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The Buzz: Florida politics

Capitol gurgles with tax humor

By LUCY MORGAN
Published March 13, 2005

There was a lot of bathroom humor in the Capitol after Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, introduced a bill that would impose a 2-cents-per-roll tax on toilet paper.

Asked about the bill Thursday, Senate President Tom Lee deadpanned: "We're still sniffing it out and will be getting to the bottom of it soon."

Other lawmakers suggested flushing it and called it a "pay as you go" bill.

Lawson maintained his good humor despite receiving rolls of toilet paper, a lot of 2 cent payments and every joke known to man.

He is serious about using the $35-million a year the tax would generate to help cities and counties build sewer systems. He says the state has $4-billion in plant construction needs that cannot be funded any other way.

The bill has made Lawson the star of talk radio. By midday Friday he had done five national radio interviews and was waiting for a Fox television crew to arrive in his office.

"I had no idea this would happen," Lawson said.

FUTURE ATTORNEY GENERAL ? It's looking a lot like Pinellas County Rep. Everett Rice, R-Treasure Island, is going to make a run for attorney general in 2006.

Attorney General Charlie Crist is leaving the post to run for governor. Rice, a lawyer and former sheriff in his first term as a member of the House, is being pressed to jump into the race.

Rice says he won't make a final decision until the legislative session ends May 6. So far, only Rep. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has pulled the papers to run for the post.

DEEPENING FAMILY'S ROOTS: About 100 people gathered near the Ochlockonee River Bridge north of Tallahassee Friday afternoon to honor Marvin Arrington, a lobbyist who died on the way to the Capitol three years ago.

The Gadsden County bridge has been renamed the C. Fred and Marvin Arrington bridge in honor of the lobbyist and his father, a former legislator. Former House Speaker James Harold Thompson noted that the Arrington family has been in North Florida for 10 generations.

"Their roots run deep, just like this river does," Thompson said.

Reynolds Arrington, the 19-year-old son of the late lobbyist, thanked the crowd for the support the family has received over the past three years.

"We're all tied here together because of my dad," Reynolds said. "He touched everybody, it's just what he did."

Added Thompson: "I think I know who the next Arrington in politics will be."

RARE APPEARANCE IN CAPITOL : The Budweiser folks brought one of their famous Clydesdale horses to the state Capitol last week. The huge horse stood calmly in the courtyard between the Old Historic Capitol and the 22-story new Capitol accepting the caresses and attention of passers-by.

It is not often that you see a whole horse in a position of prominence at the Capitol, suggested several wags.

[Last modified March 13, 2005, 00:21:06]