00:00:07.440 - 00:00:53.940

Yeah. The person funds for this program are provided by the people of Florida through the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. The hour set for convening the House of Representatives. Having arrived, the house will come to order. Mm. Mhm. It is the law.

00:00:53.950 - 00:01:17.360

Florida Constitution article for Section one E. The governor shall by message at least once every regular session for the legislature concerning the condition of the state proposed such reorganization of the executive department as well. Promote efficiency and economy and recommend measures in the public interest. Traditionally, this is done in person at a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

00:01:36.140 - 00:05:34.950

Oh, yeah? Yeah, in fact, mhm. Uh huh. Members of the house and the Senate. While we're at ease waiting for the governor, I think it be appropriate now to introduce the governor's wife and the members of the family and friends that are in attendance in the East Gallery.

00:05:35.540 - 00:06:13.260

First Miss Adele Graham, the governor's wife accompanying her. Also a Suzanne Graham and Kindle Graham. Dr Dark Syringe er and Mrs Jean Syringe er and the two, sir. And your Children, Dirt Syringa, Syringa Alright. Pardon me. Dark Junior and Adriana Andrea Timoner. Anele A Sean Burger.

00:06:13.740 - 00:07:42.620

Jeanne Mostly Mrs Dick Burros and Mrs Charles Read. Will you all stand and be recognized? Thank you very much. Members of the House and the Senate. We also have the wife of the lieutenant governor, Miss Margie. Mix ins here and wait. Sometimes we see through the glass darkly.

00:07:42.630 - 00:09:11.890

Margie. Sorry we missed you. Good morning. This is the opening day of the 1984 Legislature. I'm Brandon Brightly today. In just a few minutes, the governor will present to the Legislature his legislative recommendations for this session. They're expected to follow his already established priorities that improved public education in grades K through 12, crime prevention, environmental protection and care for the state's large elderly population.

00:09:12.240 - 00:09:29.310

This is the day of pomp and pageantry for the House and the Senate. Legislative reporters Ray Reynolds, Keith Miles and Dana Peck are standing by in the rotunda of the Capitol. On the fourth floor with Ray Reynolds is Education Commissioner Ralph Turlington, former speaker of the House of Representatives.

00:09:29.370 - 00:09:46.390

Ray, do you have representative Turlington with you? Now? Do, Brandon. This is a day of pomp. and pageantry for the Legislature. Not nearly so much as it used to be, though back in the old days, when the Legislature met only every other year, it was a real homecoming of sorts, and the opening day took on even greater importance.

00:09:46.730 - 00:10:07.650

Education Commissioner Ralph Turlington was speaker of the House back in 1967 and he remembers one of the more memorable state of the State speeches. Governor back then, uh, Mr Commissioner, back then, Claude Kirk had just been elected the first governor, first Republican governor since Reconstruction. He decided to go on statewide television that night to deliver his state of the state speeches.

00:10:07.830 - 00:10:22.970

And so, in his absence that morning, you decided to give a speech of your own. You sort of pull the rug out from under Governor Kirk that morning, didn't you Don't know about the rug, But it was a good speech, Uh, that there was no, uh, speech to be given by governor around noon.

00:10:22.990 - 00:10:41.050

And so a speaker of the house I gave, I guess you could say I plan I program And it did receive a great deal of attention, Of course, on the evening news, the governor's speech did not come on until an evening session. And to my knowledge, that's the last time that the governor has spoken.

00:10:41.500 - 00:10:59.250

Given the state of the state address, uh, in the evening instead of it around noon, you sort of represented the Democrats that morning to put forth the Democratic plan for the Republican Republican governor. I said, Well, I don't I don't think it was Well, everybody's got a good idea about how how good their motives were.

00:10:59.470 - 00:11:19.670

And I'm sure the governor's motives motives were good. Those were very turbulent times. And, uh, I thought, though it all worked out all right, and we got our new Constitution and a number of other things from from those sessions. By the way, out of that, uh, we had that one regular session and eight special sessions.

00:11:19.680 - 00:11:37.160

It was, uh, it was the most sessions that anybody has ever had in two years. Two year period. Commissioner Turlington has it a little easier now as education commissioner, recalling some memorable times from the past. Brandon back to you. Thank you, Ray. Thank you very much.

00:11:37.540 - 00:11:56.460

Governor Bob Graham has already publicly presented his budget recommendations for this year reporter Keith Miles has been gauging the response to the, uh, to the spending plan. I'm sorry we had to stop right now. The governor is entering the chamber, so let's go down to the House of Representatives right now for the governor's entrance.

