Bush reaches for consensus in special session

The governor might convene lawmakers as early as next month to address the state's tourist-dependent economy.

By STEVE BOUSQUET

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 25, 2001

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush is reaching out to Democratic lawmakers as they make plans for a special session of the Legislature to deal with Florida's financial pressures made worse by the terrorist attacks.

Bush said Monday he hopes to convene lawmakers as early as next month for a special session to deal with the economic impact of the attacks, and other measures, to stimulate the state's tourist-dependent economy. With millions of Americans jittery about air travel, Florida's tourism industry is experiencing major losses.

"I want to do this in a consensus-oriented way," said the Republican governor, who plans to meet with Democratic leaders of the House and Senate as early as next week. "I think there should be broad participation in this. ... But I think everything other than a tax increase ought to be on the table and we go about this and create a shared vision about how to proceed."

Asked if the session would be held in October, Bush said, "I hope so."

Already, debate among lawmakers over what to cut and what not to cut has begun behind the scenes.

Two days after the terrorist attacks, Sen. Lisa Carlton and Rep. Carlos Lacasa, chairs of the two chambers' respective budget committees, wrote letters to each state agency, asking for suggested areas to make 5 percent spending cuts.

Lacasa, the Miami Republican who is chairman of the House Fiscal Responsibility Council, has said he favors across-the-board cuts in all areas.

On the other hand, Senate President John McKay said he wants human services, public schools and corrections to be spared the deepest cuts.

Some lawmakers say the targets of the budget cuts must be agreed upon in advance before the Legislature convenes. Otherwise, they say, chaos will result.

"The worst thing to do is come to Tallahassee without knowing how we're going to make the cuts," McKay said. "If you're not prepared, it's going to go on for a long darn time."

This will be the first special session of the Legislature since January 2000, when lawmakers held one to revise the state's death penalty laws as a result of executions and court rulings that raised questions about the reliability of the electric chair.

Bush said he has spoken by phone with Republican House Speaker Tom Feeney of Oviedo and House Democratic leader Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach. The governor also lined up a meeting next Monday with Senate Democratic leader Tom Rossin of West Palm Beach.

A key question is what effect the tourism slowdown and the sluggish economy will have on Florida's collection of sales tax revenue, the major statewide tax that pays for most state government operations.

Dave Bruns, a spokesman for the Department of Revenue, said September's sales tax receipts won't be known until nearly 600,000 retailers remit tax payments during the week of Oct. 22, a week when lawmakers are scheduled to be in the state Capitol for regularly scheduled committee meetings.

Even before the terrorist attacks, Bush and legislators faced the daunting challenge of closing a $673-million shortfall in the current budget. State revenue experts have said the current budget has a $265-million deficit, and another $408-million can be shifted from the state's reserves to maintain current programs.

But the economic effects of the terrorist attacks -- chiefly an abrupt downturn in air travel -- are forcing Florida's fiscal forecasters to brace for bad economic news.

The state Agency for Workforce Innovation, in conjunction with Bush's office, is gathering data to show what effect the attacks will have on Florida's economy. AWI spokesman Warren May said the agency should have a good idea by the end of the week.

"Anecdotally, what we're hearing is we're going to feel some serious effects," May said. "Disney -- you could have shot a cannon through it last week."

May said tourists are beginning to trickle back and that while the economic effects of the attack promise to be deep, they likely will be temporary.

Legislative leaders on Monday also formed select committees to deal with public security issues related to the attacks. Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, will chair the Senate Select Committee on Public Security and Crisis Management, and Rep. J. Dudley Goodlette, R-Naples, will head the House Select Committee on Security.

Legislators have already begun drafting bills for the 2002 session dealing with various effects of the attacks.

Rep. Frank Atkisson, R-Kissimmee, said he will file a bill to ensure that state employees who are called to active military duty receive their full state salary as long as they are defending the country. Current law requires full pay for only 30 days. After that, it's at the discretion of the state whether to continue to supplement an employee's military salary to the level earned at the time the employee was called up.

Rep. Stacy Ritter, D-Coral Springs, wants legislators to consider criminal background checks for students at flight schools and state licenses for the schools.

State Sen. Steven Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, has filed a bill to lift any restrictions homeowners impose on residents who want to display the American flag. Current law says the associations cannot ban the display of flags, but can limit their size and placement.

-- Times staff writer Alisa Ulferts contributed to this report.

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