Legislators Propose Raiding the Prepaid Tuition Fund
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Desperately looking to balance the budget without increasing taxes, some legislators this week proposed "borrowing" funds from the Florida Prepaid College Tuition Fund.
Florida's prepaid tuition program benefits one in ten Florida children, and has helped more than a million families save for their children's college education. The fund currently contains more than $8 billion.
Officials with the fund insist the legislature can't legally touch the money and say they'll fight any attempt to do so. Governor Crist announced today that he's opposed to the idea as well.
While Florida schoolchildren still need to worry that the legislature will further slash the education budget this session, at least their college savings appear to be safe. For now.
2009 Legislative Session: Issues to Watch
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We're just one week into the 2009 legislative session and, facing an unprecedented budget crisis, legislators are throwing out all sorts of ideas...good, bad and ugly.
Just a few of the proposals: taxing bottled water companies that currently pump our natural resource for free and sell it back to us for $1 a bottle (good); making further cuts to the already strained education budget (bad); raiding the pre-paid college fund to help balance the budget, risking the money families have entrusted to the state to pay for their children's college education (downright ugly).
Read this article to learn more about what's happening in Tallahassee and how you can take action.
Tell us what you think of these proposals. Let us know if there are other legislative issues you think CIVIC should be monitoring. And share ideas you think legislators ought to be considering.
Greener Cars Effort is in Jeopardy
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Governor Charlie Crist has proposed stricter auto emission standards for Florida, an initiative intended to protect Florida's air quality and fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. After garnering support from the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission, the effort hit a setback when a legislative committee voted to find the new rule unconstitutional, sending their opinion on to the legislative committees who will vote on the necessary legislation during the current session.
Because California's air quality regulatory agency existed prior to the passage of the federal Clean Air Act, California's separate standards were grandfathered in when the federal legislation passed. Now, the federal government allows states to either follow federal emission standards, or adopt California's stricter standards. Gov. Crist's proposal would have Florida adopt California's rules.
Environmentalists are urging states to adopt the stricter rules to put market pressure on auto makers to develop cleaner, more fuel efficient vehicles. The combined populations of Florida and California would create a large market for the cleaner cars. Automakers oppose the changes, arguing that the timeline is too quick and that consumers will be forced to pay a premium.
For more info or to learn how to take action, check out this article.
What do you think? Should the Legislature find a way to constitutionally join California in enacting stricter auto emissions standards? Or do you think the new rule is unnecessary or too costly?
Should the Chiles Endowment Be Tapped to Meet the Budget Shortfall?
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After Florida's landmark settlement with the tobacco companies, part of the proceeds were used to create the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund. For nearly a decade, the Chiles Fund has provided recurring revenue to support health care programs for children and the elderly.
The Governor and some legislators have proposed tapping the principal of the Chiles Fund to use to meet the current budget shortfall. Because the fund's assets are invested in long-term securities, the principal has lost nearly half its value in the recent stock market volatility. If the assets are sold and cashed out now, the principal is likely never to recover.
Should Florida Approve Drilling in the Gulf?
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For years, there has been strong bipartisan support in Florida for a federal ban on new oil and natural gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Recently, Republican Presidential nominee John McCain has proposed lifting the federal ban to allowing states to decide whether to allow drilling. If the federal laws change, what do you think Florida should do?
After you vote, please post a comment telling us why you feel the way you do.
WKoF initiative: Florida's Green Future
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To protect our natural resources, we need to implement changes in households, companies and government. What are the biggest challenges facing Florida's environment? What ideas do you have for individuals, businesses, and state and local government to help make our future more green?
Share your thoughts here as we kick off "What Kind of Florida Do You Want to Live In?", our ground-breaking, two-year initiative that will mobilize citizens from around the state to come together in shaping policy proposals that can make a real difference in the lives of Floridians. To learn more, visit the What Kind of Florida? homepage.
What Kind of Florida initiative, Environment, Energy, Natural Resources (all tags)
WKoF initiative: Kitchen Table Economics
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From health care costs to gasoline prices, the housing slump, the credit crunch and hurricane insurance, Florida families are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. What do you think are the toughest issues facing Florida's households? What can the state do to strengthen the middle class and help the working poor? Policy changes? Public-private partnerships?
Share your thoughts here as we kick off "What Kind of Florida Do You Want to Live In?", our ground-breaking, two-year initiative that will mobilize citizens from around the state to come together in shaping policy proposals that can make a real difference in the lives of Floridians. To learn more, visit the What Kind of Florida? homepage.
