News Articles
Murzin, Gaetz Feud On Jobs Bill
News Service of Florida, February 8, 2010
By JOHN KENNEDY
THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Feb. 8, 2010.....Panhandle politics looks likely to shadow job-creation efforts by Florida lawmakers, with Republican Rep. Dave Murzin of Pensacola criticizing a wide-ranging Senate package Monday as a bid "for the headlines."
Speaking at an Associated Industries of Florida event, Murzin dimissed the likelihood of Gaetz's plan in the House.
"We'll roll out a jobs package, an economic incentives package, that actually works and doesn't necessarily cost a whole lot of money, because I'm not really into it for the headlines," Murzin said. "I'm into it for putting Floridians back to work."
The sponsor of the Senate proposal, Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, is backing Murzin's opponent, Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, in a state Senate race.
Murzin mocked the Gaetz approach as likely costing at least $150 million -- money the state doesn't have while lawmakers try to cover a budget shortfall that could top $3 billion.
Gaetz was quick to fire back.
"He's welcome to his opinions," Gaetz said. "I wish him well this session and in his future. I wish him well in everything except his aspirations to be a senator."
Murzin, chairman of the House's Economic Development and Community Affairs Policy Council, has not unveiled a jobs bill. But with 1.1 million Floridians out-of-work and lawmakers from both parties declaring job-creation the Legislature's top priority this spring, it's clear that plenty of lawmakers are looking to win political points by playing a role in an economic recovery.
Gov. Charlie Crist, a candidate for U.S. Senate, included in his budget proposal $293.7 million in business tax breaks and assistance. But none of the governor's proposals are reflected in what Gaetz and the Senate have in mind.
Instead, Gaetz's proposal includes a revamped version of the state's current sales-tax exemption for machinery and equipment, requiring that businesses show a 10 percent increase in production to qualify, likely adding jobs. A corporate investment tax credit also would be created for capital investment producing jobs whose annual salary is 130 percent of the area average.
Another portion of the Senate proposal gives companies a $1,000-per-job corporate income tax credit for businesses that hire someone unemployed for at least 26 weeks.
Gaetz told the News Service of Florida last week that -- unlike the governor's proposal -- the Senate was looking to require businesses to show they've created new jobs when taking advantage of tax breaks.
In backing Evers in the Senate race, Gaetz and Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, who is in line to become Senate President following this fall's elections, have cited Murzin's seeming lack of fundraising ability as one reason -- and in taking sides, perhaps added to his fundraising problems. Through Dec. 31, Evers had raised $217,730 to just under $76,000 for Murzin.
Gaetz has also described the endorsement as linked to Haridopolos' intent to move the Senate in a more conservative direction.
But while House and Senate Republicans may scrap over employment efforts in the Legislature, Democrats from the two chambers offered assurances to AIF members Monday that they were eager to work with business groups to improve Florida's fragile economy.
House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands of Weston said his caucus supported proposals to delay a scheduled big increase in the state's unemployment compensation tax -- instead relying on billions of dollars in additional loans from the federal government.
Sands added that that he would advocate that repayment of the cash -- which could bind future Legislatures for years -- be forgiven by the Obama administration.
"It's got to be all about business -- and getting business on the right track," Sands said of the upcoming session.
Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, also drew a political link between business groups and Democrats. With this an election year, Smith said Democrats running for re-election and seeking other offices will be eager to court business' financial support by backing their initiatives in the Legislature.
"A lot of people are looking for friends this year," Smith said.
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2/8/2010
Copyright 2009 The News Service of Florida
