FloridaAn Update From Rep. Fred Costello......

OFF THE WIRE
Rep. Fred Costello
 fred.costello@myfloridahouse.gov
Don't Forget Volusia Day Feb 15!!
Each year, the Daytona Regional Chamber hosts a trip to Tallahassee during the Legislative Session. Participants have the opportunity to meet with their Representatives and Senators, and the Cabinet is invited to address the group at lunch. The cost is $25 and includes round-trip travel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Those interested should RSVP to Lauren at 386-523-3681 or Lauren@daytonachamber.com


Contact My Office
If my office can ever be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out. The phone number in DeLand is (386) 736-5100. Maria Becker (Maria.Becker@myfloridahouse.gov) will be happy to assist with any constituent casework, and Dan Barrow (Daniel.Barrow@myfloridahouse.gov) will handle any Legislative issues. During January and February, Dan can be reached in the Tallahassee Office at (850) 488-9873.

3 New Bills Filed
I hope you had a safe and peaceful holiday spent with family and friends! As we enter a new year, the 2012 Legislative Session is quickly approaching. Next Tuesday January 10 is the first day of Session, and I’d like to take this chance to fill you in on the final 3 bills that I’ve recently filed.
-HB 1023 will allow a person that is behind on child support payments to petition the court to grant them a driver’s license that can only be used for business purposes. Under current law, that person cannot get a driver’s license, which can be critical in getting to work so that they can begin making the payments they owe. I hope that you will support this common-sense solution that will benefit whole families, but most importantly, their children.
-HB 1143 will authorize the Surgeon General to suspend the license of a doctor who is either under investigation, has been arrested, or prosecuted for certain crimes. As Florida continues to fight pill mills and prescription drug abuse, we must go after the source of the problem, which is often doctors who over-prescribe dangerous drugs. Not only are these drugs incredibly addictive, but they also cause other societal problems when addicts commit other crimes to support their addictions.
-HB 1181 will help Floridians get to work! Although Florida is considered a “low tax state”, we are also considered to have high property taxes, which can inhibit real estate development, economic investment, business expansion  and job growth in Florida. Many agree that a significant way to boost Florida’s economy is to replace a mandatory fixed asset tax (property tax paid forever) with a voluntary variable consumption tax (sales tax paid when a purchase is made) that can be partially paid for by out of state tourists, many estimate that 25% of our sales tax is paid by visitors to Florida. You may also be familiar with the issue of online retailers not paying sales tax to the state, which puts local "bricks and mortar" businesses at a competitive disadvantage. In light of those issues, I have filed HB 1181, Revenue Neutral Tax Reform, which will replace the Required Local Effort (around 35-40% of your property tax bill) with a 3% surtax added to the sales tax. The bill will also put Florida (along with approximately 23 other states) in compliance with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement to collect the tax on Internet sales which will level the playing field for local businesses. The most important thing to remember about HB 1181 is that it is revenue neutral, meaning all of the education funding will remain intact, but will come from other sources. I strongly believe that if we reduce the up-front, fixed costs associated with doing business in Florida, businesses will expand and/or re-locate here, our neighbors will get back to work, and existing businesses will benefit greatly.
GodSpeed!
Fred Costello

   
by fred.costello@myfloridahouse.gov
Representative Fredrick Costello
120 South Florida Ave Room 206 City Hall
DeLand, FL 32720
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