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Speaker-to-be weighs in on state taxes, education
By CURTIS KRUEGER, Times Staff Writer "We pay enough taxes already," state Rep. Johnnie Byrd says. ST. PETERSBURG -- State Rep. Johnnie Byrd, a Plant City lawyer soon to assume one of the top posts in Florida government, told a Pinellas crowd Wednesday that he doesn't much like government. Byrd, set to become speaker of the Florida House of Representatives after the November elections, told the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club that he and Republican colleagues believe "we pay enough taxes already." Byrd said free-market economic principles are soundest and that "bigger government will not work." Byrd said House GOP members use these criteria when evaluating whether to support new legislation: Does it raise taxes? Does it increase government regulation? Does it enhance individual freedoms? Does it enhance personal responsibility? Does it empower families? In response to audience questions, Byrd said Florida's sales tax revenue has proved adequate to finance Florida's needs, but the Legislature needs more discipline in saving that money for lean years. Educational funding has increased since he was elected in 1996, but he says that's not the best measure for evaluating Florida's schools. The best-funded state education systems don't have the best-performing students, he said. Later, he would not answer a reporter's question about whether he thinks Florida's system is underfunded. Byrd said he's not a fan of a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce class sizes, saying such a measure doesn't belong in the state Constitution. But he said it would make sense for the Legislature to help reduce class sizes for kindergarten through third grade, and to enhance preschool programs. But, he said class size, like overall educational funding, is not the answer for improving education. "If you're going to single out one thing, money and class size, and say those are the gold and silver bullets, then you're oversimplifying," he said after his talk.
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From the Times state desk
From the state wire
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