Haridopolos' challenge: Debate me, John McKay

Sen. Mike Haridopolos this morning challenged his Amendment 5 rival, former Senate President John McKay of Bradenton, to at least 10 debates across the state.

But McKay is skeptical of a "dog and pony show."

"I'm a private citizen so I doubt my schedule is as flexible as Sen. Haridopolos might desire," he told the Buzz. "I'm not in the campaign business. I don't think I want to get into a dog and pony show."

Still, McKay said he is open to some forums with opponents of the so-called tax swap, just not as many as Haridopolos envisions. (audio from today's press conference is here.)

"I would be happy to debate this issue with him but there has to be more people than just me involved."

Amendment 5 is commonly known as the "tax swap" and was put on the ballot by the state Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.

It calls for eliminating most school property taxes and replacing them with a 1 cent or more increase in the sales tax and an array of other revenue sources, including budget cutting or eliminating sales tax exemptions.

Haridopolos floated the idea during a news conference at the Florida Press Center in Tallahassee, where he formally announced the coalition seeking to defeat Amendment 5.

He said if McKay chooses not to participate, opponents will still travel the state and talk against the ballot proposal.

Comments

Haridopolous is a windbag...this thing passes, as has every other tax cut on the ballot - including the piece of junk A1 Haridopolous hawked 6 months ago.

McKay had two days a month available for the TBRC for the past year but he is a big chicken when it comes to talking about the impact of the amendment he helped to pass. The sad truth is that he allowed the Jebbies to poison his baby, but he still loves it no matter how ugly it is now.

If they had even just limited the reduction in the RLE to the actual amount (dollar for dollar) raised by an additional sales tax and elimination of exemptions, the amendment would have been great, but because they eliminate the RLE without any real plan to replace it, the impact of the amendment passing would be to destroy public education in Florida. Hey wait, isn't that what Jeb wanted all along?

Hari is a Norquista pig. Nevertheless, I will be voting NO on 5, and I will be voting NO on all other GOP sponsored tax cuts, including an even more irresponsible one that Hari's got waiting in his back pocket.

GOP = kill our schools, strangle our services, no regulation of growth or pollution + tax cuts for their developer cronies.

NO NO NO!

12:14,

Hari is a big businees Republican that you are backing. Retail Federation mouthpiece.

Yes on 5! Tax cuts to homeowners!

12:32 NO to ALL GOP tax cuts. ALL GOP including Hari use homowners as a smokescreen for their true purpose, which is to strangle government and eliminate regulation for their developer cronies. They couldn't care less about funding our schools or services.

NO NO NO to 5 and in the future NO to Hari as well!

[Early Bird Special]

Education in Florida is a joke on the national scale.

It takes money to pay for a good education.

And Floridians, it appears, are more interested in Early Bird Specials than the quality education for children of this state.

The state of Florida needs to put more money into education and, also, increase teachers salaries.

Remember, you get what you pay for.

[Alan]

We need to have a change in the Florida House. We need to elect people like Larry Jones, who is fighting for District 19 seat. He's against the shift from property tax to increase sales tax. If we were to raise the sale tax, how is this going to help with middle class residents of Florida? The middle class is spending less on goods and service because of high gas prices and the poor ECONOMY.

Alan, It helps them because they will save far more on real estate taxes. Tourists pay 30% of the sales taxes in this state. By the way if they are spending less aren't they essentially paying less in sales taxes? Do they have the choice to spend less on property taxes??Do the math. This tax swap will save all Floridians money.

Now now Mr. McKay... Mr. Haridopolous is very busy attending college, working at a college or two, and some other state job thing or another... he is making time in his schedule, you can do the same...

This amendment is going to die a nasty death!

[Rethug Bait and Switch]

Typical Rethug (R) bait and switch.

