FHCA Capitol Connection

On Wednesday, FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed joined representatives from AARP, the Florida Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, the Florida Council on Aging, Children's Home Society, Florida Coalition for Children and other organizations to urge lawmakers to enact long-term solutions to put the state back on track for a bright future. The press conference was organized by Florida's People, Florida's Promise, a coalition of more than a dozen organizations who speak on behalf of millions of Floridians representing all ages, incomes and conditions.

Leaders of the groups noted that even though recent federal aid will help ease the state’s immediate budget crisis, Florida needs lasting revenue solutions that will bolster the state’s economy and make the state an attractive place to live. Three possible revenue solutions for lawmakers to consider include an increase in the state cigarette tax, a review of state sales tax exemptions periodically and the collection of state sales tax on purchases made via the Internet, catalog sales or telephone hotlines. Continued cuts to critical health and human service needs could hurt Florida’s families, businesses and its ability to recover from the economic downturn.