Gray Rohrer
A proposal to study the effect of fees imposed by credit card companies on sales taxes appears to have doomed a large chunk of the Legislature’s budget.
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $56.7 million in legislative support services funding. It’s funding he hasn’t vetoed before in five previous budgets.
The money pays for a variety of functions for the Legislature — information technology for the House and Senate, the lobbyist registration office, joint committees and the Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR), staffed by economists who make revenue forecasts for the state budget that are used by lawmakers to craft a spending plan each year. EDR also conducts numerous studies and produces reports about various state programs and aspects of the economy to aid lawmakers.
But this year the funding came with language directing EDR to “conduct a study and present policy options relating to prohibiting the collection of interchange fees on sales taxes.” The office was to issue a report to lawmakers by Dec. 1.
“The report must address the impacts including, but not limited to, technological, financial, and economic impacts on merchants, processors, payment card networks, acquiring banks, issuers and consumers,” the budget language stated.
The issue is a fight between credit card companies and retailers over the fees charged for processing the sales tax portion of a purchase. The swipe fees are paid by retailers, which want them stopped, but credit card companies argue they’re necessary.
Lawmakers have declined to pass bills aimed at eliminating the fees in recent years, but the fight over the fees is far from over.
Meanwhile, it’s unclear how the Legislature will fund the services lawmakers depend on to do their jobs.
“I don’t have a comment from the President at this time,” Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s spokesperson, Katie Betta, wrote in an email. “We are evaluating the impact of the veto.”
9 comments
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Floridian Of The Week
June 13, 2024 at 6:06 am
Wade Wilson has been convicted of murdering two Florida women who were brutally strangled just hours apart.
The Cape Coral jury deliberated for just two hours and seven minutes before reaching the verdict on Wednesday. Wilson appeared to swallow back tears as he was found guilty on all counts.
Jurors will now be tasked with making a recommendation whether Wilson will face the death penalty or life in prison without parole. Judge Nick Thompson will then make the final decision. The sentencing phase is set to begin on June 20.
Wilson, 30, who was allowed to wear makeup in court to cover the swastika tattoos on his face, refused to testify in his double-murder trial, which began in Cape Coral two weeks ago.
In closing arguments on Wednesday, the prosecution said Wilson killed Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, on October 7, 2019, for the sake of killing.
Tom
June 13, 2024 at 7:15 am
That one was beaten already this week by the guy who murdered his blind roommate and decapitated the body. Cops caught him standing there with a knife in one hand and a chunk of his torso in the other but my favorite recent event was the guy who was caught videoing his girlfriend having sex with their dog. SWF … where the fun never ends and the news is always grim.
Andrew Finn
June 13, 2024 at 9:47 am
Let’s bring back “Old Sparky” for this one. Strap him in and “light him up” !!!!!!
MH/Duuuval
June 13, 2024 at 10:06 pm
The topic of the article is worthy of comment, and mine is that Dee is the smallest governor ever: small-minded, that is.
Michael K
June 14, 2024 at 9:24 am
I will add: mean, petty, and vindictive. He’s not concerned about the best interest of Floridians – he’s nothing more than ambition.
A Poor Excuse For An Attorney
June 16, 2024 at 8:39 am
A poor attorney and career loser, according to the courts of the land:
A federal judge this week struck down much of a Florida law, approved by the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, that prohibited gender-affirming care for transgender minors and restricted such treatment for adults, among other provisions.
The ruling from Judge Robert L Hinkle of the federal district court in Tallahassee was the latest in a number of recent legal setbacks for DeSantis, whose conservative rhetoric and legislation concerning LGBTQ+ issues, immigration and classroom instruction fueled, at least in part, his national profile and presidential run.
Michael K
June 17, 2024 at 12:10 am
Isn’t this going to require a special session to override the veto?
If not, then every other veto can be “corrected” out of process as well, right?