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Monday's letters: Important bills go up in smoke

 
Published May 1, 2015

House folds | April 29

Important bills go up in smoke

Like many people across the spectrum of political beliefs, I was troubled by the malfeasance demonstrated by the Florida House of Representatives in skipping out without finishing its job. The House leadership neglected the business of our people in favor of attracting attention to their personal political ambitions.

By ending the regular legislative session, House leaders effectively killed the efforts of thousands of Floridians and many legislators of all political stripes who patiently participated in the machinery of democracy by crafting important bills for the consideration of our legislative branch.

Matters of critical importance to our state that survived the rigorous process of securing valuable consideration from legislative committees — water management, family law, child protection and education — now die on the vine so that a small cadre of what my daughter calls "haters" can declare their opposition to national health policy reform (that is working).

We now have a quiet moment to plead with our state's more seasoned and judicious lawmakers. We can and should appeal to wiser minds to abandon and oppose the reckless and destructive tactics of the House leaders.

Finn Kavanagh, Tampa

Term limits not working

Steve Crisafulli does not deserve to be in a position of power in the Florida House. Term limits have helped to create the current situation. Too many of our state legislators are hit-and-run carpetbaggers who see their time in office as a window of opportunity to enrich themselves and secure future employment with connected law firms, corporations and lobbyists.

A full-time Legislature with decent pay would change Tallahassee from a club where connected people do each other favors to a legitimate legislative body.

Kyle Elliott, Bradenton

Love him or hate him, he's now a Buc | May 1

Team makes poor choice

I know Jameis Winston will not be the first criminal in the NFL — far from it — but the knowledge of his multiple bad choices was very clear before he was chosen. I moved to Tampa when I was 11 and lived in the same community as Lee Roy Selmon at the time, so I have had pride in our team for many years even though we have struggled to win for most of our existence.

My husband has been a club seat season ticket holder for seven years, and it's now a point of contention that he renewed the tickets.

This incredibly poor decision by the Bucs on the heels of so many losing seasons is disheartening, and I hope it will prove to be a costly mistake.

Kelly Montalto, St. Petersburg

Front page

Rethink priorities

The two main stories on the front page were inverted. The new Tampa police chief should have had top billing above the fold.

To place a questionable football player above a respected police officer in an important position shows extremely poor judgment. You need to rethink your priorities.

Shirley Jempson, Largo