The day in Tallahassee, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002
Anti-tax activists fanned out across the Capitol to lobby against a proposed overhaul of the state sales tax.
About 150 members of Citizens for a Sound Economy were trying to derail the tax plan, which is being pushed by Senate President John McKay. The measure would lower the sales tax rate from 6 percent to 4.5 percent, but end tax exemptions that make some items and many services tax free.
Paul Beckner, the group’s national president, said state government spending has seen a “tremendous run-up” and “the McKay tax proposal is designed to ratify that run-up in spending.” Beckner also said it was unwise to raise taxes in a recession.
Opponents contend the plan amounts to a tax increase for anyone who uses services that will be newly taxed, from legal services to lawn care.
McKay and other supporters say the lower tax rate would save families money. DALE EARNHARDT
The House opened its session with a tribute to NASCAR in the week leading up to the Daytona 500, a homage heavy on Dale Earnhardt as the anniversary of the racing legend’s death approaches.
His widow, Teresa Earnhardt, showed lawmakers a picture of a memorial statue of Earnhardt unveiled this month at Daytona International Speedway and thanked them for a law they passed last year that blocked access to autopsy photos.
She had pushed for the bill following her husband’s death at Daytona in a last-lap crash last year. The law barred newspapers and Web sites from gaining access to photos from Earnhardt’s autopsy.
“We will remain very grateful to each of you,” Earnhardt said, with her 13-year-old daughter Taylor by her side. SEAPORT SECURITY
The House unanimously passed a measure to provide money for tighter security at Florida’s 14 seaports.
The bill would expand the use of transportation and economic development grants to allow them to be used for surveillance cameras, gates and other seaport security. The measure (CS HB 811) now must gain Senate approval. ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANTS
The House passed a measure allowing the licensing of anesthesiologist assistants over the objections of members who said it would endanger patients.
Florida law now only provides for nurses to be certified to help anesthesiologists.
Supporters of the bill (HB 599) said it would actually improve patient safety, as well as lower health care costs. Fourteen other states allow anesthesiology assistants who aren’t nurses.
“We are suffering a severe nursing shortage,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.
Fasano and other supporters noted the bill requires anesthesiologists to directly supervise assistants. Originally the bill would have allowed doctors to supervise four assistants but an amended version of the bill says doctors can’t supervise more than two assistants.
The measure passed 71-46 and now goes to the Senate, which already has a companion bill (CS SB 966) working its way through committees. INSTRUCTIONAL IMBIBING
The House is set for a final vote on a measure allowing underage students to taste small amounts of wine if it is part of a college course and the students are at least 18.
The beverages would have to remain in control of instructors. The measure, which has passed the House in past years but died in the Senate, has been sought by cooking schools, who say they need students to at least be familiar with wine.
The bill (HB 417), sponsored by Rep. Manuel Prieguez, R-Miami, could come up for a final vote in the House next week.
Meanwhile, a similar Senate bill (SB 1176) was approved Wednesday in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee with a 13-0 vote and can now go to the Senate floor.