00:12:14.440 - 00:13:10.950

Mhm. Yeah, right. Uh huh. Charlie. Hello, Speaker. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Mm. Members of the Supreme Court members of the Florida Cabinet. Members of the House representatives, members of the Florida Senate, Citizens of Florida. It's my great honor to present to you the governor of the state of Florida.

00:13:11.640 - 00:14:00.350

The Honourable Bob Graham. Yeah, Yeah. Hello? The antics. Yeah, I'll get it. Thanks. Head of the car and mhm. Yeah, Yeah. Reading Reverend Clergy, members of the Florida Legislature and fellow citizens. As we experience the excitement of opening Day as we all share in the color and the flowers and the renewal of old friendships, I would suggest that we pause a moment to acknowledge one of us who could not be here today.

00:14:02.340 - 00:14:26.250

Representative Joe Allen. I would have liked to have shared this day with us as he has shared most of his adult life with the people of Florida. Joe is in the hospital today. I visited Joe Sunday night and I join all of you and praying for his speedy and full recovery so that Joe can take his rightful place among us before this session ends.

00:14:29.340 - 00:14:55.950

A year ago, when we met in joint session of the Florida Legislature, we recognize that this particular Legislature had the potential for distinction. Today we gather with a sense of fulfillment. You have by your votes achieved the distinction demanded by the people who elected you to represent them.

00:14:57.440 - 00:15:29.960

Working together with the men and women of the caliber of President Curtis Peterson of Speaker Lee Moffitt of representative James Harold Thompson and Herb Morgan and Senator Betty Castor, we forged into law the nation's most far reaching educational reforms. Florida is now entering the fourth year of a five year plan to reach the top 12 states in America in the quality of its education.

00:15:31.140 - 00:16:02.060

When you enact the budget for this year, we will be just one year away from achieving our goal on schedule in 1986 for teacher salaries across the board and for faculty salaries in our community colleges and state university. Mhm, yeah, thank you. Yeah, The most important single professional and public education is the classroom teacher.

00:16:03.440 - 00:16:44.060

We are moving to improve the status, the professional standards and the salary of this most important person today. Because of the actions which you have taken, a Florida high school diploma stands for something. It stands for quality. By the time the class of 1987 graduates from the high schools of Florida, the demanding standards of excellence which we are requiring, will comprise the most rigorous high school curriculum in America.

00:16:45.140 - 00:17:09.130

The word is out. The Education Commission of States surveyed all 50 states and reported that the standards for high school graduation in America are highest in the state of Florida. Okay, yeah, Florida is expanding the high school day in order to provide space for these more demanding requirements.

00:17:09.640 - 00:17:39.560

This is being done at the urging of Senate President Curtis Peterson. Today, a third of Florida's high school students are receiving the benefit of this expanded school day. By next year, almost three quarters of our students will do so. Florida is implementing its State Master teacher program and local district merit pay plans to recognize the excellence of our very best teachers as recommended by Speaker Leave office.

00:17:41.030 - 00:18:13.350

As of today, the Department of Education has reported that 13,875 of Florida's teachers have applications on file for the professional recognition of associate master teacher and the $3000 annual check that goes with it to some changes threatening. And Florida is changing rapidly. But we must be prepared to accept the challenge of change and rise to the new incentives.

00:18:14.440 - 00:18:39.270

You have accepted that challenge since you voted to end the neglect of our roads and bridges last year, the Department of Transportation has repaired more than 1000 miles of existing highways in time to prevent the need to rebuild. The fight is not only to provide resources but to continue to monitor performance to get the job done.

00:18:39.940 - 00:19:00.170

This fight is being led by Senator Malcolm Beard and representative Tom Gustafson, and I want to tell you fellow citizens of Florida that the job is getting done in downtown Miami. The Miami Avenue Bridge has been stuck in the upward position for years, a monument to futility.

00:19:03.440 - 00:19:48.050

Today, the Miami Avenue bridge is being replaced to provide adequate traffic flow in Okaloosa and Walton County, US 98 is being moved away from the beach and widened to make the highway safer and to protect a portion of that magnificent beachfront from Palm Beach County to Fort Myers, the four lining of sections of State Road 80 is underway on an accelerated basis, and in Tampa Bay, a magnificent new landmark is rising.

