Read here without downloading: Richard Corcoran’s “manifesto”

a - Richard Corcoran

An 86-page policy paper from Florida House Speaker-Designate Richard Corcoran (nicknamed “The Manifesto” by reporters) calls for a new “legislative culture of purpose” that includes, among other things, a more transparent budget process.

Many of the reforms proposed by Corcoran, a Land O’ Lakes Republican, in his Wednesday acceptance speech are also in the manifesto, which has a working title of “Blueprint Florida,” according to a copy provided to FloridaPolitics.com.

“This is a working document, written years ago by a number of freshman house members as a framework for ongoing, open-ended conversation,” Corcoran said. “Looking back on the document, some of the ideas remain compelling catalysts for change and others less so.

“But, what is most important is that we got together and were brave enough to write our ideas down on paper and work from these bold ideas for the sole purpose of making this process better.”  

On paper, those reforms include an extension of the ban on lobbying by former lawmakers. For example, the document proposed five years instead of the current two; Corcoran called for six years in his remarks.

It also calls for members seeking leadership positions to pledge not to seek them until they serve two legislative sessions. For those who break the pledge, it means being frozen out, with current leadership “refus(ing) to meet” with them.

Others weren’t mentioned by Corcoran on Wednesday, such as creating a “Policy Appeals Council” for House members who can’t get their bill heard by a committee. Another measure would speed up the procedure to discuss and vote on a bill on the floor.

The document, developed by Corcoran and more than two dozen Republican lawmakers, is as likely to namecheck a Founding Father as it is Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

It compares the state to a corporation, saying elected officials need to be as accountable to their constituents as management is to shareholders.

One chapter heading, “Confronting the Brutal Facts,” was a phrase used by Corcoran to reporters after his designation ceremony on Wednesday.  

One of those brutal facts, the document says, is that “special interests generate too many bills that protect themselves, while legislators generate too few bills that protect the people.”

Part of the answer, the paper says, is that lawmakers have to come up with an agenda and stick to it. Otherwise, “members fall in love with their own bill, regardless of whether it is efficient and effective policy.”

The document also calls for better educating the news media on policy goals, and to fight against the urge toward horse trading, promising a vote for another member’s bill in return for that person’s vote for one’s own bill.

 

2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_01
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_02
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_03
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_04
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_05
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_06
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_07
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_08
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_09
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_10
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_11
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_12
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_13
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_14
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_15
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_16
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_17
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_18
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_19
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_20
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_21
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_22
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_23
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_24
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_25
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_26
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_27
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_28
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_29
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_30
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_31
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_32
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_33
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_34
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_35
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_36
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_37
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_38
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_39
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_40
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_41
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_42
2012 Blue Print Florida (1) edit_Page_43

Jim Rosica

Jim Rosica is the Tallahassee-based Senior Editor for Florida Politics. He previously was the Tampa Tribune’s statehouse reporter. Before that, he covered three legislative sessions in Florida for The Associated Press. Jim graduated from law school in 2009 after spending nearly a decade covering courts for the Tallahassee Democrat, including reporting on the 2000 presidential recount. He can be reached at [email protected].



#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories