Former rep writes about sausage and laws

Former state Rep. Winston "Bud" Gardner has written an unpublished book called Sausage and Laws, which chronicles the short life and death of the 1987 sales tax on services.

The Democrat who represented Titusville touts the book as a "down and dirty look at raw politics, secret meetings and how the adversing broadcast industry brought a major state to its knees." The services tax was passed and then repealed the same year.

Should it be published, the book would be timely. Voters are considering Constitutional Amendment 5 on the ballot this fall, which would force lawmakers to take a tough look at again taxing services to make up for other property tax cuts.

Gardner, 69,  works for an Orlando engineering firm and says he's worked on the 190-page book, on and off, "mostly off," over the past 20 years. He's schedule to retire May 1, 2009.

"With Governor Crist entering the debate on Amendment 5, maybe retired life will be very interesting," Gardner says.

Comments

Boy wouldn't I love to purchase a copy of this book!!!

"which would force lawmakers to take a tough look at again taxing services to make up for other property tax cuts."

Now the SPT is playing the Hari tune...

Nothing says a services tax needs to be implemented - Haridopolous just doesn't want to have to work hard IF HE BECOMES SENATE PRESIDENT... and everyone should consider an alternative if he keeps it up...

"Nothing says a services tax needs to be implemented...."

..except for the silly old-fashion notion that the tax code shouldn't be a flea market for the rich and powerful, where they can get special exception from the taxes the rest of of pay just by smoozing, boozing and funding our politicians.

In the old days "equal before the law" meant something. Now it's just a bygone sensibility left behind by modern political sophisticates who believe in.........what? "I'll get mine!"

Republicans....they're very good at negative campaigning.

They're not so good at governing.

12:55
Democrats controlled both the House and Senate during those debates. Mirror time.

[a christian voting Obama]

here is so called "christian values"
McCain's latest campaigning....

mostly topless and bottomless participants getting drunk and doing drugs

McCain also joked that he urged Cindy to participate in a campground beauty pageant that was taking place during his speech....

“I was looking at the Sturgis schedule and noticed that you have a beauty pageant and so I encouraged Cindy to compete. I told her, with a little luck, she could be the only woman ever to serve as both the First Lady and Miss Buffalo Chip,” he said to cheers

Nice try, 2:17, but a real "christian" voter has alot more to look at in this election than a joke about the Miss Buffalo Chip pageant.

1:34

yes. but Republicans controlled the Governor's Mansion - and there was still a veto then too.

Maybe you should ask Mac "I am the worst chief of staff in the history of Florida" Stipanovich to recall those days of yore.

Does Winston "Bud" Gardner's book include a chapter on hob-nobbing with lobbyists, including hunting trips to quail plantations?

7:35 I was merely pointing out to all the hyperpartisans like 12:55 that there was shared blame for both parties on that one. Surely you can't disagree with that.