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Highlands Today

House Speaker Doesn't Shed Much Light On Property Tax Reform

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Highlands Today Staff

Published: January 21, 2008

Some in the audience of 120 who gathered Wednesday to hear Florida House Speaker Mario Rubio's views on the state's property tax amendment may have been surprised to see Rubio, also a Republican, dismiss Gov. Charlie Crist's proposed initiative as inadequate.

If you came to make up your mind on how to vote, it was probably not made up based on what little Rubio had to say on the proposed property tax reforms and how divergent his views are on what is being proposed.

Instead, Rubio spoke on gambling, morality, family values, giving your children a better United States, and even his kids.

But when it came around to the proposed property tax reform voters are currently deliberately, Rubio instead threw in soundbites on the 135 petition, which would cap all property taxes at 1.35 percent of taxable value while preserving Save Our Homes and homestead exemptions. Rubio's 135 petition plan cuts property taxes by $8 billion and reduces property tax collections by 26 percent statewide.

So was Rubio here in town campaigning for governor or to hawk the 135 petition should the proposed amendment fail at the ballot box? We don't really know but it is obvious he strongly differs with Crist on certain things like the property tax issue and Crist's initiative to bring Las Vegas-style gambling to Indian casinos –– and he wants you all to know why Crist is wrong. Like he's been doing for some time.

Those who follow Tallahassee politics see Rubio evolving as the leader of the conservative state Republicans vis-a-vis Crist's more moderate politics.

Rubio's politics may be considered more in line with former Gov. Jeb Bush, and who better to fill the vacuum left by Bush's departure than Rubio? Crist, with his populist, consensus-based politics, is certainly no Jeb Bush throwaway.

It'll be interesting to see how far the rivalry –– if there is one –– deepens, and if the two will face each other off at a future election. Crist is undoubtedly a popular governor but Rubio has a lot going for him.

He's 36, good looking, articulate, Hispanic and conservative in a blue state. Be prepared to see more of Marco Rubio in the coming years.

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