00:19:49.040 - 00:20:15.160

The new Skyway Bridge will be an architectural statement of the energy and the purpose of our state by the spring of 1986. By the spring of 1986 not only will the Skyway be complete, but Interstate 75 will connect dozens of communities from the Georgia line all the way to Naples.

00:20:16.640 - 00:20:35.550

The dimensions of this legislatures accomplishments are historic. You have recognized Florida's new priorities, and you have enacted new laws, particularly in the area of water quality. You have allocated the resources to protect our drinking water, to find new sources of pollution, eliminate them, and to test our wells for purity.

00:20:37.440 - 00:21:00.770

You have continued the tradition of recent legislatures by providing growing resources for criminal justice. With the support and cooperation of Attorney General Jim Smith, you have helped to supply the leadership to make our criminal justice system works by your vote. You have put more police officers on the street.

00:21:01.540 - 00:21:24.660

You have put more prosecutors and defenders in the courtrooms. You have put more judges on the bench. You have put more criminals behind bars. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports that the crime rate in Florida fell by 8.8% in 1983. But that's not the whole story.

00:21:26.240 - 00:22:03.670

In Hillsborough County, Mr Speaker, the crime rate has declined by more than 10% in Broward County. In Broward County and in Orange County, the crime rate is down nearly 14%. And in Charlotte County, one of Florida's fastest growing communities, the crime rate is down by 34.4% compared with just a year ago.

00:22:08.340 - 00:22:43.490

Statewide, fellow citizens. The crime rate in Florida today is down by nearly 20% since 1980. That was the year when the Cuban Communist dictator Fidel Castro bombarded us with thousands of criminals and when billions in drug dollars threatened to overwhelm our criminal justice system. Today, not only is the rate of crime down 20% the absolute number of crimes are down despite the fact of are rapidly increasing population today, although law enforcement has stepped up its efforts.

00:22:44.340 - 00:23:17.160

Drug related arrests down 15%. Drug seizures by state and local lawmen, down 52%. Why down? Because smugglers are learning that Florida is no place to traffic in drugs. These are accomplishments which you can be proud of. This is a year for building on our accomplishment. This is a year for the consolidation of our gains.

00:23:17.640 - 00:23:51.460

This is a year for looking once again to the future. On March 3rd, 1995 Florida will celebrate its 150th birthday as a state. Let me ask you these questions, and I would ask you to think of these questions in as tangible away as you can. What goals for that celebration would you set for your communities back home?

00:23:55.540 - 00:24:27.360

What goals would you set for the 150th celebration of Florida statehood for our state? What actions will we take today to see that we can achieve those goals? President Kennedy lifted our vision to the heavens with a goal of landing an American on the moon and returning that American safely to earth within the decade of the 19 sixties.

00:24:29.140 - 00:24:58.460

Let us set goals for our 150th birthday celebration, which are worthy of our statehood. Here are six goals which I would like to share for Florida's birthday goals, which place demands on us today. Demands in concrete terms. By the end of our first century and a half Florida system of public education will have enjoyed a decade of distinction.

00:24:59.640 - 00:25:26.450

By that year, Florida will have created the intellectual and economic environment to attract and keep the best teachers in America for the best schools in America. 1995 The educational experience of every child in Florida can be second to none. By 1995 95% of our students will be performing at their grade level, and those who stumble will be helped to achieve their full potential.

00:25:28.140 - 00:26:06.770

To meet this goal, this session must continue to support the reforms and provide the resources for educational excellence. Excellence is not a bill that we can enact sign into law in a single session. Excellence requires years of continuous concerted effort. We must pay all of our teachers more by an average of $2820 a year more provided in this budget, we must provide computers for our classrooms, science laboratories and more guidance counselors for our Children.

00:26:08.340 - 00:26:35.360

Within the last two days, our state's largest newspaper published a survey showing that two out of three Floridians think that the public schools in this state are getting better. Two out of three Floridians want them to keep getting better, and two out of three of our fellow citizens said that they are willing to pay higher taxes if it means better schools.

00:26:37.200 - 00:27:03.560

These citizens are showing that they approved approve enthusiastically the work of such legislators as representatives Betty Easily, Bob Johnson and Steve Pageant. Demonstrating their confidence in our work. And by volunteering to work in hundreds of our schools, Floridians are showing that they take education seriously. 1995.

00:27:03.940 - 00:27:29.860

Florida will have a world class department in each of the major academic disciplines located either a public or independent university. In our state, hours can be a future of widely distributed excellence. By the end of our first century and a half, the average Floridians income will surpass the national average by a minimum of 5%.

