State Legislators Discuss the 2011 Session With Chamber Membership

State budget cuts and the creation of new jobs were among the subjects members of the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation tackled during the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s annual Legislative Update Luncheon.

The event was held May 26 at the Crowne Plaza at Sabal Park with Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, state Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City and state Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Riverview, taking questions from chamber members and guests.

Prior to the question-and-answer session, the legislators gave an overview of the 2011 session, a session Storms described as “painful.”

“It was excruciating,” said the two-term senator. “In my tenure as a senator, I’ve had to make cuts, and I’ve been able to spend. I’m a much bigger fan of spending. We were facing a very difficult situation this session."

Gov. Rick Scott requested that the Legislature cut the state budget by $4.6 billion to $66 billion.

“Like all of you, the state had to make some hard choices,” said Storms. “In this economic climate, first you cut back on luxuries, then you start cutting the things you really need.”

She said she’s experienced the effects of a dour economy personally in her husband’s 30-year-old landscaping business.

“It’s been brutal,” she said. “We’ve had to cut hours and make layoffs. It’s so heartbreaking when you know these people have families they have to support. So this subject isn’t just an abstract to me when I go to Tallahassee. We are just like many businesses in Florida.”

She said, by making sacrifices, the House and Senate were able to present a balanced budget to the governor.

“We took some hard hits and made some painful cuts but we did it.”

One of the hardest decisions they made in Tallahassee was requiring government employees to contribute 3 percent of their pay to their retirement funds, said Burgin.

“It was very painful because many public employees don’t make a lot of money,” she said. But then neither do a lot of people in the private sector, and they have to continue working well beyond their retirement age, she said. Among them is her own grandmother who didn’t retire from the family produce business until the age of 91.

Glorioso said residents have yet to feel the impact of the cuts, but they will.

“You can’t do business as usual with less money,” said Glorioso.

Among the changes that will directly affect residents is the closing of state driver’s license offices throughout the state.

“We’re going to let the tax collectors, who already do the tags, do the driver’s licenses, too,” he said.

When asked what they did to create new jobs in the state, Burgin noted that she helped pass a bill that would waive bonds for small businesses so they can better compete with bigger businesses for government contracts.

Storms said the best way to help businesses and create jobs is by eliminating burdensome regulations for small businesses and by making sure that the money spent for economic development actually attracts jobs to the state.

“We need to provide money to businesses that are here and have a proven track record of creating jobs,” she said, noting that she proposed a bill that would have allocated cigarette taxes to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa, one of the businesses that has proven it creates job. The bill failed, however.

“We need to make Tallahassee realize what a jewel we have in Moffitt. It’s an economic engine. It’s a shame," she said.

Glorioso said he fought for streamlining the process that would permit businesses to relocate to Florida. He cited as an example a company called Digital Demand, which has already created 100 jobs and has promised to create 5,000 jobs within five years.

“All government can do is create an environment where businesses thrive,” he said.

Asked what they did to get government out of people’s lives, Storms said there has to be a balance between the needs of the people and government regulations.

“We all want less government unless the builder next door floods my property,” she said. “Then I want government to step in. We have a legitimate purpose of government. I don’t believe all government is bad.”

Glorioso said legislators aren’t necessarily to blame for cumbersome regulations.

“Government needs to be involved in people’s lives for reasons of safety and security,” he said. “But it’s the rules that are developed after a law is passed that really gets you. The bureaucrats always add to the intent of the law and overburden everyone with paperwork.”

If all people did what they’re supposed to do, there wouldn’t be a need for government, added Storms.

“Laws are for the lawless,” she said.