Latest / Conversations: Special Guests with Preston Scott / The SAVE Act, Florida's Session and More with Dr. Bob McClure

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The SAVE Act, Florida's Session and More with Dr. Bob McClure · Conversations: Special Guests with Preston Scott

• 0:03
  Speaker 1: Let's get right to it. Second hour of the Morning
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: Show with Preston Scock in Morning Friends Show fifty five sixties. OSEA,
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: I'm Preston, and this for those of you that never
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: listen to the third hour because of work, you are
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: getting a treat because joining us in the second hour
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: this month is the president of the James Madison Institute.
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: He is doctor Bob McClure. Doctor McClure. How are you
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: a friend.
• 0:26
  Speaker 2: I'm doing fantastic, my friend. How are you?
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: I'm a little angry because you know. Let me remind
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: you and our listeners of something that Congresswoman Kat Cammick
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: said to us last week. She said, the Democrat Party
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: is the opposition to getting things done. The US Senate
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: is the enemy. And I feel like those words are
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: pretty appropriate to what is going on in the US
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: Senate as it relates to the Save Act right now.
• 0:58
  Speaker 2: Yeah, this is not rocket science right in terms of
• 1:02
  Speaker 2: getting the Save Act passed and the for your listeners,
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: it is simply a bill that would become last signed
• 1:10
  Speaker 2: by Donald Trump. The House has already passed twice that
• 1:14
  Speaker 2: would require proof of citizenship in a form of ID
• 1:19
  Speaker 2: to vote in federal elections. That's it. It's very simple.
• 1:22
  Speaker 2: We have to use ID and you know this press
• 1:25
  Speaker 2: and for everything. If I want to sign up my
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: grandson for t ball, we need an ID getting on
• 1:31
  Speaker 2: a plane getting prescription medicines. And so there's no reason
• 1:35
  Speaker 2: not to do this. And you don't have to nuke
• 1:38
  Speaker 2: the filibuster, no, which is you know, somehow all of
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: a sudden become this holy you know, shrine of what
• 1:47
  Speaker 2: we can and can't do. Just go back to the
• 1:50
  Speaker 2: old days of using the regular phil buster, the talking filibuster,
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: and then you vote, you vote for Kloture, then you vote,
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: and you get it done.
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: I'm disappointed that John Thune who keeps saying, oh, we're
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: going to bring it to a vote, We're going to
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: bring it to a vote. And now they're using the
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: Democrats holding up funding for DHS as the reason for
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: not getting the Save Act. But Bob, this is one
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  Speaker 1: of those rare times in American political recent history, maybe
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: the last four or five decades, where you have a
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: bill that is almost universally approved by Democrats, Republicans, Independents, whites, blacks, Latinos,
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: you name it. It enjoys eighty three percent favorability, but
• 2:34
  Speaker 1: they won't get it done. What is going on up there?
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  Speaker 2: I mean, who can divine the hearts of men? As
• 2:42
  Speaker 2: this Psalmist says. But the reality is is that you
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: have these swamp And this was always a concern is
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: Thune remember Rick Scott ran, a couple of other folks ran.
• 2:56
  Speaker 2: This was always this concern of Thuon being too swappy
• 3:02
  Speaker 2: for leadership in the Senate. And this is what unfortunately
• 3:06
  Speaker 2: Republicans tend to do. They run and run and run.
• 3:09
  Speaker 2: We're going to get rid of Obamacare, We're going to
• 3:13
  Speaker 2: reduce spending, We're going to pass the Save Act, and
• 3:18
  Speaker 2: then when they get there, they don't get it done.
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: And this is a perpetual problem with the Republican Party. Somehow,
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: the Democrats don't seem to have that problem. Whether they
• 3:28
  Speaker 2: lose fifty five seats, which they did after they passed Obamacare.
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: They are focused on what they want to get done,
• 3:36
  Speaker 2: which is traditionally big government, socialism, call it what you want,
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: and they they're willing to sacrifice the altar of their principles.