00:27:31.440 - 00:27:57.050

No southern state, no southern state in over a century has had the economic climate to allow its citizens to earn an average annual income, the equal of the nation as a whole. Florida is on the verge of breaking that standard under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Wayne Nixon.

00:27:57.540 - 00:28:26.360

The Florida Department of Commerce is helping to prepare Florida for that. Breakthrough hours can be a future of widely distributed prosperity. That success will be enhanced by a strong banking system with a Florida personality. To accomplish that goal in this session, we must enact a regional interstate banking bill.

00:28:27.340 - 00:28:50.370

Florida's banks will grow and prosper during the transition to full national interstate banking. Florida will benefit from the stimulus of competition from other Southern states. By the end of our first century and a half, Florida will crown a decade in which the cost of health care rose no faster than inflation.

00:28:50.380 - 00:29:25.770

In general. This session, the Legislature is fortunate to have the benefit of the work of former Senator Bob McKnight and all those who served with him on the Florida Task Force on competition and consumer choices in health care. The many legislators who have worked during the interim representative Sam Bell, representative Fred Lipman, Senators Harry Johnston, Jack Gordon, Don Children, Ken Jenny all have contributed effectively to the quality of the legislation emerging as a major element of the session which begins today.

00:29:27.140 - 00:29:50.960

In this session, we must stimulate free market competition in the health care segment of our economy. Second, we must provide for a fair and equitable distribution of the care required by those who cannot afford to pay a free market place where consumers make decisions requires that all segments of the hospital industry bear their proper burden of caring for the indigent.

00:29:52.540 - 00:30:29.160

Third, we must create a safety net to keep from tumbling back into an unacceptable situation. With health care costs rising beyond the reach of the average Floridian, I commend Commissioner Bill Gunter for his commitment to work together with you to develop this vital legislation. 1995. Florida will also meet the goal of providing community care for the elderly for all of our senior Floridians who require, I am asking that we expand this program this year to provide at varying levels of care for 10,000 additional senior Floridians in need.

00:30:30.140 - 00:30:58.060

Florida has the largest population of persons over the age of 65 of any state in the nation. We are proud of our active, participating senior Floridians. We need to help them remain as healthy and as independent as possible. Community care for the elderly is a significant reason why Florida Day has the second lowest per recipient Medicaid program of the 10 largest states in America.

00:30:58.440 - 00:31:32.860

In spite of that, major demand for long term health care community care does more. It keeps our older citizens active, functioning in dignity and freedom rather than condemning them prematurely to a nursing home bed. By the end of our first century and a half, Florida will preserve the quality of life we enjoy today and share it with three million people who will additionally live in Florida by 1995.

00:31:34.440 - 00:32:04.560

Make no mistake, Florida's matchless environment is the reason for Florida's growth. People want to come here to live because they want to live the way we Floridians do. We are happy to share our quality of life, but our quality of life is not for sale. The issue of the wetlands is a key to our future.

00:32:05.340 - 00:32:31.170

We have progressed beyond the time in Florida when the instinct was to immediately drain every swamp. Because the leadership shown by this Legislature, Floridians now are virtually unanimous in recognizing the importance of wetlands to the maintenance of clean water. Now is the time to additionally recognize the significance of wetlands in the web of life.

00:32:32.340 - 00:33:00.810

Wetlands not only protect water quality and water quantity, wetlands also provide habitat for fish and wildlife, which add greatly to the quality of life in our state. This critical legislation will bear the mark of the legislators who have guided its development. Representative John Mills and Senator Pat Neal blurred IANs.

00:33:01.640 - 00:33:38.450

We can preserve our wetlands, including the mighty Everglade system, by establishing the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Regulation. To protect them, Florida can meet the goal of preparing for three million additional Floridians without sacrificing our unique and fragile environment. The work of the second Environmental Land Management Study Committee and senators ed Done, representative Ray Liberty Speaker Lee Moffitt has helped to bring us to a new recognition of planning for a sound future.

00:33:40.140 - 00:34:01.860

Managing our growth is like building a home. Previous legislators enacted the Conservation Recreation, Land programs, the Land and Water Management Act, the Water Resources Act, You past the Water Quality Assurance Act. These are all building blocks. They are materials for a sturdy home. Today we have the lumber.

00:34:02.740 - 00:34:24.560

Today we have the nails. We have the wires, we have the pipes. What we lack are the architectural plans to make the home useful and functional. In this session, our task will be to commence the drawing of those plans and connect the parts in a coherent and logical way.

