.

9:32 Less government, less taxes more personal freedom. That's it--not christian--not party--just less government, less taxes more personal freedom. This is a huge tax cut and anyone who say otherwise is not telling the truth.

[Rich]

He's right... it's a tax increase for the retailers. And a tax decrease for property owners in this state.

Let's hope all the voting property owners see through this guy.

Hopefully he will be voted out of office by the property owning citizens. Then he can be "officially" put on the Retail Federation's payroll.

9:32 - yep, just like Amendment 1 was a "huge" tax cut (max $240 that is offset by much, much higher fees and increases in school property taxes and special district property taxes).

Yep, once again the Republicans are for "smoke and mirror" solutions instead of honest TAX REFORM!!

Remember in November - and vote these bums out (and their party)!!!!

9:39 Exactly what I mean. Blather about "less government" and "personal freedom" when services are slashed and we can't even meet the current budget.

"less government" REALLY MEANS "less regulation for exploitative corporations to pilliage and profit".

"more freedom" means "freedom from responsibility and caring for fellow citizens."

Ideology + Stupidity = FLGOP

[terminator]

8:55 and 9:19
your momma and daddy must have been smoking crack the night you were conceived.
"mamma's allright, daddy's allright, they both seem a little weird".

and the moron who posted the dems were fiscally responsible should be tarred and feathered!

Termie… you’re just another bloated, blathering, lemming, Rove wannabe. A legend in your own warped miniscule mind… teetering on the brink of a physiological breakdown, and seeking self confirmation and compensation for you insecurities through the delusional world of the “I matter” fantasy blogs…

… oh yeah, and you most certainly are… a pathetic dope!

… ps; bite my a*s… ;-)~

[terminator]

10:39
that was too funny!
my my, a little pissy there this morning aren't we left wing liberal Obama supporting, America hating, tax and spend freak!

he won't be senate president in 2010 if republicans follow his lead and keep turning their back on taxpayers who are paying too much tax! if he can't support a cause that his base supports, then the D's will stroll into the senate presidency this election or next.

AMEN Termie. The guy is a nut case!!

termie & 10:52 (aka: lemming dopes),

that was < funny!

my my you two, a little pissy there this morning aren't we right wing commie McSame supporting, America hating, tax and spend, public bathroom, tap dancing freaks!

Hang it up pinheads... you ain't gots the da gray matter.

Termie will regret his GOP affiliation when they someday force him to convert his social security into Bear Stearns. Until then, he will continue to vend the Kool-Aid.

[terminator]

11:18 (liberal freak)
At least McCain fought for his country.
What did Obama and Hillary or (Bill) do?
I never heard McCain's pastor say "God D*mn America" and I never heard his wife say "I'm finally proud to be an American".
I think those statements speak volumes about who we're dealing with Dopey!

11:21
Are you telling me the Dems in Congress haven't been taking SS trust fund money out for years and years and replacing it with IOU's?
Hint, hint...Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Clinton.
Remember those guys?

termie,termie,termie... you poor misguided lemming...

Ted Bundy fought for this Country… should we make him President? … oh yeah, ol’ Sparky took care of that one. Ooooo, I heard that John McSame’s gardener once said “God D_mn this weedwhacker”… and it was made in China… I guess he’s out too.

Does Lil Johnny Napoleon wear a flag pin and visit the graves of young Americans who were sent off to war on a lie to avenge Dubya’s daddums?… or is that too deep for you.

You go right ahead and give in to the market-tested rhetoric designed to massage the soft brains of the malleable right…

… but in reality, it is you who hasn’t the slightest idea who you’re dealing with… dope!

[terminator]

11:57
wow, you really blew a gasket there buddy!
How did we get from a Presidential contender serving one's country to Ted Bundy (that's a big stretch)?
I think the crack is starting to debilitate your brain (maybe it's been a slow gradual process).
No I don't know who I'm dealing with. Care to tell me?
And get off this "dope" kick will you? It's getting kind of stale.

Oh termie, you disappoint so often… tsktsktsk…

… bone-off hootie, I ain’t your blowfish. Now, get back to work or I’ll call your boss, and he might transfer you to a smaller cubicle. Then where will you hang your life-size poster of McSame? Actually, you need a new one anyway; I can’t see the image anymore through your lip prints.

… OOOOHHHHH…. SNAP!

…out

What will Charlie Crist do on this?
Place your bets.

[Rich]

You people that defend the left and right are hillarious. They all are a bunch of bought and paid for representatives. It's just a matter of which business interest bought and paid for them. They don't represent we the people, they represent we the lobbyists that fund their campaigns.

[Time to get off the bench]

12:26 Gov. Charlie Crist needs to get on board and support the tax swap, "big time", when voters see how much Amendment #1 really does for their tax bill this Sept and the effect it's "not" having on the tanking FL economy they will be quite upset at him for misleading them. He also promised that Amendment #1 was just the 1st down in moving the tax reform ball down field, it now looks like the Senate sacked the quarterback?

[Ultra Rich]

Well, I get a lot more from the GOP personally.

[and go to bat for the Super Rich!]

12:39 Problem Solved!

[Tom]

I was only trying to make the point that the (Real Estate Broker) McKay led TBRC and other Committee members, several of which are in the banking industry, created a "Tax Exemption" for the fees and commissions it charges customers. I think the exemption is unfair to all Florida taxpayers.
If the Legislature sees fit to start Services Tax and the definition of the services tax will include Real Estate Commissions and Stock Commissions and Fees, the TBRC already exempted the charges from the Services Tax. That is my point.
I was not discussing this point to make a case that 67% of the voters have to vote yes to pass the tax swap issue. I have stated all along that it will take 60% to pass the issue.
BTW you got to be kidding if I represent a "Special Interest" group...if anyone I represent the hardworking year round resident family man that has some SOH savings!

12:26 Gov. Charlie Crist needs to get on board and shoot down the tax swap, "big time", when voters see how little Amendment #1 really does for their tax bill this Sept and the "notta" effect it's having on the tanking FL economy... they will be quite upset at Chuck for misleading them. He also promised that Amendment #1 was just the 1st down in moving the tax reform ball down field, it now looks like he's playing the tight end!

I'll give them a lot money -- about $1,000,000.

For Florida's future!

[jackie]

Microwave Charlie better stand behind this property tax break as he did for Amend. 1. This is a joke. Citizens better VOTE. Kick these self serving politicans out!

Man-up and pay your taxes, selfish neo-cons. People need your help and they aren't all rich real estate investors and flippers or lazy trust fund inbred frat boys.

12:39 -- My thoughts exactly!!!!

Let's show Hari the hypocrite that because he failed to do his job on the Committee for Tax Reform, that we'll make sure we finally do see relief!

Yes to the tax swap!!!!!

10:37 How much do you pay in taxes? Many homeowners are overburdened and need help too!

Who says he is slated to be Senate president? Nobody but himelf, and there are others with just as many pledges. Don't fall for the line that he's got it, because he does not.