Florida lawmakers will kick off the 2016 annual legislative session Jan 12. Join our conversation with a panel of expert journalists and political science professors for an exploration of what to expect from the coming year’s legislative session as lawmakers will take up contentious proposals related to everything from education funding and firearms to marijuana laws, healthcare issues, environmental conservation and prison reform.In November Gov. Rick Scott proposed a record $79.3 billion spending plan that cuts taxes by billions of dollars including a reduction in taxes for manufacturers and other businesses along with the creation of a $250 million fund for Enterprise Florida in order to attract more businesses and jobs to the sunshine state. We’ll explore where those cuts would be coming from. Lawmakers’ reactions to the Governor’s proposed budget have been mixed.
Guests:
Peter Bergerson, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science at Florida Gulf Coast University
Steve Bousquet, Tallahassee Bureau Chief, Tampa Bay Times
Susan MacManus, Ph.D., Political Analyst, University of South Florida
Betty Parker, “Parker on Politics” columnist for the News-Press
