When Florida lawmakers gathered in Tallahassee on Day 1 of the 2016 legislative session, Gov. Rick Scott was clear with his two top priorities: $1 billion in tax cuts and $250 million for the state's economic development agency Enterprise Florida. As the final day of the regular session approaches this week, lawmakers are poised to disappoint the governor on both efforts.
Republican and Democrats in the legislature say the budgetary economics of the state changed after the governor made clear his priorities. The state revenue forecast was lowered from earlier, more optimistic estimates. The new prediction was $400 million less than the original estimates, leading to lawmakers scaling back the governor's $1 billion tax cut call.
"I and others found the $1 billionirresponsible," said Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami. "By and large it doesn't go to the people or to small business. It's forlarge industries." The governor's tax cut wishes included eliminating the state tax for retailers and manufacturers, reducing the state tax on commercial real estate leases and eliminating the state sales tax on manufacturing equipment. That last one does have legislative support.
The back-to-school sales tax holiday likely will be scaled back from 10 days last year to 3 days this August.
As does bringing back sales tax holidays for back-to-school and hurricane-preparedness seasons, though both will be shorter than last year. "Some years we have more money to do it, some years we have less and unfortunately it's a little bit less but still big. ReallyFloridians will just have to compress the time they're going to do their shopping this year," said Rep. George Moraitis, R-Fort Lauderdale.
And the fate of Gov. Scott's other top legislative priority -- $250 million to use as incentives to lure companies to location or grow jobs in Florida? "It looks increasingly unlikely," said Moraitis. "It's unfortunate. I didn't support $250 million,but I did support something substantial."
The governor's effort didn't have Rep. Rodriguez's support either. "The governor was trying to multiply by five the amount we spend on these economic development programswithoutclear oversight."
Veto-proof?
In order to comply with state law, legislators have to finish their work on the budget Tuesday in order for it to be approved Friday, the final day of the regular session.
And what if Gov. Scott decides he won't sign the budget and tosses it back to legislators by vetoing it? "I think we're definitely prepared as alegislature to come back to override that," said Rep. Moraitis. The confidence is rooted in what lawmakers see as bi-partisan support for the spending plan. Twenty seven senators would be needed to override a gubernatorial veto. There are 26 Republicans in the Senate. Eighty members of the Florida House are necessary to override a veto. Republicans hold 81 seats.
