Legislative Branch 2016 Joint Platform
For Immediate Release
August 21, 2016
Contact:
Jon Rader, Model Florida House
jnrader2003@yahoo.com
Cody Patton, Model Florida Senate
cpatton126@gmail.com
Senate President Abdoulaye Ba and House Speaker Matthew Pearson-Dawe Announce Joint Priorities for the 2016 Model Legislature Session
Tallahassee- Today, Senate President Abdoulaye Ba (R- Hillsborough) and House Speaker Matthew Pearson-Dawe (R-Gainesville) announced their joint platform and priorities for the 2016 Model Legislative Session focussed around tax relief for businesses, improving the lives of those with unique abilities, and addressing environmental issues.
“I believe that it is vital for a productive session for President Ba and our colleagues in the Senate to find common goals and policies to address,” said Speaker Pearson-Dawe. “The agenda we have developed together is one focused on improving our economy and our education systems. These policies will empower Floridians to work hard to make our state stronger, and prepare future generations to be the most successful in the nation.”
“I am pleased to set our joint platform a lot early before the start of the session. “ said President Ba. “This will be my last year serving in the Senate and I will make sure to keep fighting for Floridians to have better lives and prepare a great future for our children.” He continues . “Our economy has faced many challenges, but we, as a state, have persisted enough to overcome them and now we are moving forward to become the best state economy in the nation. This 5-point “ Florida Forward” plan is bold yet attainable as I am confident that Speaker Pearson-Dawe and House members will work closely with the Senate to bring about positive reforms to the state. I look forward to getting most of the legislative priorities passed in both chambers and sent to the Governor’s desk before Sine Die.”
The 5-point “Florida Forward 2016 ” joint agenda includes the following:
Tax Relief:
To provide tax relief to small businesses in order to stimulate economic activities in the state of Florida.
Encourage Tourism and Agriculture:
Pass legislation that will ameliorate the climate of these two industries,which are leading the Florida economy.
Economic Independence for People with Unique Abilities
Support the path to economic independence for people with unique abilities by establishing new postsecondary designation for programs serving students with disabilities; expanding policy guidelines and increasing funding for Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts.Furthermore, we will work to promote employment options for persons with developmental disabilities by creating financial literacy programs designed specifically to help people with developmental disabilities participate in the economy independently; and by establishing a “Unique Abilities Designation” program for Florida businesses who hire workers with disabilities.
Environment Protection
Protect our water and natural resources with a stable state wide funding, and business friendly policy strategies to address current environmental issues found in our state.
Education
Ensure that our educational system is preparing students for the increasingly competitive job market.This will be done by increasing K-12 per student state funding; keeping higher education affordable; increasing performance funding for universities; supporting technical centers that directly link to education programs to local workforce needs; and, increasing opportunities for students to get on-the-job training in high-skill, high-wage areas through apprenticeship programs.
“As Woodrow Wilson said of our national legislature, ‘Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work,’ I totally agree with this as it will apply to our state legislature come this 2016 session” said President Ba. “I will do my best to engage each committee to join the movement to get this “Florida Forward 2016 ” 5-point plan to the chamber floors.After that, it will be a matter of fierce debate; but in the end, we all genuinely want the best for our state; thus I have faith that we will succeed in passing meaningful legislation to improve the lives of our fellow Floridians and more generations to come.”
“The Florida First platform is a set of policy decisions designed with all Floridians in mind, ” Said Speaker Pearson-Dawe “if we accomplish the great task of accomplishing these bold but common sense goals, we can set Florida on a prosperous path of success. After this heated and unique election year, Florida must and show the rest of the nation what true elected representative leadership looks like. It is my firm and proud belief that our legislature can do just that underneath the outstanding leadership we have steering committees in both the House and in the Florida Senate. Together, Senate President Ba and I will guide our colleagues to do right by every Floridian from Key West to the Panhandle.”
For more information regarding the “Florida Forward 2016” joint agenda, please visit the Model Florida Senate and the Model Florida House of Representatives online at Legislative Joint Platform.
