Tea Party Letter to Senate President Haridopolos Condemning S.B. 466 Tourist Tax Bill

April 4, 2011

Senator Mike Haridopolos 
409 The Capitol 
404 South Monroe Street 
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

Senate President Haridopolos:

The Tea Party stands in strong opposition to new taxes, especially any that applies to Florida’s tourism industry, our state’s main source of income. Thus, the South Florida Tea Party is writing to you regarding concerns about two proposals that would negatively impact citizens and tourists in South Florida.

As you know, S.B. 466, sponsored by Sen. Oscar Braynon II, D-Miami Gardens, and its companion bill, H.B. 141, sponsored by Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, would enable Broward and Miami-Dade counties to increase their tourist development tax by 1 percent to pay for renovations to Sun Life Stadium. Such renovations include building a roof on the stadium and adding 3,000 luxury seats. The construction is estimated to cost $255 million, and only the Dolphins — not the taxpayers — would solely profit from the expenses. Billionaire Stephen Ross, who owns the Dolphins and the stadium, cleverly packaged allocations for these construction plans in the proposals with additional funds to be used to improve the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Public dollars should not be utilized for privately owned businesses — especially the National Football League, which earned $9 billion in revenue last year. It is a sad time in our history when billionaires who own the professional sports teams put additional burden on hardworking Floridians and businesses. Florida’s travel industry is fighting to stay alive in the middle of a dismal economy and tourism setbacks such as the Gulf Coast oil leak. Applying a tax increase to these businesses would be intentionally cruel, outrageously unfair and damaging to our state’s economy.

At the end of the day, tourists and our state’s travel business would pay the increased tax effected under S.B. 466 while giving 100 percent of funding to billionaires for better roofs and plusher seats.

Sen. Haridopolos, the Tea Party is worried about your lack of condemnation and leadership regarding this tax bill. Recently, the Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee voted on S.B. 466. The seven-member committee has five Republicans, and yet only Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, voted against the legislation. The Tea Party has been told that this tax bill passed the committee because "the Senate President wants it."

The Tea Party will not support you if you back S.B. 466. This taxpayer-robbing legislation will hinder Florida’s economic growth and create further financial struggles for citizens. We, your constituents, urge you not to allow this bill to pass. Our state economy depends on it.

Sincerely, 
Everett Wilkinson 
Chairman 
South Florida Tea Party

CC: Governor Rick Scott 
Speaker Dean Cannon 
All Florida Senators 
All Florida House of Representatives