[Tom]

1:17 you have not thought it through. The full time residents/homeowners typical family people will have to make up for all the ad valorem taxes the multiple property owners, the hotels and the snowbirds will not be paying on their homes. The full timers will be paying for it through added costs on everything they buy that are being passed thru to them because the suppliers will have to pay increased sales taxes and new service taxes and fees on the goods it makes before they bring their products to market. Think about it. The only people that are going to laugh their way to the bank are McKay's friends, multiple property owners, rich homeowners, snowbirds, hoteliers, people like that. If you fit that class, good for you. The rest of us will pay increased costs on what we buy for our families plus we will be hit with additional taxes and fees. IE license plates went up. Drivers license renewal went up. Clerk of the Court record search on the internet was free, now we must pay. To top it all off, McKay hid in the amendment IF a services tax will come into play, he put in an exemption for Broker Fees and Stock Commissions! Do you call that fair? I got more, but I do not have the time to explain. Last but not least, McKay put in a hold harmless that means the State still has to fund the schools, so where will the state get the money from? You have to re-think your position 1:17.

Hari now works for the school unions so all of a sudden he is against A5. Don't even call him a Republican he is a liberal Democrat if I ever met one! Out!! Out damn Hari! Vote yes for 5 and no for Hari. I WANT MY PROPERTY TAXES REDUCED AND I DO NOT CARE HOW THEY FIND THE MONEY FOR THE GREEDY SCHOOL UNIONS!!

Tom,

I agree they need to do away with the service exemptions. That includes Realtors, lawyers, pool cleaning service, dry cleaners, etc. No doubt.

30% of sales taxes are paid by tourists that don't own property in this state.

We pay about $1,000 in property taxes for every $40k in taxable value. That would be a $250 cut in taxes. You would have to spend $25,000 on taxable items to pay the same amount in taxes. Something tells me that if you live in a house taxed at $40k then you are not spending $25,000 a year on taxable items. Thus you save money.

By the way those fees continuosly go up whether or not they give us this tax cut. go down to the county courthouse if you want to search for free. renewing your license is like once every 8 years. yearly car registration is like $35. Even if they raise it 20% it's still only $7 more.

1:45,

Hari works for the Retail Federation. Look at how much campaign money they give him. They don't want a higher sales tax. Some of the biggest members are Disney, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Best Buy.

[bd]

More taxes! That's exactly what makes me spend more at the store and boost our economy!

Education needs more funds, but not from the sales tax. Increase local school board taxes if anything.

McKay reminds me of an old lawyer I know who always knew to shut up, even in mid sentance, if the judge or jury members were nodding their head in agreement. The technical aspects of the arguement only give you an opportunity to lose the mind of those whom are already voting for you with their heart.

The average folks have to pay that property tax bill, government spending and reach is out of control and their heart is in reducing both of these things. Supporting Amendment 5 is the best vehicle they have for doing that. And on top of that they cannot go to the gas station, grocery store, utility company, doctors office etc. and demand lower prices but they can do that to government and about 68% are going to.

[Omega83]

"Increase local school board taxes if anything."

The Legislature and Goveror have done that every year for the last 9 years.

It's one of the biggest, most hypocritical shell games I have ever witnessed.

Florida is a joke! Do you wonder why the state LOSES most of its cases or has to settle? Wonder no more!!!

OCCUPATION PROFILEWorking Title: ATTORNEY Broadband/Class Level: LAWYERS - Level 3 Broadband/Class Code: 23-1011-03 Pay Grade/Pay Band: BB010Position Number: 60071780 Closing Date: 6/30/2008Location: Annual Salary: $36,381.54

This is work representing the State of Florida in criminal or civil litigation, and administrative and other legal proceedings, drawing up legal documents, conducting legal research and advising agencies on legal issues and transactions. Incumbents may specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law. Some positions in this occupation may be responsible for coordinating work and supervising employees.

[terminator]

1:45
Omega is dead on.
This is Jeb's dirty little secret. Unsuspecting homeowners were so giddy while their home values were going up, up and away, they didn't bother to notice (or mind) their taxes were going up, up and away as well.
Now that the real estate bubble has deflated, home values are sinking and homeowners haven't seen any drop in property taxes, all of a sudden everyone's in shock.