00:34:25.940 - 00:34:49.260

The fastest growing urban state in America requires a strategic vision of its future, a strategic vision from local neighborhoods to the state capital. This vision must respect and encourage local values and initiatives. We must commit ourselves to consistency and predictability of planning, from state to regional to local levels of government.

00:34:50.640 - 00:35:13.250

And in this session, we must provide resources for that planning process to document today's trends in present conditions and to support state, regional and local efforts to draw our blueprint. By the end of our first century and a half, Florida will have a high speed train connecting Tampa Bay, Orlando and Miami.

00:35:14.640 - 00:35:39.850

This world class train will move both tourists and residents rapidly and will help keep Florida the number one tourist destination in the world. In this session, the Legislature will be asked to take steps to prepare for that high speed rail length, much as the 1967 Legislature was asked to lay the groundwork for what has become the world's greatest tourist attraction, Walt Disney World and Epcot.

00:35:41.330 - 00:36:02.160

In this high speed rail project, yet another historic partnership between government and the private sector of Florida will be forged. By the end of our first century and a half, Florida will begin to enjoy the rewards of our strategic war on crime. Ours will be a dual strategy.

00:36:02.830 - 00:36:26.240

We will continue strong support for our criminal justice system. It is this system which has brought about the crime rate reduction that we celebrate today. But by attacking the root causes of crime, poverty, ignorance, child abuse, alcohol and drug abuse, Florida can continue to send the crime rate down.

00:36:32.730 - 00:37:07.650

We can send the crime rate down so that by the year 1995 our priority can be building schools, not building jails, and our satisfaction can be a state on a rising curve of intellectual energy, international commerce and environmental preservation. in this session. A $75 million increase for the criminal justice system is a priority, including money for 33 additional judges and for preventing crime.

00:37:08.030 - 00:37:33.650

We must allocate more than $7 million for expanded programs of treatment and education. Mothers Against Drunk Driver have made us aware of the tragedy of drinking and driving. Human lives are at risk every time a drunk driver takes the wheel to send a strong message that drunk driving is a serious crime.

00:37:34.530 - 00:38:04.240

Florida treats drunk driving seriously. We need to get even tougher this year by raising fees for reinstating the licensor of the drunk driver. Florida will provide funds for more troopers, more bat mobiles to obtain evidence for the for the courtroom and pay overtime for troopers. We will keep the Florida Highway Patrol on the highways full time and not lose valuable patrol time while officers testify in court.

00:38:07.920 - 00:38:58.240

A funny thing happened on the way to this section of the speech. The Florida Supreme Court removed Amendment one from the ballot. The Florida Supreme Court has ruined my stirring conclusion mhm as a pale imitation of what you would have heard. I was prepared to quote from Thomas Paine on the founding of our government, I was prepared to quote from Abraham Lincoln on preserving our government.

00:38:59.220 - 00:39:32.750

I was prepared to quote from Franklin Delano Roosevelt on restoring our government. Now the only quotes I have left are from justice. Been Overton on how to conduct a petition drive. I was prepared to declare war on Amendment one. I had hoped that Floridians could, in the course of this campaign, examine ourselves our goals and our statehood and determined together where we want to go together.

00:39:34.300 - 00:40:03.330

I am confident that the more Floridians learned about Amendment one, the more they opposed it. This is not a year to rush to put back onto the ballot this misguided amendment. We do not need a tax cutting amendment on the ballot this year. We must not stampede blindly into retreat from our goals and our accomplishment.

00:40:05.110 - 00:40:45.530

I have proposed a budget with no new taxes. It is a balanced budget, fellow citizens. According to the most recent report of the Tax Foundation, Florida today, Florida, in 1984 ranks 49th among the 50 states in taxation per $1000 of personal income. Let me put that in perspective.

00:40:48.110 - 00:41:07.140

If the federal government had done as well as Florida since 1968 which was the last year that the federal government had a balanced budget, President Ronald Reagan in the Congress would not be worried about an uncontrolled deficit in all the economic distortions, which that entails. No.

00:41:07.910 - 00:41:36.570

If Washington had been as frugal as Tallahassee, the federal government today would not have generated a cumulative deficit of more than $880 billion but would have had a cumulative surplus of $388 billion. Florida is a low tax state. It is a state with bargain basement tax rates and top quality service.

