Although Florida Gov. Rick Scott pledged to cut corporate tax rates in his budget proposals, business leaders are not asking for them to be reduced, House Speaker Dean Cannon announced on Monday in a joint television interview with Senate President Mike Haridopolos. Rather, Cannon said that CEOs are interested in some tax relief measures and regulatory rollback.
“Frankly, of all the Florida CEOs I’ve spoken to, not one of the has actually asked for the corporate income tax cut,” said Cannon, R-Winter Park. Cannon said during the interview with Capitaldatelineonline.com that property taxes seem to be higher on the agenda.
Both Cannon and Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said they would like to consider some tax cuts if possible as conference committees get together to work on filling a $3.75 billion budget shortfall.
Haridopolos seemed unconcerned about rumors that Scott might veto the budget if it doesn’t contain tax cuts.
Asked if he had heard the rumors of a veto, Haridopolos said, “I hear it every year, for 11 years.”
Cannon also seemed to move to tamp down expectations for a dramatic overhaul of the state’s health-care agencies, though he didn’t rule it out.
“I also believe that there is a limit to how much change that any organism can undergo at one time,” he said.
Cannon noted that Medicaid reform is already on the table.
“It’s more important that we focus on getting the functions right first, and then we’ll look at where those functions go or which agencies they belong under.”
The House Select Committee on Government Reorganization is set to consider the health-care agencies at an upcoming meeting.
