Local Groups Ask Legislative Delegates To Do No Harm

An estimated $3.5 billion state budget deficit set the tone for the Manatee County legislative delegation meeting with their constituents Tuesday, but a group of more than 80 people also filled the Manatee County Commission Chambers specifically to show their disapproval with a proposed unauthorized immigrant law.

Delegation chairman Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, and the six other state senators and representatives whose districts include at least a portion of the county heard from individual residents and representatives of community organizations seeking help from the state on issues of special interest to them.

But with the looming budget deficit, and legislators speaking of deep across-the-board cuts in most programs, many of the speakers were hoping, at best, that the delegation would help them maintain their state funding sources.

The questionable economy and job creation were the main issues with most of the governmental entities.

County Commission Chairwoman Carol Whitmore said she was not making a request for any additional funding, only that the Legislature understand the burden placed upon the county when it shifts costs to the local governments.

Whitmore said the county has already trimmed its budget by $122 million over the last several years and is facing a $14 million budget deficit this year.

“The county has cut programs and services,” she said.

Manatee County School District Superintendent Tim McGonegal asked the delegation to provide some relief in future fines the district may face for not meeting  reduced class-size limits.

McGonegal also requested they look into levying a sales tax on purchases made over the Internet.

Longboat Key Commissioner Robert Siekmann, representing the Manasota League of Cities, was the first to directly address the issues of jobs and the economy.

The local economy is based on beaches, bays and tourism, Siekman said, and the Legislature should ensure the ban on oil drilling off Florida’s gulf coast is maintained.

He also said the state should promote renewable energy, which saves money and creates jobs.

Noting many in the group -- most wearing blue T-shirts protesting the immigration-reform bill SB 136 -- who filed into the chambers were children and may need to get back to school, Bennett veered from the prepared agenda to allow UnidosNow.org board member C.J. Czaia to address the delegation.

Czaia said the Latinos he represents are all scared of SB 136, which Bennett introduced into the Senate the session.

“We’re concerned,” he said, “because we don’t want an Arizona-style law here.”

Arizona instated an immigration law that allows police officers and deputies to stop individuals and make them prove they are citizens.

Czaia said the Latino community is concerned they will be singled out through racial profiling.

“This would be disastrous for the economy,” he said, especially for the agricultural industry.

Latinos perform much of the harvesting of crops in Florida.

Also, Czaia asked what kind of message this would send to neighboring Latin American countries, which may be trading partners and provide many tourists.

“Florida is the gateway to Latin America,” he said. “I implore you leaders to stop this hatred,” Czaia said. “I know your intent is not racial, but on the streets that is how it is being interpreted.”

Bennett said his bill will not contain any racial profiling.

“The easiest way to control a bill (in the legislative process) is to file the bill,” he said. “We will not have an Arizona-style bill.”

The senator said the states have to force the federal government to do something about immigration.

After several more minutes of discussion on the issue, Bennett moved forward with the rest of the agenda.

There were several organizations representing children, each requesting that the legislators not cut funding or, worse yet, their programs.

Henry Lawrence, speaking for the Children’s Movement, a group of politicians and businessmen, said children are the future of the state, and funding for programs should be increased and not trimmed.