Florida 2005 Freedom Agenda

Florida 2005 Freedom Agenda

Dear Legislator,

Last year Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) and Empower America joined forces to create a powerful new grassroots organization named simply; FreedomWorks. As a volunteer leader of this exciting new group, I want you to know what our Florida FreedomWorks membership of over 32,000 activists around Florida view as the most critical issues for taxpayers this year.

EDUCATION: Teach Our Children That Freedom Works!

• All children educated in the state of Florida should understand America’s constitutional form of government and appreciate their inalienable rights and responsibilities to preserve the blessings of individual liberty for future generations.

H.B. 1223 “Statute for Enduring Patriotism” filed by Rep. Glorioso and companion bill S.B. 2180 filed by Sen. Fasano would establish a legislative mandate to ensure that every child educated in the State of Florida receives competent and thorough instruction in the founding documents of America and in our State Constitution.
FreedomWorks asks you to take up this charge on behalf of Floridians and co-sponsor this legislation.

• Governor Bush’s A plus initiative reallocates operating funds earmarked for class size amendment and expands the availability to students with reading deficiencies the option to attend a public or private school of choice.
Legislation like HB1021, SB2090, and SB2088 would achieve these goals.

TAX & BUDGET POLICY

• Enact Tabor Legislation: Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) measures vary from state to state, but the principle idea is that budgets should not grow faster than inflation plus population growth without the voters’ consent. Institutional incentives pressure legislators to increase state spending and stick taxpayers with the bill. TABOR legislation will limit the amount of tax revenue the state government can collect. Instead of spending tax surpluses, extra money should be returned to the taxpayers. This measure would keep state spending under control, ensuring that Floridians will not face tax hikes in the future.
• Repeal the Intangibles Tax: The intangibles tax is a tax on seniors and savers. The intangibles tax gives Floridians a disincentive to accumulate intangible assets, and it creates an incentive to look for ways to shelter those assets from the tax instead of always looking for the best way to invest them. The intangibles tax also discourages well-to-do retirees from relocating to Florida, where they would be an asset to Florida. Now that revenues are growing even more than forecast just a few months ago, and this unexpected increase in revenues is greater than the total amount raised by the intangibles tax; NOW IS THE TIME TO REPEAL THE INTANGIBLES TAX!

Please support Legislation like HB963

TORT REFORM

Lawsuit Abuse: An elite group of greedy trial lawyers is exploiting our legal system and turning it into “jackpot justice.” Over $163 billion is paid each year in damages and lawyers’ fees related to tort lawsuits.

We educate citizens on how frivolous lawsuits affect them personally – impacting their pocketbooks, businesses, values and way of life. FreedomWorks activists are spearheading efforts to enact real tort reform across the country. Our grassroots army fights for legal reform at the federal level and the state level and aims to return our legal system to decent, honest Americans with real grievances.

Substantive reforms to rein in lawsuit abuse and civil justice costs:
HB: 1513, 135, 1019, 1275, 551, 1601
SB: 1790, 1692, 1030, 2124, 2002