August 21, 2016
Contact:
Jon Rader, Model Florida House
jnrader2003@yahoo.com
Cody Patton, Model Florida Senate
cpatton126@gmail.com
Senate President Abdoulaye Ba and House Speaker Matthew Pearson-Dawe Announce Joint Priorities for the 2016 Model Legislature Session
Tallahassee- Today, Senate President Abdoulaye Ba (R- Hillsborough) and House Speaker Matthew Pearson-Dawe (R-Gainesville) announced their joint platform and priorities for the 2016 Model Legislative Session focussed around tax relief for businesses, improving the lives of those with unique abilities, and addressing environmental issues.
“I believe that it is vital for a productive session for President Ba and our colleagues in the Senate to find common goals and policies to address,” said Speaker Pearson-Dawe. “The agenda we have developed together is one focused on improving our economy and our education systems. These policies will empower Floridians to work hard to make our state stronger, and prepare future generations to be the most successful in the nation.”
“I am pleased to set our joint platform a lot early before the start of the session. “ said President Ba. “This will be my last year serving in the Senate and I will make sure to keep fighting for Floridians to have better lives and prepare a great future for our children.” He continues . “Our economy has faced many challenges, but we, as a state, have persisted enough to overcome them and now we are moving forward to become the best state economy in the nation. This 5-point “ Florida Forward” plan is bold yet attainable as I am confident that Speaker Pearson-Dawe and House members will work closely with the Senate to bring about positive reforms to the state. I look forward to getting most of the legislative priorities passed in both chambers and sent to the Governor’s desk before Sine Die.”
The 5-point “Florida Forward 2016 ” joint agenda includes the following:
Tax Relief:
To provide tax relief to small businesses in order to stimulate economic activities in the state of Florida.
Encourage Tourism and Agriculture:
Pass legislation that will ameliorate the climate of these two industries,which are leading the Florida economy.
Economic Independence for People with Unique Abilities
Support the path to economic independence for people with unique abilities by establishing new postsecondary designation for programs serving students with disabilities; expanding policy guidelines and increasing funding for Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts.Furthermore, we will work to promote employment options for persons with developmental disabilities by creating financial literacy programs designed specifically to help people with developmental disabilities participate in the economy independently; and by establishing a “Unique Abilities Designation” program for Florida businesses who hire workers with disabilities.
Environment Protection
Protect our water and natural resources with a stable state wide funding, and business friendly policy strategies to address current environmental issues found in our state.
Education
Ensure that our educational system is preparing students for the increasingly competitive job market.This will be done by increasing K-12 per student state funding; keeping higher education affordable; increasing performance funding for universities; supporting technical centers that directly link to education programs to local workforce needs; and, increasing opportunities for students to get on-the-job training in high-skill, high-wage areas through apprenticeship programs.
“As Woodrow Wilson said of our national legislature, ‘Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work,’ I totally agree with this as it will apply to our state legislature come this 2016 session” said President Ba. “I will do my best to engage each committee to join the movement to get this “Florida Forward 2016 ” 5-point plan to the chamber floors.After that, it will be a matter of fierce debate; but in the end, we all genuinely want the best for our state; thus I have faith that we will succeed in passing meaningful legislation to improve the lives of our fellow Floridians and more generations to come.”
“The Florida First platform is a set of policy decisions designed with all Floridians in mind, ” Said Speaker Pearson-Dawe “if we accomplish the great task of accomplishing these bold but common sense goals, we can set Florida on a prosperous path of success. After this heated and unique election year, Florida must and show the rest of the nation what true elected representative leadership looks like. It is my firm and proud belief that our legislature can do just that underneath the outstanding leadership we have steering committees in both the House and in the Florida Senate. Together, Senate President Ba and I will guide our colleagues to do right by every Floridian from Key West to the Panhandle.”
For more information regarding the “Florida Forward 2016” joint agenda, please visit the Model Florida Senate and the Model Florida House of Representatives online at Legislative Joint Platform.
