Haridopolos sets up Amendment 5 debates

Sen. Mike Haridopolos is taking his anti-Amendment 5 show on the road, announcing today 10 public debates across Florida starting July 22 in Pembroke Pines. But it's unclear whether he will have someone to debate.

“Amendment 5 would affect Florida’s economy on every level, and it is important that voters hear this discussion firsthand so that they can decide if it is truly the right choice for our education system and our economy,” said Haridopolos, R-Indialantic, who heads a coalition against the amendment. (a lawsuit against the amendment will be heard Aug. 13 in Tallahassee.)

Haridopolos wants to debate former Senate President John McKay, who is the main backer of the proposal to greatly eliminate school property taxes for a higher sales tax and other revenue. But McKay has said he's not interested in a "dog and pony show."

"If he truly believes in this issue," Haridopolos told the Buzz, "he should be there."

•    Tuesday, July 22nd, 1 p.m., Broward Community College, Pembroke Pines
•    Monday, July 28th, 1 p.m., Edison Community College, Ft. Myers
•    Tuesday, July 29, 1 p.m., Valencia Community College, Orlando
•    Monday, August 4th, 1 p.m., Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville
•    Wednesday, August 6th, 1 p.m., Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville
•    Thursday, August 7th, 1:30 p.m., St. Petersburg College, Seminole
•    Monday, August 11th, 1 p.m., Miami-Dade College, Miami
•    Tuesday, August 12th, 1 p.m., Indian River State College, Ft. Pierce
•    Wednesday, August 13th, 1 p.m., Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City
•    Monday, August 18th, 1 p.m., Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee

Comments

Wow, how cool. All of them are scheduled at a time when the majority of us are fricking working for our livelihood. I'll debate you Hari boy. And maybe then you can explain to everyone why you think property taxes are the way to continually fund your wasteful budgets!

Hari- you are losing more and more credibility and showing yourself to be a whimpy person who does not want to address hard issues... does not bode well for your Senate Presidency.

Hey Floriduuuuh… you dopes bought the whole $240 screw job… how about another $138.54? Just don’t ask about property insurance.

Hahahahahahahaaaa….

Brilliant idea - set up debates with no one to debate at a time when we'll all be working so we can't even debate - even he can win those debates!

DWE will debate him. He can debate anybody.

I had a “Haridopolos“ once… but my girlfriend made me shave it. Now my dopolos is nice and smoooooth!

[Vote No on 5!!!]

Yeah, lets all vote for another irresponsible Republican tax bill. And let's continue the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy too. These folks have shown everyone how good they are at allowing their rich friends to evade all duty and responsibility. I think Florida is not contributing its fair share to the record national debt. We must do more to patriotically impoverish our nation! Bend over kids, the GOP has your future all prepared for you.

Vote No on 5 and ALL FUTURE GOP TAX "REFORM"

4:45 Yeah, a Haridopolos is kind of like that - it serves no useful purpose. Amendment 5 can fail without a Haridopolos, especially when we know he's a Norquista tax cutting fanatic who only wants to clear the way for something even worse.

[john]

early after noon on a college campus in the middle of the summer...yup seems like something the college type would defintely show up for at that time... as well as the people who will be at work trying to pay for 5$ gas...scheduling?

[Debbie]

Why are the taxpayers footing the bill for this special interest charade?

I WANT MY PROPERTY TAXES CUT!!! I DON'T CARE HOW YOU DO IT!!

Scared say scared Mikey. You can pull all the gimmicks you want and have a debate in every city every month from now til November.

What you are really afraid of is that voters want tax relief and tax reform and A5 gives them an option. Let the voters decide.

Which of Haridopolos' THREE state employers will pay for his travel? Will he count it as state time when it's clearly political?

I bet Haripoopolous is sitting there laughing... saying, if no one shows up to debate, we will put up a poster of McKay... and talk to a poster that doesn't answer questions... Wouldn't it be funny for him to tarnish his image that way... and even more than he has already...

I hear there is already talk of Senators distancing themselves from his antics on this issue. He is putting his future on the line.

YES on Amendment 5 = 25% cut in your property taxes.

This thing will pass with a breeze in this economic atmosphere.

[Yes on Amendment 5]

Everyone must live within their means including local government!!

Yes on Amendment 5

Notice how quiet Bennett has been on this issue? He's sitting back and waiting to be president. C'mon, Mike. We love you but whoever is giving you advice should be ashamed. I hope you are not paying for it.

What's the problem here? Hari is giving his opposition a equal opportunity to present their side

yeah, if haridopolos is so pathetic, why wouldn't mckay debate him?

yeah, if haridopolos is so pathetic, why wouldn't mckay debate him?

Dockery will be the President from 10-12.

Yes to tax cuts!

Yes to President Dockery!

[Sage]

7:15 is spot on. Having one of their own this far out opposing a tax cut in a year Republicans need it most makes Republican leadership nervous.

Cagate en McKay

I imagine McKay cant go because he is working.... Has Mikey ever had a job the taxpayers didnt have to pay for?