00:41:36.630 - 00:42:03.510

I ask you this question. Name me another state in America, which is entering the top 12 states in education and is in the bottom 40 states in terms of taxation. Name me one state. There are some fiscal actions that we should take this year. First, we must raise our working capital fund to prepare for a future rainy day.

00:42:05.000 - 00:42:34.420

Second, we must continue our long range strategic investment in education, the economic dividends that we enjoy today, which allow us to have this increasing quality of service and education in health care and transportation. Environmental protection services for the elderly without additional taxes is a result of the dividend which we are receiving from our diversified economy, and that dividend rests squarely on the promise of better schools.

00:42:37.900 - 00:43:11.330

Third, we should initiate a comprehensive review of Florida's tax system, investigating its fairness, its response to cycles in the economy and its future appropriateness for 1995 beyond. We will be working together in the months ahead. To complete such a comprehensive review, we can take as our model the work of the Public Facilities Financing Commission, citizens and legislators who have planned effectively for the financing of new schools, roads, water and sewer lines which are current.

00:43:11.340 - 00:43:38.620

And those three million additional Floridians will require we have a representative form of government. We elect people. The people have elected you to attend to public business on their behalf. We believe in majority rule while respecting the rights of the minority. But we do not believe that a tyranny of the minority should be allowed to frustrate the general collective will.

00:43:40.090 - 00:44:06.800

As we chart our future. Let us keep this fundamental fact in mind. In our democracy, government is not the enemy. Government is an ally. Government is an ally which we Americans established to accomplish together what we could not do individually. On December 13th, 1980 I was working with the Jacksonville Fire Department emergency medical team.

00:44:07.560 - 00:44:32.910

An 81 year old woman had a heart attack. Our ambulance, paid for by the taxpayers of Duval County on roads financed by the citizens of Florida and Duval County, rushed her to the hospital. Without government, there would have been no emergency ambulance. Without government, there would have been no role without government that 81 year old lady would have died.

00:44:35.090 - 00:44:57.210

A retired dentist, a former public health dentist from New York City, now retired and living in Pinellas County, was 91 years old when I met her on December 3rd, 1981. She was bright, alert, energetic, independent. She was also deaf and nearly blind. She wanted to live a life of dignity.

00:44:57.590 - 00:45:21.510

But in order to do so, she needed the assistance of the neighborly Senior Services of Pinellas County. I helped clean her house and cook a meal because of community care. She receives those services on a regular basis. She understands that without government, there would not be that hand of help, and she would not be able to live the life of independence, which is so valuable to her.

00:45:23.390 - 00:45:46.310

The junior class at Jefferson County High School in Monticello understands the need for first class educational standards standards that you are helping to set and that you will continue to support the students. Attend to high school in Monticello Jefferson County High School, which five years ago ranked among the lowest in terms of student performance in this state.

00:45:47.490 - 00:46:29.400

Today on standardized test, it ranks near the top. Today, 98% of the junior class at Jefferson County High School has passed the test required for graduation. 98% of the junior class has already passed the test necessary for graduation from high school. When I visited Jefferson County High School last winter, the juniors chanted in unison during an academic pep rally, their slogan, You know, you can depend on us to get the job done, because when it comes to education, we're number one.

00:46:30.180 - 00:46:46.790

Say your number Number one. Say it loud one. We are proud one. You got it number one, the students of the junior class of Jefferson County High School, Right? They are number one. They have a right to be proud. They have accomplished. They've achieved. They set high expectations.

00:46:47.480 - 00:47:15.900

The future of our state is its highest priority is to be found in those Children in Jefferson County High School and throughout Florida. The future of Florida, which I see by the year 1995 is a state in robust economic health, a state which is providing a prosperity for all of its citizens, a state which is able to finance the public projects and programmes wanted by our citizens, a state which continues to manage its assets frugally and conservatively.

00:47:16.980 - 00:47:41.590

We can make Florida's 150th birthday celebration of time of international recognition of a state which is dedicated to excellence. Our Children have a right to a quality education. Our elderly citizens have a right to a decent life. All of us have a right to be secure in our homes and know that police and fire protection and emergency medical services are there when we need them.

00:47:42.680 - 00:48:08.490

These human needs, these desires of the people who elected us are worth fighting for the value of our public service to future generations will be measured by the quality of our performance here and now. Thank you. Okay, good charge. Thank you. Excellent. Good. Good exports sometimes.

