Florida Senate Select Committee on economy invites public to workshop

Florida Senate Select Committee on economy invites public to workshops for their input on economic solutions

The first workshop will be held in Jacksonville on Jan. 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Florida Community College's Advanced Technology Center.

The second workshop is Jan. 21 at Children's Services Center at 2300 High Ridge Road, Boynton Beach from 5 to 8 p.m.

The final workshop will be held on Jan. 22 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Miami River at Merrill-Stevens Shipyard.

Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater established the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy to develop the Senate's economic policy agenda over the next two years. According to Sen. Don Gaetz, committee chair, and Sen. Jeremy Ring, vice chair, that requires gathering input from the public and business, including public forums wherein citizens will be asked their opinions. Questions to be considered include: 1. What are the barriers to economic recovery within control of state or local government? 2. What are the non-essential, inefficient or duplicated regulatory activities in state or local government that can be eliminated to reduce costs? 3. What incentives, including tax changes, will encourage business development and make Florida more competitive?

Sen. Gaetz has committed to use the public’s input from these forums to introduce initial proposals by the opening of the 2009 Legislative Session; and prepare proposed legislation for the 2010 Session.

In addition to Gaetz and Ring, other senators on the committee are Mike Haridopolos, J.D. Alexander, Ken Pruitt, Jim King, Mike Bennett, Garrett Richter, Eleanor Sobel, Tony Hill and Dan Gelber.