“Amendment 5 would affect Florida’s economy on every level, and it is important that voters hear this discussion firsthand so that they can decide if it is truly the right choice for our education system and our economy,”

thanks Hari for that collectivist outlook - you have clearly forgotten that it is MY money that I earned to feed me and my family that you are taking your taxes from

that being said, I do beleive A5 will get majority support of the voters, but will not get the 60% needed - sad thing is the anti-A5 spinners will then try to claim there is no hunger for tax reform in FL

I'm hungry for property tax relief. Milk for my kids is $5 a gallon, and gas isn't too far behind.

families need this proposal to pass

1:34 am

mckay cagate en you

The amendment is probably going to get knocked off the ballot by the Supreme Court because the descriptive language for the ballot was intentionally misleading.

The debate on this board about whether it is truly a "tax swap" or a "tax cut" shows the misinformation that it out there. If it is a tax cut, what programs (the public schools) will be cut. Is it stated in the description that the public schools would be cut by $2 billion to $5 billion? No, but some people on this blog say that this is what will happen and some even think that this is a good thing. The general public does not support cuts to the public schools and certainly not cuts in the range of 12% to 30%.

If it is a "tax swap" than there isn't really a "tax savings." There is just a change in how you pay for the tax (property taxes or sales taxes). The "winners" on a shift to sales tax in a true "swap" are the extremely wealthy and not the low, middle or even the upper-middle class. Sales taxes are naturally regressive. Does the amendment claim to be a "swap" when it is really a "cut." I think so, and so do many others (both supports and opponents of the proposal). But the ballot language suggests that the public schools will be made whole which is where the Court will find that it must be thrown out.

Finally, if it is a true swap, Floridians would be better off paying property taxes that are federally deductable than sales taxes that are not.

[Vote NO on 5!!!]

Floridians would be better off paying property taxes that are a dependable source of revenue and not in the hands of theiving Republicans in Tallahassee. Trade stable revenue for sales tax controlled by the state, and every GOP campaign contributor will expect and receive an exemption. This is not a tax swap, this is a tax scam.

Vote NO on 5 and ALL FUTURE GOP SPONSORED TAX CUTS!

[taxtheair]

Senator Mike Haridopolos the major organizer and opponent to amendment 5 has apparently turned 180 degrees. About a year ago, if you take him at his word, he was seriously considering a proposal that would replace homestead property tax with a sales tax, His quote, "Its an intriguing idea, you would truly own your own home. You wouldn't jeopardize losing your home because of taxes." And by the way Mike, since when does the constitution say you don’t have the right to truly own your own home in the first place? At least now we know you have no problem with making the American Dream a Lie.
Local governments clearly threaten to throw every homesteader in the country out of their homes if they don’t pay their property tax. This is a perfect example of extortion because the government claims you own your home. Ownership is not a complicated concept. It means you don’t have to pay anyone to keep it. You may own your shirt and your pants but as far as your home goes, if you own it as the government clams, then clearly the government is guilty of extortion and operating a continual criminal enterprise. The only way the government can logically be cleared of extortion would be for them to admit that are denying home ownership, the American Dream is a lie, and the people are actually the servants of government. After all since when does a servant have the right to throw the owner out of his home?
Linking property tax to schools is immoral and never should have been allowed it the first place. Amendment 5 should be considered but the first in restoring the people’s constitutional right to acquire home ownership.

A "dependable source of revenie" would be an income tax. Income taxes are progressive, and residnets in states that levy them can deduct them from their federal income taxes. More money returns back for state projects.

But, Florida, in its century long quest to be the hemhorroid of America, digs its heels into the sand and 100 years later you have a fight over proeprty taxes vs. sales taxes.

Levy an income tax and high property taxes suddenly get lower.

It sucks to grow up sometimes..but Florida, perhaps its time.

"restoring the people’s constitutional right to acquire home ownership."

Please, show me where in the Constitution home ownership is guaranteed....

Dear taxtheair,

If you believe that the American Dream is a lie, I would invite you to return to the country of your ancestory. Property taxes do not mean that you do not own something. Please.

The tax cutters in Florida's Legislature believe that tax cuts are good for the economy. They passed the largest tax cut in the history of the state in May of 2007 and followed it up with an even biggest tax cut in Amendment #1 in January. How is that working for the economy guys?

We need some real leaders in the Florida House and not just last year's frat house President.

[Vote NO on 5!!!]

Grow up and pay your taxes. Quit thinking up complicated schemes to weaken government through tax reform and admit that you just don't like the local governments telling Big Business not to pollute, cheat, lie, and steal from citizens.

Vote NO on 5 and ALL FUTURE GOP SPONSORED CORPORATE WELFARE SCHEMES

11:51 - vote no on ALL FUTURE GOP SPONSORED CORPORATE WELFARE SCHEMES

because... the Democrats will offer up a tax cut plan themselve?

lol

12:22 I would expect the DEMs to offer up a plan which takes into account the future needs of our citizens for services, education, and regulation of corporate greed and pollution before offering up tax cuts. Republicans and their Big Business tax cut supporters only see one narrow aspect of the issue - regulation stands between them and increased profits. If you mention education - services - regulation, they try to sweep those issues under the rug with their panacea of reduced government spending, which they know plays well but is neither true nor the responsible thing to do.