Hari could give a crap about schools. The unions are opposed to A5 (rightfully so) because there is no substitute for the other $5 billion the state would have to cough up to replace the loss of the 25% of school taxes that would be cut by A5 shy of the legislature promising to "hold education harmless".
You see how well that worked with A1 right?
Hari's concerned that he and other fatcat legislators won't have the revenue to continue funding corporate welfare programs like they've been doing for years and years.
Poor Mikey, and just when he's about to become king of the mountain (Senate Prez) they take all his gold away.
Poor pitiful Mikey!

[Fred]

Bingo Omega83
"Increase local school board taxes if anything."

The Legislature and Governor have done that every year for the last 9 years.

It's one of the biggest, most hypocritical shell games I have ever witnessed.

If the RLE is left in place the local property tax in the near future will fund almost the entire education budget! Most people are not aware of this yearly transfer!

Education funding is the paramount responsibility of the STATE but it is being passed to local government, by yearly increases! And Haridopolos talks about a tax increase, what does he call that?
The state increases the local property tax every year!!!!!!

So little Rubio Jr. wants to debate McKay. Who cares...

[READ THE AMENDMENT]

Tom:

You are a lying sack of shill as usual. People on this blog know there is no "exemption" for items from a potential services tax besides healthcare.

amen 3:23!

Cut my property taxes now.

John McKay would school Haridopolos. Don't buy off more than you can chew, Senator H.

If passed, overtaxed homeowners would save near 25% on property taxes.

YES ON 5!!

5 for 25

YES ON 5!!

5 for 25% savings

Hari is a midget in knowledge and power!! All he is doing is listening to that school he works for now. THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA WILL VOTE TO CUT THEIR PROPERTY TAXES!! Get if? So all you school board, union, and anyone who is realted to the schools EXCEPT TEACHERS, give it up! Teacher will vote for it because you other school suckers take money for everything except the teacher salery! They want to save on their property taxes also.
Bring it on Mr Harilier!! Bring it on Mr. Mean Randy RATail!

All of the whiners in Florida think they pay too much taxes and then complain about the quality of our schools and government services. Florida ranks 28th in the country in taxes per $1,000 of real estate value. 28th, while ranking about 45-50th in education quality, with no universities in the top 50 nationwide and only one public and one private in the top 100. The realtors are totally missing why North Carolina and Virginia and other quality reputation education states are growing, even while taxing much more than Florida. Heck, even Texas taxes at a rate of about 2.5 times Florida for real estate and it is growing while we shrink and see our economy retract. Businesses move and expand in states where the educational infrastructure is best, nto where they think they can get by the cheapest. Employees move to areas where the schools are best and businesses can not get employees and management to move to states with crummy schools or a bad national reputation. Amendment 5 adds to the uncertainty and turmoil of the Florida economy, which is very bad for progress in our state.

People, I'm as republican and conservative as they come and all for property tax relief, but the numbers don't add up.

If you eliminate the RLE completely and then add 1 cent to the sales tax, you fall billions short. In addition, you could then completely cut the entire state programs and agencies like the medicaid program or AHCA and still come up short.

Florida's recurring revenue base is about $25 billion at the moment. No amount of increased sales tax or tax on services will make up the $10-$11 billion cut this amendment will create and relying on "increased growth" when revenues continue to plummet at a $100 million per month average is a fool's bet and dishonest.

Numbers don't lie and don't have a political affiliation. Any economist without a prior agenda would agree this will not work. Its just a shame no-one on the TBRC took a basic math or economics class before voting on this.

[jacob]

Senator Haridopolos has called for a series of 10 debates on Ammendment 5. If he's willing to go through all the trouble of forming this coalition and asking for public debates, I say we should listen. At least here we can make some informed decisions by listening to both groups.

9:54,

Florida ranks 38th in dollars per pupil at the k-12 levels. I bet we would rank much higher if our government didn't use our money to grow their tax base. How many new schools in Hillsborough County alone due to population increases in the last 10 years? Let growth pay for itself. Let developers pay for new schools.
By the way, the state universities in Florida rank 49th in tuition. They need to raise tuition not taxes. We could triple our tuition and we still wouldn't be ranked in the top 10 states as far as average tuition at a 4 year public university.

Tom are you back working in the Senate yet? Or maybe on Webster's campaign?

John McKay really shouldn't be able to blog!! Get a life.