00:48:08.970 - 00:49:04.840

Mhm. Better doing good. Yeah. 1984. State of the state address to the Legislature. Governor Graeme continued his strong, overriding emphasis on public education funding, keeping in mind his goal of reaching the upper quartile by the next year. Governor Graeme pointed out that by the time the education reform package passed last year by the Legislature is in full application in 1987 high school graduation requirements in Florida will be the most rigorous in the nation.

00:49:05.120 - 00:49:22.290

That, of course, depends on what other states do. In the meantime, Graham reminds the Legislature that this is the year the state intends to implement the master Teacher program, commonly called the merit pay concept for teachers. That is one part of a grand plan to raise salaries of all teachers over $2000 a year.

00:49:22.680 - 00:49:40.000

The governor provided an overview of the major transportation projects begun since the Transportation special session a year ago made money for road construction and improvement available. Notably the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay is one project Miami Avenue Bridge, US 98 in North Florida, among others.

00:49:40.470 - 00:49:58.540

The governor congratulate the LEGIS, congratulated the Legislature for its efforts to protect the state's water and to improve the system of criminal justice, particularly its funding of more law enforcement officers and prosecutors and judges. Reporter Dana Peck is standing by now in the Rotunda with the governor governor Bob Graham, with reporter Dana Peck.

00:49:58.550 - 00:50:18.040

Let's go down to the Rotunda now governor in 1979 and 1980 you said Florida had a compelling need for a constitutional amendment to limit state spending. What's your opinion about the compelling need for this constitutional amendment today? I think that we've taken a lot of steps since 1979 that have helped bring our tax system into better order.

00:50:18.040 - 00:50:38.570

In 1980 we passed a whole series of constitutional amendments. We've dealt with some of the basic problems in our tax system, and since that time we've been applying some standards in our budget, such as reducing the number of state employees to under 1% of the population, keeping our spending within a rate of the population and economic growth and population growth of Florida.

00:50:38.580 - 00:50:59.930

I think that we, through a combination of constitutional actions which have been approved by the people and actions taken by the Legislature through the budgetary process, uh, that we have arrived at a state which is the 49th out of 50 and the level of taxation, but which is increasingly reaching national standards of excellence in education and service with the elderly, law enforcement and other key areas.

00:51:00.060 - 00:51:20.530

Do you foresee any time that we would need a constitutional amendment? States Well, what I suggested today is that we should not rush into anything 1984 that we ought to let's hear from the people. Uh, let's go through a thoughtful process of exploring our tax system and ask some questions, uh, what are we gonna have to do in order?

00:51:20.530 - 00:51:42.050

Prepare for these three million additional Floridians who will be coming in the next 10 years? What do we need to do to build a financial base to support our future expectations in education and law enforcement? How do we finance the schools, the roads, the water, all the things that are gonna be necessary for our growing statement, uh, sold tax system.

00:51:42.060 - 00:51:59.280

What are you talking about doing it. And I think it's now been five years. It's probably time to to look and see what's happening in the room. We passed a lot of major tax reform measures in the 79 80 period, and then by administrative action the Department of Revenue has initiated other.

00:51:59.660 - 00:52:15.030

I think that this would be a good time to ask where we need to go for the next five or 10 years in terms of taxpayers, pretty much, thank you very much, Dana. The priorities that the governor stressed today we're the ones that he chose to emphasize once again, as he said his own personal goals.

00:52:15.120 - 00:52:32.330

Goals that he hopes will be set by the Legislature as well. One man who has a big part in setting that agenda for the Legislature. The Senate president, Curtis Peterson, the man who said at one time that the governor has his spending plan, the House has its spending plan and the Senate has yet another one.

00:52:32.340 - 00:53:04.370

How that spending plan is received by the Senate is something that will have to find out as this session progresses. The governor has also set some priorities that he says are birthday goals. Goals for Florida's 150th birthday coming up in 1995. Of the six goals Graham spoke of education again as number one by 1995 g hopes the state will have gone beyond the effort quartile and be quote second to none, that there will be an intellectual and economic environment to attract the best teachers in the nation.

00:53:04.830 - 00:53:27.900

To that end, he's recommending pay increases averaging over $2800 a year for teacher Second. The governor emphasized his support of regional interstate banking. Third, Graham was emphatic in his remarks that the state has an obligation to make health care available, and the cost for those services more affordable environments was also one of Graham's priorities and has been over the past several years.

00:53:27.910 - 00:53:48.790

Senator Pat Neal has been very active in the environment and is this year sponsoring legislation that will be entrusted with preserving and protecting the state's wetlands. Legislative reporter Keith Miles is now in the rotunda with Senator Neal. Go ahead, Keith. We're standing in the rotunda with Senator Pat Neal, who is the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and senator.

