During the Hillsborough County Democratic Party meeting last night, Florida Sen. Charlie Justice outlined bills he's introducing. One would cap contributions to committees of continuing existence at $500, the same cap for donations to candidates. Another would stop corporations from giving to candidates. That would prevent one person from getting around campaign finance limits by making donations through different businesses.

Also on hand were Florida Reps. Michael Scionti and Betty Reed, who said it isn't easy being a Democrat in Tallahassee. "We don't control anything," said Scionti, noting that bills proposed by Democrat lawmakers don't even get discussed if House Speaker Larry Cretul, a Republican, doesn't put them on the agenda. "There is a lot of politicization of issues," Scionti said. Democratic proposals for a sales tax to fund education and tax credits for the film industry went nowhere, he said.

Still, Scionti and Reed said they continue to fight the good fight. "More bad legislation gets stopped than good legislation gets filed and passed," Scionti said.

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer

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