Byrd phone rate repeal plan raises hackles in House
A private meeting wasn't enough to quiet criticism, with one member calling the House speaker's plan "government by applause meter."
By LUCY MORGAN and STEVE BOUSQUET
Published March 24, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - House Speaker Johnnie Byrd's proposal to repeal an unpopular phone rate increase might make him a hero with consumers, but it has strained his precarious relationships with some of his key members.
Byrd twice met privately Monday with his inner circle, including the two men in line to succeed him as speaker. Some are uneasy with what they see as Byrd's top-down style of leadership. The lawmakers told Byrd they did not like reading about his call for repeal in a newspaper.
The speaker was described as humble at a private dinner with eight House Republicans Monday but determined to wipe out a law that set the stage for a record rise in local phone rates. The repeal will be considered today in a House committee, expected to be its only stop before heading to the House floor.
The unannounced gathering, one in a regular series of "leadership dinners," was held at a lobbying firm, Poole, McKinley & Blosser.
"Those who talked with me said they support what I'm doing," Byrd told reporters on Tuesday. "The hope of having competition in the marketplace to drive down prices is a hope that can't be realized."
The new rates have been blocked by a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Charlie Crist and the state's Public Counsel. Meanwhile a recent federal court decision, Byrd maintains, thwarts competition that could lower rates.
The repeal effort has prompted something unusual: House Republicans openly critical of the powerful speaker.
Rep. Stan Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, a sponsor of last year's law, said the repeal effort was "government by applause meter."
Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa, who voted for the 2003 law, was equally blunt. "It would have been the professional and courteous thing to call the members in ahead of time. ... You've got a responsibility to bring it to the attention of the members, not force it down their throats."
An army of telecommunications lobbyists were suddenly scrambling in all directions, especially toward the Senate, where leaders are taking a wait-and-see attitude about repeal.
"I think we're going to be spending a lot of time down there," said Verizon lobbyist Guy Spearman, pointing toward the Senate chamber.
If the House votes for repeal, senators will feel pressure to fall in line. Senate Rules Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said House passage of the bill would "definitely put the spotlight on us."
Lee, who opposed the measure last year, predicted a close vote in the Senate. He said he doesn't think repeal is a guarantee because the Senate prefers consistency. The measure passed the Senate 27-12 last year.
"These are experienced public servants who have been through many tough votes," Lee said, referring to the Senate. "They don't tend to bend as easily."
Lee called the repeal move a "knee-jerk" reaction to public opposition, and said the Senate would consider alternatives, like a study commission.
"This is a very difficult issue for members," Lee said. "With the exception of the services tax, how often have we done a retreat on a high profile issue?"
In 1987 legislators passed a sales tax on services, but repealed it seven months later. The reversal contributed to the defeat of Republican Gov. Bob Martinez and several legislators.
Gov. Jeb Bush said he's still reviewing the facts. He said no rate increase could occur for the next year anyway, since the law is tied up in a court challenge and pending at the Public Service Commission.
"We ought to be looking at this in a comprehensive way, dealing with tax and regulation issues together," Bush said. "From a policy situation, that is the right thing to do."
Lyn Bodiford, a lobbyist for the AARP, one of the strongest critics of the law, praised Byrd, and said she was worried the Senate would not agree.
"We think he's doing the right thing for all the right reasons," Bodiford said of Byrd. "We're certainly hopeful that he's going to be successful, and we certainly hope that the Senate realizes that circumstances have changed."
Local rate increases could range from $3.14 a month to $6.86 a month over the next few years depending on the company.
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
