Senator Mike Bennett -R of Bradenton (developer and politician) is at it again. As if saddling the whole state with SB 360 last year (a bill that dismantled what little growth management Florida did have), an attempt to abolish the DCA (the state's planning agency) and then his proposal to extend term limits for state and local politicians wasn't enough, now he wants to reverse a law (SB 216) that prohibits government from using tax dollars to promote political agendas. Why? Florida Hometown Democracy (FHD) that is why. Looks like the developers and politicians are really getting their knickers in a knot about Amendment 4 (Florida Hometown Democracy) which gives Floridians a vote on sprawl and they are looking for a way to get you to fund their campaign against it! I wonder if the Chamber of Commerce which has largely funded the opposition to FHD is running out of money? Don't worry you give them a fortune through our local government as well.
George Niemann and I had the misfortune of seeing Bennett in action at a recent FHD debate in Sarasota last year and his contempt for FHD supporters on the panel was very telling. Now he wants to enable governments (like our County Commission) to spend tax dollars to push his agenda. Like they don't already piss away good money after bad on things like a mosquito plane that can't kill a mosquito, a luxury box for Jim Norman, expensive arbitrators for unwanted speed humps, expensive consultants for unwanted road widenings, and expensive opinions on how to sell public land to ourselves. Oh, and don't forget about the half a million for expensive Pimpin by a Commish! They really don't need help pissing away money Mr. Bennett!
This article appears in Jan 13-19, 2010.