Mitch Perry
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida (RLC) has announced its 2016 legislative agenda, and at the top of the list is a bill calling for transparency in how political committees help fund campaigns around the state.
The legislation, sponsored in the House by New Port Richey Democrat Amanda Murphy and Orlando Democrat Darren Soto in the Senate, would require that each expenditure made by a political committee specify whether the expense was in support or opposition and the name of the candidate, issue, or position it is supporting or opposing. It should be noted that the RLC listed the legislation as their No. 1 goal for this past year’s session.
“The purpose of this campaign and the legislation being developed is to put an end to the ‘legal laundering’ of millions of dollars in special interest campaign contributions,” the RLC wrote in its manifesto.
The RLC backs a move to make the Commissioner of Education position an elected one, which is being pushed in the Legislature by Vero Beach Rep. Debbie Mayfield in the House and Hialeah Republican Rene Garcia in the Senate.
And they support both major gun bills percolating in the Legislature this session: the “open-carry” law and “campus carry” legislation.
On tax-and-spending issues, the Caucus opposes Gov. Rick Scott’s aggressive proposal for an additional $250,000 for Enterprise Florida.
“We support tax abatements and other noncash incentives to attract businesses to Florida, provided these incentives are available to any business wishing to relocate and not used politically to pick winners and losers,” RLC officials write. “We do not believe that cash payments as an incentive for relocation is an appropriate use of tax revenue.”
The Caucus also backs two Jeff Brandes-sponsored initiatives: One is SB 168, which would prohibit the use of red-light cameras in the Sunshine State (that’s sponsored in the House by Miami Republican Frank Artiles). They also support his bill that would reform civil asset forfeiture laws in Florida.
