Passed on from Florida House Dems -

LEGISLATURE HAS OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE, NOT LESS

TALLAHASSEE- Florida’s economy is hurting and we must do more than just ban oil drilling during special session, according to Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (D-Tallahassee). “I support the ban and have signed on as a co-sponsor of the amendment, but we have an opportunity to do more for Floridians.  We also need to address how we’re going to help families get jobs and help stimulate our economy,” she said.  As strong advocate for renewable energy, Rep. Rehwinkel Vasilinda  has introduced legislation for the special session to generate revenue for the state and address the need for new jobs in the renewable energy sector including:

• A Constitutional Amendment creating Section 10 of Article II establishing renewable and clean energy as a high priority and fundamental goal of the state.
• Renewable Energy: Establishing a Public Benefits Fund to support renewable energy projects and reauthorizing the solar rebate program.
• Renewable Energy Trust Fund: Establishes a trust fund to administer the Public Benefits Fund.
• Solar Energy Systems Incentives: Re-Authorizes the Solar Rebate Program, Provides $30 million dollars for the backlog of rebates pending as of June 30, 2010; $100 million for new rebates; and $50 million for weatherization programs for low income homes.
• Deleting the sales tax exemption on bottled water. Eliminating this exemption will raise $42 million while diverting plastic from our landfills. Fewer plastic bottles will require less oil to produce, reducing our dependence on oil.
• FCAT: The legislation discontinues the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT) effective immediately for all grades in the 2010-2011 academic year. Florida can save the $254 million it is currently spending on a failed, out-of-state, contractor who has shown they are unable to grade the test in a timely manner and millions more to administer the FCAT. Additionally, the accuracy and measurement of the 2010 tests are being questioned. Schools districts will be required to administer a nationally vetted and time proven standardized test like the Iowa Basic.

“It is my hope the Governor will broaden the call to include renewable energy and job creation. It is also my hope that my Republican colleagues will do more than pay lip service to the Governor's call by allowing a vote on the drilling ban and the renewable energy proposals I have outlined above. The people of Florida deserve nothing less.”

Rep. Vasilinda's Website