Budget, gambling highlights new session

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TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-The increasing threat of war with Iraq impacted the opening week of Florida's 2003 legislative session, March 4-7. Amidst Gov. Jeb Bush's proposal for a special election to reconsider two constitutional amendments approved by voters in 2002, his unease over the uncertainty of Florida's economy grabbed the attention of Bill Bunkley, legislative consultant for the Florida Baptist Convention.

"The number one concern is that, if the country goes to war, there might be a general slacking off of the tourist industry," Bunkley told Florida Baptist Witness. A hit on Florida's economy may cause a "ripple effect," for which Floridians from all walks of life will have to prepare.

The threat of war comes at a time when Florida is already grappling with two other "budget busters," said Bunkley, a voter-mandated high-speed rail and reduced classroom size. The two multibillion-dollar amendments to Florida's Constitution were approved by voters in November.

Bunkley said some lawmakers expressed skepticism over Bush's proposal to hold a special election to repeal both measures.

One of the results of the class size amendment could mean that lawmakers will be looking for "very creative ways" to meet the new requirements, said Bunkley. This might mean more portable classrooms, something voters expressed concern about in the past.

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Some lawmakers have indicated support for vouchers as a possible answer to the budgeting impact of the class size amendment.

As this years' legislative session gets off the ground, Bunkley said a number of issues of potential interest to Florida Baptists have surfaced in the area of workmen's compensation, medical malpractice and church laws. Additionally, issues that might draw additional attention are those related to faith-based initiatives, gambling, the sanctity of life, and adoption.

Still early in the process, Bunkley said he will continue to monitor both the Florida Senate and House of Representatives as bills move from committee status to scheduled presentation and debate during the legislative session.

An issue receiving significant attention throughout the nation, faith-based initiates have also gained some support in Florida. Bunkley said there is movement to encourage faith-based initiatives that would sanction partnerships between the state and religious organizations to meet human needs.

While those measure don't typically receive much attention, gambling is an issue that doesn't go away, said Bunkley.

A number of bills related to video lotteries, bingo games and the state lottery seek to either expand gambling or set up requirements for rules and distribution of prize money are again in this year's preliminary line-up.

"The gambling expansion is going to be a natural target every year," Bunkley said. "The more liberal our state gets the tougher it's going to be to fight it off."

But it's not only the "desensitization" of the culture at work in Florida, it's the Sunshine State's mild climate and picturesque beaches that make it a vacation destination that draws gamblers.

"[The challenge] is going to be here year after year, unless we keep educating the remnant," said Bunkley of gambling.

Several sanctity of human life issues are on the horizon. One of those Bunkley will be monitoring is the Women's Health and Safety Act-a measure intended to require abortion clinics to comply with the same regulations as other surgery centers and out-patient medical facilities. Last year's bill was not considered by the full Legislature.

Bunkley urged Florida Baptists to pray on the matter and said work on the bill is proceeding in both the Senate and the House. "Many people are working to try to figure out how to get this piece of legislation moving in both houses."

Human cloning also will receive some attention, Bunkley predicted, as the Florida legislature considers the same type of bill passed by the United States House of Representatives in early March. A "clean cloning bill," Florida's proposed measure, calls for a comprehensive ban on cloning, including cloning for "therapeutic" reasons (see this week's commentary by Chuck Colson, "A secular case against cloning").

Tweaking of the law passed in 2000 allowing "Choose Life" license plates also might occur, as legislators discuss ways to expand the definition of organizations which may utilize revenues earned from the sale of those plates, Bunkley said. "Choose Life" was one of the top ten selling specialty tags in Florida last year, according to the Florida Division of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

A proposed bill related to adoption also might affect Florida Baptists through the ministry of the Florida Baptist Children's Homes, reported Bunkley. The Lakeland-based ministry, with homes throughout the state, coordinates some adoptions.

"We anticipate that there will be an attempt to further clarify and possibly change some of the aspects of the adoption re-write that was put into law last year," Bunkley said, citing differences of opinion in relation to "father's rights" and how far adoption agencies and lawyers must go to locate and inform the father.

With 120 members of the Florida House of Representatives and 40 State senators, Bunkley said the 60-day session will begin with a certain "shaking out" process to determine what actually gets the lawmakers' attention. Within a few weeks, however, the important issues will emerge. Even then there's only one primary thing the legislators must do, by law they have to vote a budget.

"Usually the pendulum of control goes back and forth," Bunkley said of moral concerns and the responsibility to keep vigilant. "Over a series of years, if it's perceived as having been too conservative, a whole host of things we fought against over the years will come in as a flood."

To keep up, Bunkley recommends Florida Baptists access a weekly "Capitol Concerns" update at www.flbaptist.org/news/capitol_concerns.htm. The publication is produced by the director of the Florida Baptist Convention's Public Relations Division, Donald S. Hepburn, and highlights state legislative issues being monitored. The updates are designed to create awareness of proposed legislation and encourage readers to contact their local legislative representatives to share their concerns about specific issues.

Bunkley can be reached in Tallahassee at 850-942-4377 or by Fax at 850-877-3129, or by e-mail WHBunkley@aol.com.