2008 E-Newsletters

April 10, 2008
2008 SESSION REACHES HALF WAY POINT – HOUSE PROPOSES $65 BILLION BALANCED BUDGET THAT PRESERVES CORE MISSIONS
As we enter the second half of the 2008 Legislative Session, Florida’s economy continues to remain sluggish and the economic reality is that our state’s budget will need to be reduced in the coming year to reflect much lower than expected state revenues. Florida’s Constitution requires a balanced budget, so we can’t spend money we don’t have. And because of continued economic uncertainty, we can’t recklessly tap our state’s reserve funds in case we will need these monies for an emergency like a hurricane.

March 3, 2008
2008 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS – PUTTING FLORIDA BACK ON A PATH TO PROSPERITY
With your support, I will continue to fight to lower your property taxes, insist on initiatives to keep property insurance costs down, make Florida a leader for renewable energy, keep our neighborhoods safe, improve access to healthcare, and transform our education system for the new challenges ahead.

February 5, 2008
AMENDMENT ONE PASSED 64-36 ON JANUARY 29TH
The resounding passage of this measure confirms that the people of Florida stand strong in our continuing fight for meaningful tax relief and reform. It is also clear that while Amendment One will provide over $9 billion in relief to all Floridians over the next five years, it is just a part of the needed solution as we continue to innovate and reform Florida’s failing property tax system that is crippling new homebuyers, non-homesteaders and commercial property owners.

2007 E-Newsletters

November 5, 2007
OVERVIEW OF TAX RELIEF PLAN – VOTERS TO DECIDE ON JANUARY 29TH
House Republicans and House Democrats joined together and resisted the Senate plan, but as time ran out in Tallahassee, we did not want to deny Floridians the opportunity to vote for some reform of property tax relief in January’s election. The House ultimately passed the plan 94-17 in a bipartisan vote. One thing I know for certain is that Floridians need relief sooner rather than later, and rejecting the Senate’s final offer would have meant that November 2009 would be the earliest that people would see any relief or reform.

October 23, 2007
FLORIDA HOUSE PASSES $11 BILLION BIPARTISAN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PLAN 108-2
This plan incorporates good ideas from both sides of the aisle that address many of the concerns that were raised about the original proposal such as impacts to education funding and disproportionate impacts to small rural counties. Republicans and Democrats in the Florida House joined together to: preserve Save Our Homes; provide additional homestead exemption relief to those who need it most; allow for the “portability” of accumulated Save Our Homes; and add vital protections to commercial and non-homesteaded property that are fully exposed to substantial assessment increases.

October 16, 2007
SPECIAL SESSION CONVENES TO CONSIDER A PROPERTY TAX PLAN
As you know, the Legislature is now meeting in special session to consider a property tax plan proposed by Governor Charlie Crist. This plan essentially doubles the homestead exemption and provides portability for those who want to move and take their accrued Save Our Homes benefit with them.

September 12, 2007
ADAM & JILLIAN WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR
As we celebrate the arrival of a New Year – may it be blessed with health, happiness, prosperity and peace for you and your loved ones.

June 12, 2007
A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM JILLIAN HASNER - ADAM NAMED HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER
It is my honor to let you know that Speaker Marco Rubio has announced that effective immediately, Adam has been chosen to serve as the Majority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives, an honor that comes in addition to the privilege of representing the people of House District 87.

May 10, 2007
SEVERAL LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES – NO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF A DISAPPOINTMENT
While I share your frustration as a fellow taxpayer about the extra time required to address Florida’s property tax crisis, I also wanted to let you know about the real progress we made on other important issues such as passing legislation to establish a verifiable paper ballot system, increasing funding for our local public schools, and furthering Florida’s commitment to alternative energy. I have included some highlights from the session, as well as background information on our $72 billion budget that increased less than 1% from last year.

April 23, 2007
HOUSE PASSES HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND REFORM PLAN
We are truly at a crossroads. Rising property taxes and insurance rates are making our state unaffordable and we must be bold and innovative to get Florida back on the right track. The status quo is unacceptable. Floridians need relief and we need it sooner rather than later.
After weeks of hard work and debate, the House passed our two part plan that delivers meaningful and immediate relief to ALL property owners and also proposes to empower voters to change the state’s tax structure to provide for much needed comprehensive reforms.

April 4, 2007
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
As we reach the half way point of the 2007 Session, I am pleased to report that we are continuing to make great progress up here in Tallahassee. In just 4 short weeks, Republicans and Democrats in the Florida House have been working together on the issues that are important to all Floridians and we have already achieved several significant accomplishments.
In addition to unanimously passing Governor Crist’s anti-murder measure, another issue that we tackled successfully early on was our innovative #147 million Teacher Merit Award Program that will reward success in the classroom and help attract and retain the best teachers for our local schools.

March 10, 2007
HIGHLIGHTS FROM WEEK ONE OF THE 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2007 Legislative Session is now officially under way. We have many tough challenges ahead and I am looking forward to tackling the important issues during the next 60 days.
Some highlights from Week One include: the House unanimously passes four bills to protect children and families with the Anti-Murder Act heading to Gov. Crist for signature; and the House Republican proposal provides immediate relief and comprehensive reform.

February 23, 2007
HOUSE UNVEILS PLAN FOR PROVIDING MEANINGFUL TAX RELIEF FOR FLORIDA’S TAXPAYERS
In January, we tackled our property insurance crisis, and helped bring immediate relief to millions of Floridians. Now, we are focused on the twin threat to Florida’s families, Florida’s businesses and Florida’s economy: the rising cost of property taxes.

January 24, 2007
COMPREHENSIVE REFORMS PASSED DURING PROPERTY INSURANCE SPECIAL SESSION
Thank you for placing your trust and confidence in me to be your voice in Tallahassee at this most critical time for our great state. I am pleased to report that in an unprecedented bipartisan effort, the Florida Legislature has passed comprehensive property insurance reform that will provide rate reductions and rate stabilization for Florida homeowners.

January 16, 2007
ADDRESSING FLORIDA’S PROPERTY INSURANCE CRISIS
This week I travel to Tallahassee for the Special Legislative Session which starts today at 1 PM. Addressing Florida’s property insurance crisis is my number one priority, and I will be working hard to provide needed rate relief to Floridians. I understand how real this problem is for our community as Jillian and I are facing higher insurance bills just like you.