Florida’s annual 60-day legislative session gets underway on Tuesday. By law, the only task legislators are required to complete during the session is a balanced budget. But, all have their own priorities. WGCU spoke to some area lawmakers about their “wish lists.”
Sen. Garrett Richter (R-Naples) said his top priority is to contribute to writing a balanced, responsible budget. He supports legislation to create jobs. Richter said he’s also introduced a bill aimed at attracting more optometrists to practice in Florida.
“To hopefully provide more access for primary eye care in urban and rural areas and reduce the cost the treatment for both the patients and the state without compromising quality of care or patient safety,” he said.
Richter’s bill would permit optometrists to write prescriptions for oral medications for the treatment of eye diseases. Right now they are allowed to do this in 47 other states.
Rep. Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) is an attorney specializing in real-estate law. She said her top legislative priority is effectively dealing with Florida’s foreclosure crisis. She introduced a bill that would expedite the foreclosure procedure.
“Hopefully this year we’ll get the legislation passed. The foreclosure crisis in Florida, we’re number one in the country, the backlog in foreclosures and it’s effecting our economy a great deal,” she said.
Republican Rep. Ben Albritton represents portions of Polk and Hardee Counties and all of DeSoto. Florida’s rural communities have been hard hit by the economic downturn. Albritton’s top priority this session is making Florida the No. 1 place in the country to do business.
“It is all about creating job,” he said. “So that is my No. 1 focus and participating on the committees I’m on and working with the leadership here and working to determine what those good choices are has my main focus.”
Freshman lawmaker Heather Fitzenhagen (R-Ft. Myers) also said her top priority is economic development. She’s filed a bill she says will ease some tax burden on small businesses.
“By allowing them to get a discount if they file early for their corporate filing rates. And it will allow they to file every other year so that they are not burdened by having to file annually.”
Republican Rep. Matt Hudson district includes both urban and rural areas – covering Hendry County, Eastern Collier County and North Naples. He said his top priority is a good budget that reflects adequate reserves. He also chairs the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. And he says for the moment, he’s not certain if he’ll vote to expand Medicaid to comply with Affordable Health Care Act, as proposed by Gov. Rick Scott. He said he’s not convinced by arguments of supporters who say it will lower health care costs.
“Other states have already expanded their Medicaid programs to reflect what the Affordable Care Act would have said and the experience in those states has not been anywhere near what the proponents would argue for.
Hudson’s reluctance to support the governor’s position on expanding Medicaid was echoed by the majority of representatives in the Southwest Florida delegation. The Legislative Session begins following Gov. Scott’s State of the State Address on Tuesday. It will be broadcast live on WGCU 90.1 FM and WMKO 91.7 FM.