In the opening of the 60-day legislative session, House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) and Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula) laid out an ambitious agenda focused on creating a state budget likely to exceed $115 billion.
The session’s primary goal is to streamline government spending and improve accountability amid expectations of reduced federal funding.
“Members, do not be afraid to shake the tree of government and pull out the weeds of waste, fraud, or abuse,” Speaker Perez told House members during his address. He emphasized the need for efficiency in government operations and fiscal responsibility, saying that every Floridian expects taxpayer dollars to be spent wisely.
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Senate President Albritton echoed this sentiment, stating, “Regardless of background, age, or political party, Floridians expect our government to operate efficiently and tax dollars to be spent wisely, with accountability and results.”
Albritton highlighted various legislative priorities, including initiatives to support rural communities, protect the citrus industry, increase Everglades restoration efforts, and improve child welfare services. He also supported elevating state information technology to the state Cabinet level to ensure that top talent is available to counter potential technological threats.
Democrats, however, expressed concerns that the push for efficiency is largely a preemptive measure, driven by Republican expectations that Florida will receive fewer federal dollars in the coming years.
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) commented, “They’re trying to get ahead of the harsh cuts that will be made because the federal government is taking a sledgehammer to federal spending. That will leave an economy like ours in tatters if we can’t get the funding that we typically get, given that about one-third of our budget is federal money.”
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In addition to budgetary reforms, Speaker Perez announced that the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee will hold hearings following a recent Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald investigation.
The report revealed that, after hurricanes Irma and Michael, some insurers claimed significant losses while distributing money to shareholders and affiliated companies. The subcommittee aims to examine these long-buried insurance industry practices in detail.
Albritton also addressed concerns about creating unnecessary bureaucracy. “Under no circumstances, and I repeat, under no circumstances, do I want to create an expensive, bloated bureaucracy of former C-Suite executives from Silicon Valley,” he said. “But, without fail, we must have top talent to win this battle against those who seek to use technology to harm us.”
As the legislative session unfolds, state lawmakers are expected to grapple with a wide range of issues, from budgetary constraints and federal funding reductions to infrastructure investments and social service improvements. With a focus on accountability and fiscal responsibility, the new session promises a busy legislative calendar aimed at securing Florida’s economic future in a shifting federal landscape.
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