Florida's a bleaker place for many

A raft of new laws and a shrunken state budget take effect today. The Republican-led Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott have bragged they cut business regulation, corporate income taxes and property taxes for water management districts.

But many of their decisions also removed citizens' protections, increased regulation on individuals or picked Floridians' pockets. The only real winners are incumbent politicians who voted for these changes and expect campaign contributions from the special interests they served.

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What the governor and state lawmakers won't be able to run from is the devastating impact this year's legislation will have on so many Floridians.

Elections have consequences, and this is the result of the choices voters made in 2010. Scott won't be on the ballot for more than three years, but every state legislative seat will be on the ballot next year.

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Start spreading the news that as of today, there are many repressive new laws officially “on the books” in this state of disrepair, laws that will interfere with or flat out obstruct what should be our (and/or your family member’s or friend’s) most basic rights as citizens: to vote; to health care; to reproductive choice & freedom; to a quality public school system; to an affordable college education; to employment and retirement security; to tax equality; to clean water & air; to growth management & environmental protections; to fair elections; and to a government that puts the public interest over corporate & special interests, the very ones (how about that?) that bought and paid for this diseased body of destructive legislation.

Tell all the people within earshot this weekend that those same interests also bought themselves a 2011 state budget with corporate tax cuts, in a time of economic crisis; plus gaping loopholes and shameless giveaways of our tax dollars, which Governor Scott and his allies in the legislature like to call Business “incentives”. And of course, they’ve used the same Big Lie to mislabel their weakening and/or repeal of regulations designed to discourage and punish Business misconduct.

So, it’s well worth our time to make a little time somewhere along the way this weekend for an informative, inspirational pep talk – with ourselves & our families, with our friends & neighbors. Let’s be frank about this fight being taken right to us by the Republican Party of Florida and their financiers.

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As you watch the colorful bombs bursting in air this weekend, do consider taking a minute here & there to talk with whomever you can about the battle ahead, and the need for strength, unity & resolve.

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