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UPDATE 3-18-09 4:20 PM Representative Trautman has agreed to meet with FOWS Vice President John Smith Thursday at 2 pm. It is more important then ever to get as many calls as possible to his office tomorrow morning. We are hoping for good news. CALL TO ACTION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE March 18, 2009 Representative Trautman concedes anchoring section of HB 1423 needs amending/1423 passes first committee Good news and bad news, Representative Trautman conceded the anchoring sections of 1423 needed multiple amendments before it would be ready for discussion. This is evidence of the high degree of attention the boating community has drawn to the anchoring section. several Representatives on the committee stated they had significant concerns based on the high level of calls received over this issue. The bad news is Representative Trautman's concession prevented discussion in the committee and the bill passed on without debate. Presumably the bill will be returned to this committee when amended for a full debate on the anchoring section as amended. Representative Trautman has from today until Tuesday morning to make his amendments and present the bill to the General Government Policy Council that he is the chair of. We are asking all supporters of the FOWS amendments to place a follow up call to Representative Trautmans Office and encourage him to use the FOWS amendments as the basis for the changes. Representative Trautman needs to understand you are all watching and concerned. In addition please follow up with the members of the Government Policy Council listed below. Make sure they understand the Agriculture and Natural Recourses Committee was blocked from reviewing this section of the bill. We need everyone calling the below listed numbers as soon as possible. We are also asking our concern partner organizations to follow up with your contacts. this is the week to have impact on HB1423. Representatives on General Government Policy Council Troutman "1423 sponsor" 850-488-9465, Hooper 850-488-1540,Waldman 850-488-3164, Anderson 850-488-8528, Brandenburg 850-488-0260, Ford 850-488-0895, Grimsley 850-488-3457, Hays 850-488-0348, Kreegal 850-488-9175, Kriseman 850-488-9337, Long 850-488-6197, Patterson 850-488-9873, Taylor 850-488-8632, Trudi Williams 850-488-2047, Alan Williams 850-488-1798, Zapata 850-488-9550 |
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| | | For Immediate Release Contact: Eric Dybing Florida Open Water Society |
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| CALL TO ACTION Legislative update March 10, 2009 House bill 1423 was referred to four committees today, they are Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy Committee General Government Policy Council Finance and Tax Council Full Appropriations Council on General Government The bill will be heard by each committee in this order. For this reason, we all need to continue to call the Representatives on Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Committee as this committee will have the best opportunity to amend or kill the anchoring provisions. The phone numbers for these Representatives are listed again for you below. In addition the members of the General Government Policy Committee need to be contacted as we have not targeted them in the past and getting them up to speed on these damaging provisions is critical. Several of our members have reported back that the calls are well received and seem to be generating concern over the anchoring and boating restriction sections of the bill. WE NEED YOU CONTINUED EFFORTS TO WIN. Making just a few phone calls each day will keep the pressure up until the hearing. Please take the time to call all the Representatives listed below. We have posted updated revisions for 1423 on the legislative button on our web page. Please visit the page and review this information. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Previously published list Representatives on Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Williams 850-488-2047, Poppell 850-488-3006, Brandenburg 850-488-0260, Bembry 850-488-7870, Boyd 850-488-9835, Bullard 850-488-5480, Burgin 850-488-9910, Crisafulli 850-488-4669, Culp 850-488-2770, Drake 850-488-4726, Evers 850-488-8188, Glorioso 850-488-0807, Jones 850-488-6897, Mayfield 850-488-0952, Pafford 850-488-0175, Patronis 850-488-9696, Renuart 850-488-0001, Schultz 850-488-0805
New numbers not previously published Represenatives on General Government Policy Council Troutman "1423 sponsor" 850-488-9465, Hooper 850-488-1540,Waldman 850-488-3164, Anderson 850-488-8528, Brandenburg 850-488-0260, Ford 850-488-0895, Grimsley 850-488-3457, Hays 850-488-0348, Kreegal 850-488-9175, Kriseman 850-488-9337, Long 850-488-6197, Patterson 850-488-9873, Taylor 850-488-8632, Trudi Williams 850-488-2047, Alan Williams 850-488-1798, Zapata 850-488-9550 |