But I suspect you know all that, don't you? Your game is not offering people a choice based on facts, but rather spinning the issue in favor of those who sign your paycheck.

http://election.dos.state.fl.us/publications/pdf/0708candComm.pdf

Please review the table above. Floridians pay less on average for state and local taxes. They pay the fifth HIGHEST federal taxes and have the 12 highest burden as a whole largely because of two factors. We are wealthy in this state and most of our state taxes are not deductable on our federal taxes in Florida while in most states their state income tax is deductable.

So, we pay a lot of taxes to Washington who spends it for bridges in Alaska and to both destroy and rebuild Iraq while the Florida Legislature works to destroy our schools, libraries, parks, roads, law enforcement, etc. here.

The tax swap amendment will make this worse (more federal taxes with less local services) not better.

Mckay has always wanted to increase sales taxes and eliminate exemptions. Haridopolis knows that this is a Mckay ploy.BTW, Detert is a Mckay person and will never back Haridopolus. She's backing Dockery.

is it really so bad in the senate that dockery and haridopelis are the only options for president?

[taxtheair]

Please, show me where in the Constitution home ownership is guaranteed....

Property taxes do not mean that you do not own something. Please.

To who made these comments you obviously are incapable of logic and most likely a typical liberal bigot. Although I know its hope less to try and enlighten you I will try.
I never stated that home ownership is guaranteed by the constitution. Only that the right to acquire home ownership is. Obviously the constitution doesn't just grant everybody a home. But if you read your history you will realize that the private ownership of property is sewn into the very fabric of the constitution and a driving force for the revolution. Even Mike Haridopolos will tell you that this "right" is the foundation of a free society.

As for the other idiotic statement, I never said property tax meant you don’t own something. I clearly stated you can own your shirt and your pants. But that you can never own you home is clear, except to the most profound bureaucratic bigots. Hell, ever the entire Marion county commission agrees with me on this. But even more obvious and stated clearly in my original post is that ownership means you don’t have to pay anyone to keep it. From the prospective of ownership it is intensely obvious that the relationship you have with you shirt and pants is not the same as the one you have with your home. Logically it is impossible for both to be ownership. By the way 99% of the population understands this, including my cat and dog.

Heard this monkey stick on the radio this morning. I know if... and at this point it is a BIG if... he becomes Senate President, there will be 39 members pulling their hair(idopolous) out from the sound of his voice...

Putting the childish stuff aside, this guy has no clue and it is so clear he is bought and paid for. He understands that there needs to be caps on what local government spends, but this is not the vehicle... well Hari, you didn't step up to the plate to offer anything else, you just sat there like a little kid kicking and screaming that you might have to do some hard work as Senate President.

Hari, regardless of what you think is the most appropriate vehicle, IF YOU DO NOT REPLACE THE MONEY, it essentially caps spending on the State level - which is a start. Since you agree and understand this, take the next two years to fight for caps on local government spending and you MAY JUST REDEEM YOURSELF... but if you are just throwing this out there to avoid having to make tough decisions and have no intention of offering and fighting for real reform, then put down the torch and let someone else who is capable lead the Senate.

let's cap the number of gubbermint jobs elected officials can have.

Problem Solved!

[Vote NO on 5 and ALL Irresponsible GOP tax cuts!]

Republicans just want to cripple YOUR government with tax cuts, so Big Business can continue on its merry way, destroying our state and ruining our economy to maximize their bottom line.

If you think I'm kidding, visit the Florida TaxWatch website and check out the board members. Tell me why this "people's advocates" for smaller government is staffed almost entirely by Big Business?

They don't care about your kid's education, police or fire services, or the environment. They just want to bankrupt the government and put an end to oversight and regulation, which the government does on your behalf.

Vote NO on 5. Then when they propose even more drastic cuts (as Haridopolis will) VOTE NO AGAIN.

Problem Solved!!!

Vote YES on Amendment 5!!

25% off property taxes, make tourists using our state help pay more

Cut the local government waste!!

Everyone must live within their means including local government.

democrats = more & more taxes

11:02 Since TaxWatch opposes Amendment 5 I know I will definitely vote for it. Thanks for reminding me they're a front for business interests.

If you hear Haridopolos talking on the radio do you think it is:

A. A frat boy
B. A girl
C. Mike Fasano
D. A sad excuse for a Senate President

[Sasha]

More tax swindles by the lying gutless Florida Republicans.
Any tax proposal by Republicans will:
1. Help the rich & the Super-Rich.
2. Gut education for working Americans.
3. Fund private religious schools.
4. Create tax cuts for big corporations.
Thank you Republicans and your fearless leader George W. Bush .....