Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Politics

Cities' use of taxes is targeted

By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published March 9, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - A Pinellas lawmaker wants to stop cities and counties from using public money to sway voters, but it was clear Thursday he still has some convincing to do.

Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, postponed a vote on his proposal after a flurry of skeptical questions from Senate Ethics & Elections Committee members.

The bill would fine an official $1,000 per count for spending public money to support or oppose an election issue, referendum or amendment. It also prohibits anyone from "acting on behalf of" local officials.

"What it does do is stop them from spending my tax dollars to take a position on a referendum," Justice said.

Justice said his bill would not stop officials from giving speeches, writing opinion pieces or appearing on TV. They simply couldn't spend taxpayers' money to do it, he said.

The bill (SB 734) is a reaction to cases in Pinellas and Volusia counties in which city and county officials used public money to try to sway public opinion on referendums.

The Florida Supreme Court ruled it legal in a 1991 case for local governments to spend public money to take sides.

Kraig Conn, a lobbyist for the Florida League of Cities, criticized the bill as overly broad and "intrudes upon local government authority."

As written, Conn said, the bill would subject city officials to fines for using city-owned phones or computers to send an e-mail to a reporter or a constituent.

Justice postponed a vote on his bill after fielding a series of skeptical questions from Sens. Bill Posey, Steve Oelrich and JD Alexander.

"We certainly believe in the right of elected leaders to discuss issues in the community," Alexander said.

Justice promised to bring the bill back.

"It's going to come down to what you see the role of local government as," Justice said.

[Last modified March 9, 2007, 01:55:57]