Archive for March, 2008
If there’s one issue almost as high on state lawmakers’ list of priorities as Florida’s budget and economy, it has to be illegal immigration.
In a year of hot-button issues, it’s more than just glowing red.
It’s starting to smoke.
That only makes sense, since most people look at illegal immigration as a pocketbook issue.
There are bills that would do everything from stopping public funding of day-labor centers to requiring local law enforcement officers to report anyone they arrest and suspect of being an illegal immigrant to federal Immigration, Customs and Enforcement agents.
It’s especially significant when you compare the number of bills introduced this session to last year.
I found 11 bills working their way through the House and Senate this session.
When I looked at last year’s records, I found two.
If legislation is a measure of what legislators think their constituents are concerned about, the conclusion is obvious.
People are fed up with illegal immigration and what they see as an increasing demand on resources they feel should be reserved for citizens.
“People tell me they don’t want state or local dollars going to help individuals who have broken the law by coming here and who continue to break the law,” said state Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Port St. Lucie.
Harrell is sponsoring HB 821 to prohibit municipal, county or state money from being spent to establish or maintain day-labor centers like “El Sol” in Jupiter where illegal immigrants gather for jobs.
“If private organizations want to do that, fine. But there is to be no state or public funding to do this,” Harrell said.
She’s seen some opposition. When she conducted a news conference at the Capitol to announce the bill “we had demonstrators there saying we were anti-American and anti-Hispanic,” Harrell said.
Harrell scoffs at that generalization, which she says is thrown at people to take the focus off the real issue.
“I’m not anti-Hispanic. I am ‘anti illegal,’ ” Harrell said.
“What they don’t realize is my background. I speak fluent Spanish and have a master’s degree in Latin history. My children all speak Spanish,” Harrell said.
State Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, is sponsoring HB 107, the “Human Smuggling” bill, which would create a state law making it illegal to smuggle illegal immigrants into Florida. Harrell is a co-sponsor.
She’s also a co-sponsor of HB 73, sponsored by Donald D. “Don” Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, which would among other things require people applying for public benefits to prove they’re in the United States legally.
I’ll be going to Tallahassee next week to follow Treasure Coast legislators on these and other issues and reporting back to you — as we do each year — on some of the behind-the-scenes things that happen as these and other bills make their way to final votes.
Harrell said she’s confident of these and other bills’ chances this year.
“Since the feds have not stepped up to the plate, the state has an obligation to do everything it can do,” Harrell said.
Martin County columnist Geoff Oldfather can be reached at (772) 221-4217 or geoff.oldfather@scripps.com.
March 23rd, 2008
From the NRCC…
Mahoney Votes for $683 Billion Tax Hike and Increased Wasteful Spending, Hurting Hardworking Middle-Class Americans
Washington- Rep. Tim Mahoney (FL-16) made history this afternoon as he voted for the largest tax increase in American history, creating tens of billions of dollars in new wasteful Washington spending and rejecting any reform to solve our nation’s entitlement crisis (House Roll Call 141). Mahoney’s support for this $683 billion tax increase would devastate the hard-working taxpayers of Florida, costing them an additional $3,040 in taxes next year alone.
Despite campaign promises to rein in debt and wasteful spending, the Democrats’ budget that Tim Mahoney loyally supported contains over 11,000 earmarks at the cost of $16 billion, and will pass on an additional $14 billion in debt to future generations, because it fails to address the fiscal crisis facing Social Security and Medicare programs.