| CALL TO ACTION Legislative update March 3, 2009 Version Seven has been incorporated into House Bill 1423 and posted in the House by Representative Trautman. The bill covers multiple issues and the anchoring language is scattered throughout the bills text. Florida Open Water Society will provide a link to the text from our web page. Please add Representative Trautman to your call list 850-488-9465 and e-mail list. It is important to impress on Representative Troutman the negative impact this bill could have on the boating industry. request he kill or amend the anchoring provisions to protect boater rights |
| The Florida Legislature begins hearing bills in committee this week and we expect several committees to hear the FWC bill during the next two weeks. Florida Open Water Society has dispatched Vice President John Smith to attend the committee meetings and represent our issues over the next two weeks. John needs our help, Both houses of the legislature are going to be over run with lobbyist attempting to make the case for various bills. In order for John to get access and be heard, we must all communicate with our legislative members and staff showing the grass roots support needed to get attention in Tallahassee. PLEASE CALL THESE LEGISLATORS Each of the below listed Senators are on a committee that will be hearing the FWC Legislation. Our goal is to completely overrun the Legislative Offices with requests to speak to legislators over anchoring issues. Please call each Legislator listed and request a telephone meeting to discuss the issues. We are asking each of our members and supporters to place calls to all the Legislators. Leave messages, talk to aids, ask for call backs, hold conversations over the issues. These calls need to take place this week in order to impact the committees in time. Senators on Community Affairs, Bennett 850-487-5078, Siplin 850-487-5190, Altman 850-487-5053, Deutch 850-487-5091, Garcia 850-487-5106, Gardiner 850-487-5047, Hill 850-487-5024, Ring 850-487-5024, Storms 850-487-5072 and Wise 850-487-5027
Senators on Environmental, Constantine 850-487-5050, Sobel 850-487-5097, Detert 850-487-5081, Dockery 850-487-5040, Jones 850-487-5065 and Rich 850-487-5103.
Senators on Judiciary, Constantine , Joyner 850-487-5059, Baker 850-487-5014, Fasano 850-487-5062, Gelber 850-487-5121, Haridopolos 850-487-5056, Peaden 850-487-5000, Richter 850-487-5124 and Ring
Senators on Commerce, Garcia, Gelber, Crist 850-487-5068, Detert, Justice 850-487-5075, Lynn 850-487-5033, Oelrich 850-487-5020, Prutt 850-487-5088, Richter and Smith 850-487-5112 Representatives on Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Williams 850-488-2047, Poppell 850-488-3006, Brandenburg 850-488-0260, Bembry 850-488-7870, Boyd 850-488-9835, Bullard 850-488-5480, Burgin 850-488-9910, Crisafulli 850-488-4669, Culp 850-488-2770, Drake 850-488-4726, Evers 850-488-8188, Glorioso 850-488-0807, Jones 850-488-6897, Mayfield 850-488-0952, Pafford 850-488-0175, Patronis 850-488-9696, Renuart 850-488-0001, Schultz 850-488-0805 |
_______________________________________ TIP'S FOR TALKING TO LEGISLATORS Each Florida legislator has pet issues that they work hard on. As a result getting them fired up about a issue that may not of been on there radar in the past is complicated. A few issues seem to sound true to all legislative members. 1. The boating industries impact on the Florida economy is over 18 BILLION dollars annually. 2. Florida is getting a reputation as a boater unfriendly state. Multiple Annual cruisers have expressed concern over there future plans not Including Florida in the future. 3. Other states and cities have embraced the cruising community with charge free transient docks, parties for cruisers, Sate and local government funded services. In contrast Florida is getting the reputation of "cruiser go away". 4. The FWC bill is anti boater and anti Florida's Economic health. 5. The vast amount of boats stored at anchor are well maintained and beautiful vessels that add to the community and its economic health. By banning anchoring the state would direct the functional equivalent of removing all homes on a street as a result of a few properly maintained home. 6. In south Florida as an example, over 2,000 wet slips have been lost to development in the past 24 months. 7. Derelict vessels are a real problem that needs a real solution, not a Law that penalizes quality boat owners and the Florida economy. Several proposals have been put forth to actually resolve the derelict vessel issue but the bills sponsors have refused to include them ???????????????? 8. This bill is a direct delegation of state control over state waters to local governments that have ignored, violated and directly refused to comply with the legislatures 2006 law to prevent local governments from doing the very thing this bill seeks to establish as law. 9. On water storage of boats is a reality, Unfunded legislation that directs others to act on the states behalf is never a good idea. 10. As an example Sarasota has already passed an ordinance that would make anchoring on a majority of the bay illegal if this bill passes. Although FWC intent may of not been to allow this. The bill is so poorly written that constant abuse is not only probable but actually planned and in Sarasota's case already enacted into city Ordinance. 11.Finally, Ask them to KILL of significantly amend this bill to protect the FLORIDA ECONOMY, OUR MARINE INDUSTRY and boaters. |
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