Gov. Scott's "State Of The State" To Kick Off 2014 Legislative Session
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — Florida lawmakers are expected to cover everything from guns to gambling when they open their 2014 legislative session on Tuesday.
Gov. Rick Scott will kick off the session by asking legislators to approve his tax cut package and by asking to keep tuition rates low.
"Together, we have cut taxes 24 times already... And my hope is that we are about to cut them again... by another $500 million this year," according to an excerpt of the governor's speech released in advance. "If we continue to cut taxes – by rolling back the 2009 tax hike on annual motor vehicle fees so Floridians keep more of the money they earn…And, if we continue to cut taxes on small businesses - by cutting the tax on business leases and rolling back the business tax to now exempt 4 out of 5 Florida businesses from paying it."
Scott's State of the State speech Tuesday will be one of the highlights of the opening day of the 60-day session.
While the first day is usually a lot of ceremony, the Florida Senate plans to pass bills intended to crack down on sex offenders. The main goal of the proposed laws will be to strengthen the Jimmy Ryce Act, which allows for the civil commitment of sexual predators once they finish their prison terms.
Many of the more contentious issues may get pushed off another year to avoid controversies that could harm Scott's bid for re-election. Scott, who had never run for office before 2010, is seeking a second term but he has been battling consistently low poll numbers.
Scott will use his speech to press for more than $500 million in tax and fee cuts he's seeking this year. In addition to the reduction in the motor vehicle registration, he is also seeking a break in taxes charged on commercial rents and he wants to expand the state's existing back-to-school sales tax holiday.
"As I tell the hard-working people of Florida as I travel our state: We want you to keep more of the money you earn. Because it's your money," reads another except of his speech.
The governor also wants to keep college tuition rates flat again this year. Scott vetoed a proposed tuition hike in 2013 and his office tried unsuccessfully to get universities to ignore a provision in state law that requires tuition to go up by the rate of inflation.
Scott in his speech will ask legislators to repeal laws that allow universities to raise tuition above rates set by legislators. Legislative leaders have said they are willing to roll back the rate from the current 15 percent to 6 percent.
Scott will say that "undoing" the tuition laws is "another way we can keep higher education affordable and accessible."
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