Tim Mahoney’s historic and destructive vote for the Democrats’ budget would impose a crippling tax increase for every single taxpayer in the United States including married couples, families with children, senior citizens, small business owners and farmers:
- Nearly 48 million married couples will be penalized with a $3,000 tax increase
- Low-income families will be hit when the child tax credit is cut by $500 per child
- Almost 18 million senior citizens will have to pay an extra $2,100 in taxes
- About 27 million small-business owners will be strapped with a $4,000 tax increase
- Reinstating the Death Tax will cost taxpayers an additional $180.6 billion
“Tim Mahoney made history today by supporting the Democrats’ reckless budget proposal, forcing America’s hard-working taxpayers and middle-class families to be saddled with massive tax increases to foot the bill,” said NRCC spokesman Ken Spain. “At a time when American families are facing increased stress with rising costs, Mahoney’s vote to raise taxes is blatantly irresponsible and yet another obvious indication that he remains out of touch with Florida voters.”
As Tim Mahoney gets ready to head out of Washington for a two-week spring break, he should be prepared to answer questions from the voters as to why he chose to raise taxes and increase government spending at their expense.
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March 14th, 2008
Former RPOF Chairmen Carole Jean Jordan and Tom Slade Add to An Already Impressive List of Republican and Conservative Leaders
TALLAHASSEE – Today, two former Chairmen of the Republican Party of Florida, Carole Jean Jordan and Tom Slade, urged Republicans and conservatives throughout Florida to unite behind State Representative Gayle Harrell in her quest to unseat Democrat Tim Mahoney in Congressional District 16.
Chairman Tom Slade was impressed by Gayle’s consistent commitment to our core Republican principles of being for less government, for secure borders, strong on defense, and pro-life.
“Gayle has an eight-year record in Tallahassee that every Republican would love to run on: cutting taxes by over $28 billion, stopping welfare benefits for illegal aliens, crafting legislation to make our seaports secure, and defending the unborn,” Chairman Tom Slade wrote in his endorsement of Gayle Harrell.
Chairman Carole Jean Jordan reflected on Rep. Harrell’s work ethic and strong commitment to campaigning.
“No one will out campaign her, no one will work harder, her trademark red tennis shoes are back on and she will leave no issue unanswered and no voter not contacted,” immediate past Chairman of the RPOF, Carole Jean Jordan added in a separate letter.
“Both Carole Jean and Tom have led our state party to record majorities and victories and I am humbled by and honored to have the support and endorsement of these two respected leaders of our party,” said State Representative Gayle Harrell.
The endorsements of Slade and Jordan add to an already impressive list of supporters that includes Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the House, Sen. Ken Pruitt, President of the Florida Senate and Allen Miller, RPOF Congressional District 16 Chairman.
“Endorsements such as these are further evidence of the growing momentum for Gayle’s campaign,” said Deputy Campaign Manager Anthony Bonna. “Clearly, Gayle Harrell is the candidate best-equipped to take the fight to the Democrats.”
Read Chairman Jordan’s letter here.
Read Chairman Slade’s letter here.
March 11th, 2008
Ted Poliac
Published: March 5, 2008
http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2008/mar/05/congress-runners/
There are four people who are running for Congress from this district, one Democrat and three Republicans. There has been a lot of talk about illegals in our country, 980,000 who are in Florida. One of those people running for Congress is trying to do something about it.
There was a rally in Jupiter on March 1 at a site where they have a building housing “El Sol,” an agency that is a day labor center finding jobs for illegals. It cost the taxpayers $200,000 for the space that El Sol occupies. Not only that, the police occupy part of that same building. Whatever happened to arresting illegals and deporting them?
HB 821 “Florida Safe Borders Act of 2008″ will do something about the citizens being taxed to pay for illegals. It requires local law enforcement to report illegals who are arrested, detained or convicted of a felony to U. S. Immigration officials. It also requires verification of immigration status and spells out penalties for false affidavits plus a good deal more. It also prohibits local governments from establishing day-labor worker centers that knowingly facilitates illegal hiring.
The one person who is running for Congress and is doing something about the cost of illegals born by the taxpaying citizens is state Rep. Gayle Harrell. I attended the rally to hear what Harrell had to say about what was happening in the state concerning the illegals and her Bill HB 821. Her message was loud and clear. It is time for action, not just promises that never happen.
Ted Poliac
Sebring
March 5th, 2008