00:53:48.790 - 00:54:03.190

First of all, let me ask you for your reaction to the governor's speech, particularly with regard to the wetlands issue. Keith, the governor has always had a strong commitment both to the wetlands bill and the Growth Management bill. I think we're gonna have a wetlands bill with his support.

00:54:03.200 - 00:54:32.030

Uh, we seem to have a document that's approaching a consensus document about 70% of its agreed. I think it's possible that early in the session early in the session, we could come out with the wetlands document that meets the legitimate needs of the people. But that is acceptable to most of the industry and user groups because it gives them process improvements, Uh, and some types of treatment that deals with their particular concerns that will improve the process, and particularly the time that it takes to get a permit in Florida.

00:54:32.040 - 00:54:53.140

So I'm very optimistic about the wetlands bill. The governor's remarks certainly will help. How do you feel? How do you feel that developers will respond to the governor's message this this morning? Well, there's nothing there that the developers affirmatively want. This is not a bill that helps developers or phosphate miners Um, or the agricultural industry.

00:54:53.140 - 00:55:08.470

Specifically, what it will do is protect Florida's interest in water quality and preserve habitat. But it will also make some process process improvements to industry. UH, that will allow the bill to be acceptable to them. I believe Senator Neal, thank you so much for stopping by and talking with us.

00:55:09.140 - 00:55:41.160

Brenda. Thank you, Keith. That was Senator Pat Neal. The governor's message is completed. This is something he does once a year. It is mostly a ceremonial process, but one to which he presents to the Legislature his legislative priorities for the year. Down in the Rotunda now, legislative reporter Dana Peck is standing by with representative Barry Coutant, chairman of the House Finance and Taxation Committee, and one man who threw whose committee will pass all spending bills for this year that includes a very large part of the governor's program for the year.

00:55:41.320 - 00:56:02.110

Go ahead, Dana. Representative Putin, the governor didn't specifically address the unitary tax today, but when we talked a few days ago, he had changed his stance considerably. Um, your reaction at that time was that you were unprepared for his change. How do things stand now? Well, I think the governor was going to speak to the unitary tax issue.

00:56:02.110 - 00:56:21.010

I think he did reach out and try to sample what the leadership of both the House and the Senate was thinking yesterday. I know that there was some mixed emotions within the House leadership as to how to go about responding to the governor's Commission on the unitary tanks and also to his new position.

00:56:21.020 - 00:56:34.680

Uh, those of us, um, in the house told him that that were asked. We just told them that we hadn't really made a decision at this point. And if you want to speak to it, you know that he wasn't necessarily get the endorsement of the house with regard to his position.

00:56:34.710 - 00:56:57.150

So I think he just stayed away from the issue, recognized as something that we're gonna have to work on over the next two months. What is your position on the unitary tax now in the repeal? Well, my personal position would be to repeal it. I think that it's been very damaging to Florida, and I just I just don't think that the amount of dollars that have been brought in have been, uh, you know, worth the negative implications to Florida.

00:56:57.150 - 00:57:16.240

We are an international state in South Florida, certainly as international community, and we've got to recognize that we can't put up barriers towards that international relationships. And there were just too many obstacles dealing with accounting disclosure in foreign countries. Uh, in addition to the tax ramifications.

00:57:16.240 - 00:57:37.190

So my position would be at this time for the amount of dollars that we're receiving. We should make some, you know, some very substantial changes. So I I might even go farther than the governor's recommendation in terms of, uh, water's edge, which would eliminate all international implications of attacks.

00:57:37.200 - 00:57:57.200

How far do you get? Do you think the Tax Study Commission's recommendation of revealing the tax for death as a whole and substituting it with an alternative source of revenue? Well, you know, first of all, we've got, you know, two issues. The tax commission of the governor recommended completely revealing it.

00:57:57.210 - 00:58:19.280

Thank you. Have a break in there. Thank you very much. This is the year that Governor Graham has urged the Legislature not too much hastily, into passing any tax limiting amendments of its own, simply to replace Amendment one on the ballot tonight. Today, in the Legislature begins its regular legislative coverage of the activities and issues that the Legislature will face this year.

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Stay tuned to your local public television station every night. The session for today in the Legislature that completes our coverage this morning. Thank you for joining us and tune in again tonight for more on today in the legislature. Oh, mhm.