Grover Norquist tells lawmakers to nix Tri-Rail rental car tax
by Dara Kam | November 17th, 2009Grover Norquist warned lawmakers not to vote for a rental car surcharge to subsidize financially flailing Tri-Rail as officials consider a special session on rail issues as early as next month.
Norquist, head of Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Tax Reform, sent legislators and Gov. Charlie Crist a letter today urging them to forget about the rental car tax.
They’re trying to reach consensus on SunRail, the controversial Central Florida commuter line that lawmakers failed to pass for two years in a row, by including the provision for the South Florida commuter rail.
And they’re trying to convince federal lawmakers that they’re committed to light rail although Tri-Rail lacks a dedicated funding source and ran more than $80 million in the red last year.
That’s because they want to get federal transportation funding for new rail projects Sunrail.
Crist, a SunRail supporter, is urging House and Senate leaders to call a special session as early as next month to deal with the commuter rail project and said today he supports giving voters in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties where Tri-Rail operates the chance to decide whether they want the surcharge.
Lawmakers did previously pass the surcharge but Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed it.
Whether voters approve it or not doesn’t appear to make a difference to Norquist.
“Despite allowing for ‘protections’ such as those in SB 1212 that would bring a tax hike to referendum, allowing a tax hike is still a bad idea,” Norquist wrote. “Facilitating a clear path that allows others to raise taxes is itself an act supporting tax increases.”
Tags: Americans for Tax Reform, Charlie Crist, Grover Norquist, rail projects, SunRail, transportation, Tri-Rail
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Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
November 17th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Hey, Grover, go back to “Corruption City” (AKA Wshington DC) and leave us alone. You don’t have a clue what’s happening here.
November 17th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
What amount of money are they talking about?? Didn’t see that anywhere in the story ( can we send you back to Journalism 101?) A small tax on rentals would benefit the people who live and work here - trying to survive on some of the lowest wages and worst benefit packages in the country! We NEED to commit to TRI-Rail and rapid transit. Is it too much to ask for a little vision and investment in our infrastructure from our elected officials?
November 17th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Dara, Look at John Kennedy’s article in the orlando sentinel 8/26/96:
Under questioning from Gallagher, Crist vowed to reject any repeated effort by lawmakers to pass a rental-car surcharge to pay for transportation needs — a measure pushed by Orange County Chairman Rich Crotty and approved by state lawmakers this year, but vetoed by Bush.
“I have never supported a new tax, and I never will, unlike my opponent,” Crist said.
November 18th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Just my opinion, thinking out loud.
This is so disturbing to me and should be to all Americans and Floridians. Our Constitutions are being trampled everyday by those we elected to represent us, those who took an oath to uphold them. While we are part of the Union of States we call the U.S.A. we are Sovereign States. Meaning our federal government cannot tell us the states, what laws to make or how to spend our money. However creative politicians (not representatives of The People) think they have found a way around this pesky little right that our forefathers fought for to protect us from being a corrupt government, through Money (the root of all evil). Our U.S. Senators for Florida, one elected and one appointed by our Governor Charlie Crist (who is suppose to be our head protector of our Constitution) have engage in what should be considered corruption in the form of extortion. Buy telling us, if you don’t spend money on this in your state we won’t give you money for this in your state. Gov. Crist, I am disappointed in your condoning of this behavior by encouraging a Special Session of our legislators at an extra cost to Taxpayers of our state to hear this matter. As I conveyed to you in my interview for appointment to Levy County Commission District 1, Office holders are suppose to be representatives of The People and there are times you have to stand for The People even though it may not be popular with certain groups or money. Let’s look at this the way it should be. Who will it benefit? Is it right for all People of Florida? Can it support itself by its users? Will this still be a good idea in 40 years? If the Money in the form of a Federal Grant is a good idea, why is it attached with a string? May I add People know you can’t grow the economy by attaching more taxes even if you call them fees. Tax by definition is a Burden. Do the right thing for The People of Florida. Don’t be an enabler of this corruptive behavior. Don’t sell out our Constitutions. Call it out for what it is Extortion.
November 19th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
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November 25th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
So the cost to taxpayers is currently over $100 per rider (round trip).
And now we’re hearing from both Democrat and Republican state legislators a plan that will increase the subsidy even higher.
This is insanity. We need to shut this service down immediately to stop the bleeding.
Just because more money would be coming from Washington doesn’t make things better. There is a strong case it will make our situation worse.