Action Center

Action Alert

TODAY, SPEAK UP & TELL OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT FUNDING OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE!

The unfortunate reality is that Florida has the:

• Lowest average professor salary
• Largest public university class size in US
• Lowest per capita government spending of all the Southern states
• Largest class size per teacher of all the Southern states
  

Step #1: Today, please cut and paste the following letter and send it to our Orange County Legislative Delegation and House and Senate Leaders:

SUBJECT: AGENDA HB1163 AND SB2576: USE TO FUND SCHOOLS

To My Elected Officials:

We cannot afford to wait one more day for tax reform that will provide desperately needed funds for our underfunded schools and universities...and the condition worsens every day.

I believe we need a long-term solution that will safeguard the education of our children and grandchildren, and provide for the quality of life that will attract companies with higher paid jobs to Florida.

I agree with the League of Women Voters of Orange County, which says we must close the tax loopholes and end exemptions, and most importantly... END THE PARTISAN STAND OFF TO FUND OUR SCHOOLS!

Please agenda HB 1163 and SB 2576. These bills will review and possibly repeal sales tax exemptions by a Sunset Commission.

We must address the following FIVE reforms that can raise approximately $4.3 billion for 2009-10!

1. Review and remove all sales tax exemptions, exclusions and subsidies that are unfair and provide no benefit to Floridians.
   
   
2. Eliminate loopholes in the corporate income tax that place Florida businesses at a disadvantage, but protect large multi-state corporations like Walmart from paying their fair share of corporate income tax.
   
   
3. Collect taxes on sales of goods over the Internet.
   
   
4. Increase the tobacco tax and close the loophole on the documentary stamp tax.
   
   
5. Take every step needed for Florida to qualify for ALL possible stimulus funds.

We are counting on you, our elected officials, to work for the successful future of Florida, and securing the education of our children should be your #1 priority.

Sincerely,
(Your name)

Step #2: Please send to the Orange County Legislative Delegation today! (cut and paste the below email addresses)

dean.cannon@myfloridahouse.gov, sandy.adams@myfloridahouse.gov, chris.dorworth@myfloridahouse.gov, eric.eisnaugle@myfloridahouse.gov, mike.horner@myfloridahouse.gov, dorothy.hukill@myfloridahouse.gov, bryan.nelson@myfloridahouse.gov, steve.precourt@myfloridahouse.gov, scott.randolph@myfloridahouse.gov, darren.soto@myfloridahouse.gov, geraldine.thompson@myfloridahouse.gov, constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov, gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov, siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov, ellyn.bogdanoff@myfloridahouse.gov, altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov, garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov, crist.victor.web@flsenate.gov, detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov, justice.charlie.web@flsenate.gov, lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov, oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov, peaden.durell.web@flsenate.gov, rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov, sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov

STEP #3: Please forward this Action Alert to everyone you know. Together, we can Save Our Schools!

For more background on these issues and the progress of other League Legislative Priorities, see Capitol Report at www.lwvfla.org

For a full Economic Report on Our State Funding Problems and Prescriptions visit: www.fcfep.org

Will FL Legislature Leave ALL Its Children Behind?
An open letter urging legislators to fund our schools now!
LWVOC Pres. Deirdre Macnab
Orlando Sentinel, April 1, 2009