Florida Legislature needs more time

You see, one legislative session is just not enough time, don't you know.

Well, it happened again. The regular session ended, but the most important item wasn't completed. So a special session is in order.

As expected, House leaders drew fire from some anti-tax groups last week when they agreed to back a $1-per-pack cigarette tax in order to pass a new state budget.

Americans for Tax Reform, a group headed by Grover Norquist, sent a letter to House members earlier in the week reminding them that they had "got it right" by opposing new taxes in their budget plan, opting instead to balance the $65 billion budget with deeper budget cuts.

But to break the budget deadlock, House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, announced the House would support the cigarette tax, which will raise about $900 million a year.

Cretul was asked how that decision meshed with his signing of the "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" with Norquist's group.

Cretul said he did not remember when he signed the pledge, but he added that leaders need the option to be flexible on the challenges they face.

"Responsible people at times may have to do something that might be different than the position that they staked out," Cretul said. "And to be so closed-minded, I don't think that's the right thing to do, and it doesn't serve the citizens of the state of Florida. I'm sure that Norquist will have a comment when I cast my vote. So be it."

It didn't take long. This appeared on the ATR's Web site shortly after Cretul's comments were reported:

"Judging from Florida House Speaker Cretul's quote, he seems to think that responsible people break promises they make to others sometimes (raising taxes)," wrote Nathan Pick, the ATR's state affairs manager. "Is this acceptable? Responsible legislators don't raise taxes on their constituents, especially when they can least afford it. Responsible people look to solve problems (cutting excessive spending), rather than looking to patch them with taxes on a declining source of revenue (cigarette taxes)."

Now, I'm a fan of Larry Cretul. But, Larry!?