Florida gov. urges tax cuts, global warming fight
Source: Reuters
By Michael Peltier TALLAHASSEE, Fla. March 6 (Reuters) - Florida's new governor on Tuesday called on state lawmakers to roll back property taxes, reward top teachers and help fight global warming. Delivering his first state of the state speech at the start of a 60-day state legislative session, Gov. Charlie Crist also broke with former Gov. Jeb Bush, a fellow Republican and predecessor, by calling for stem cell research funding and election voting systems that leave paper trails. "As long as we remember that we serve the people, and we work together to do what is right, all of these goals can be achieved," Crist said during a 30-minute speech interrupted repeatedly by applause from both Democrats and Republicans. Following the eight-year tenure of Jeb Bush, the U.S. president's brother, Crist struck a more moderate tone and called on members of both parties to put ideas ahead of political debate. Topping Crist's to-do list is the reduction of local property taxes that the governor says are forcing some people out of the housing market and making it more expensive for Floridians, especially those living along the coasts. Crist has proposed doubling the state's $25,000 homestead exemption for full-year homeowners -- which reduces property taxes and caps annual increases -- and expanding property tax breaks to renters and commercial property owners. Other proposals made by legislators include doing away with property taxes for homeowners and replacing that with an increased sales tax. "The American dream of home ownership is being crushed under the weight of property taxes," Crist said. Crist also broke conservative Republican ranks by pushing for research into global warming. Noting that Florida's 1,200 miles (1,930 km) of coastline are particularly vulnerable to climate change, Crist urged lawmakers to spend at least $70 million to explore alternative fuels research. Crist also plans to establish a panel to look at other ways the state can take the lead in reversing global warning, which Crist, unlike many Republican leaders, readily acknowledged is already happening. "This simple fact reflects a challenge that we ignore at our own peril," Crist said. "I am persuaded that global climate change is one of the most important issues that we face this century." Elected in 2006, Crist last month proposed a $71.2 billion spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1. That's down $2.6 billion from the current annual budget. Included in that budget is more than $2 billion in bonds for roads, schools, Everglades restoration and other environmental restoration projects. Leading Senate Democrats said Crist has so far allowed the minority party a seat at the table, a welcome change from the Bush administration. He also is addressing Democratic concerns including election reform and stem cell research.
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