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Watchdog group warns of Florida lawmakers controlling local governments

The report by Integrity Florida found that 119 local pre-emption bills have been filed in the past three years.
 
Craft Kafe in St. Petersburg use paper straws since the city banned the use of plastic straws. Some Florida lawmakers have introduced legislation that would prevent cities like St. Petersburg from banning the use of plastic straws.BOYZELL HOSEY  |   Times
Craft Kafe in St. Petersburg use paper straws since the city banned the use of plastic straws. Some Florida lawmakers have introduced legislation that would prevent cities like St. Petersburg from banning the use of plastic straws.BOYZELL HOSEY | Times [ BOYZELL HOSEY | Times ]
Published Jan. 6, 2020|Updated Jan. 7, 2020

One of the state’s only nonpartisan watchdog groups is out with a new report warning about the Legislature’s recent crackdowns on local governments.

The report by Integrity Florida found that state lawmakers have increasingly been filing bills meant to limit the power of local governments to raise taxes, regulate businesses or even ban plastic straws.

And the GOP-led Legislature is often doing it on behalf of their corporate-backed donors, including Associated Industries of Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the report finds.

“It’s a trend that should be concerning to those of us who believe in the traditional conservative principle that government governs best when it’s closest to the people,” said Ben Wilcox, the organization’s research director.

The findings are nothing new to the League of Cities and Association of Counties, groups that have been warning about local pre-emption laws for years. (The League of Cities is a contributor to Integrity Florida, but did not have any say in the production of the report, Wilcox said.)

Last session, lawmakers passed laws that:

Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the plastic straw ban bill, saying that local communities should address the issue. He did not veto the other two bills.

The report notes that 119 local government pre-emption bills have been filed between the 2017 and 2019 legislative sessions. Only 11 passed.

“It is clear, that on a yearly basis, there is a concerted and strategic effort in the Florida Legislature to strip local government of its power to act on a wide variety of issues,” the report states.

Associate researcher Alan Stonecipher said that conservative lawmakers representing rural districts are setting policy for liberal residents in the cities.

"So you have a bunch of white men saying what can be done in a particular town or city,” Stonecipher said.

You can read the report here.