Rep. Tom Grady creates special session about economy
Rep. Tom Grady (R – Naples) will file a packet of legislation that addresses the problems this special session should be focused on – cleaning up this mess and getting our economy back on track.
“This special session was called to for a constitutional amendment on offshore drilling. Unfortunately, Charlie Crist is wasting a huge amount of tax dollars trying to ban something that is already illegal,” said Grady. “It’s time we move forward and focus on what’s important, clean up and jobs.”
Grady’s three bills include targeted tax cuts to spur job creation, spending cuts necessary because of the deteriorating economy (caused in part by the oil leak), and the ability to recover payments from oil companies and other polluters for the harm they cause our environment and economy – including lost tax revenue to the state, our counties and cities.
The tax cuts will include the elimination of corporate income tax. “This is a bold tax cut that is certain to create jobs and spur the economy,” said Grady. He also adds the economy is bad and only getting worse. “Even with just the appearance that more oil is heading toward our beaches, hotels suffer, restaurants suffer, real estate suffers, and in the end, each and everyone of us in Florida suffers through a loss of jobs and tax dollars.”
Ultimately, Grady says, “these tax cuts will immediately create jobs and kick start our economy back on track and get businesses hiring and investing in Florida again.”
But there are also some tough choices Floridians will have to make, which includes cutting the state’s optional retirement health insurance subsidy. Grady’s second bill proposes cutting this optional payment made to state workers. The program gives them an average of $105 taxpayer dollars per month toward health insurance.
Grady says when it comes to cuts, we have to look at the big picture. “If cuts are not made to programs such as this optional subsidy, we will have to cut mandatory programs like education, medicare or medicaid. Those drastic options should be at the bottom of our list.”
As the oil washes ashore, Florida is losing tax dollars (loss of sales tax, bed tax, and even property tax), and Grady says it’s time our state steps up and removes the restrictions on how much we can recover from oil and other polluters. “We must remove the caps on damages to better reflect the realities of what our state will lose from the damage caused by oil.
“We are facing monumental challenges. Our economy has already been hit hard by the recession. Oil is a massive threat to our environment and our economy.This packet of legislation deals with everything this special session should be focused on – cleaning up and getting our economy back on track.”