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: And this was a concern of John Tuon. I mean,
• 3:50
  Speaker 2: for Mike Johnson to get it passed in the House
• 3:51
  Speaker 2: with that smaller majority and soon can't just go back
• 3:54
  Speaker 2: to the talking filibuster. Make those lazy senators stand up
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: and talk hour after hour after hour, and then vote.
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: It's not that.
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  Speaker 1: Hard, well, and I would take it one step further, Bob.
• 4:07
  Speaker 1: Let them talk and defend stopping the Save Act when
• 4:11
  Speaker 1: eighty three percent of this country wants it, and then
• 4:14
  Speaker 1: use everything that they said in your campaign ads.
• 4:18
  Speaker 2: Right, that's exactly right. I mean they the Republicans, the
• 4:23
  Speaker 2: Democrats have given the Republicans a massive opportunity for the
• 4:28
  Speaker 2: midterm elections. Let's just set aside the principle which is incredibly,
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: incredibly important, the most important thing if we're just talking
• 4:35
  Speaker 2: raw politics what Trump did at the State of the Union
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  Speaker 2: when he said stand for our country or or you know,
• 4:42
  Speaker 2: illegal aliens? Which is it? That is a commercial clip
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  Speaker 2: run over over and over on loop. The same can
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  Speaker 2: be said, as you just said, Preston, the more they talk,
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  Speaker 2: the more the left looks foolish. So let them talk more,
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  Speaker 2: not left.
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: Let's first take the segment to talk about the session
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  Speaker 1: in general. As we are wrapping up sort of maybe
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  Speaker 1: what what is your what is your grade for where
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  Speaker 1: we are how they've done, what's gotten done, et cetera.
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  Speaker 2: Speaking of not getting some getting things done. This session
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  Speaker 2: has unfortunately kind of so far been, you know, more
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  Speaker 2: of a nothing burger. The Senate and the House can't
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  Speaker 2: seem to get on the same page in terms of priorities.
• 5:32
  Speaker 2: The governor's leading on the property tax issue. We're going
• 5:36
  Speaker 2: to come back for a special session for that. Redistricting
• 5:39
  Speaker 2: will come back for a special session for that. But
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  Speaker 2: Floridians and your listeners are worried about the cost of living.
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: I mean, we're worried about the cost of living and
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  Speaker 2: that is primarily housing, insurance, the cost of groceries, in
• 5:59
  Speaker 2: those kinds of things. And what, unfortunately we're seeing is
• 6:03
  Speaker 2: that our legislature is not moving boldly to get these
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  Speaker 2: things done. The future of AI some people, you know,
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: people are nervous about that. What does that mean for
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  Speaker 2: our state? Where do we go as a state? And so, sure,
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  Speaker 2: we're going to do something on property taxes and redisteresting,
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  Speaker 2: but people are worried about the cost of living precedent
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  Speaker 2: and that's what has to be addressed, and so far
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  Speaker 2: it's been minimal. Unfortunately.
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  Speaker 1: I have a theory that I won't spend any time
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: on here today, but I have a theory that that
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  Speaker 1: you know, it speaks to this. But but doctor McClure,
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  Speaker 1: you've spent decades following the Florida legislature. Why is it
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  Speaker 1: that this particular session, and you could argue even last session,
• 6:53
  Speaker 1: but why are they why is it gummed up? What's
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  Speaker 1: what's been the cause the root cause of the problem here?
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  Speaker 2: Well, I would say that probably in the House, in
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  Speaker 2: the Senate, you've had different priorities in terms of what
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: things needed, what each leader wanted to get done. And
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  Speaker 2: so last year it was, you know, the unfortunately the
• 7:22
  Speaker 2: Speaker was trying to roll back a number of the
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: property insurance reforms that had been put in place, and
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  Speaker 2: the Senate just wasn't going to do that. They just
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: were not going to do that, and rightfully so, frankly,
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: but we've been clear with the Speaker that we don't
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  Speaker 2: agree with him on that. That was last year. The
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  Speaker 2: rural renaissance for rural counties. I mean, Preston, you know,
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  Speaker 2: we're in Tallahassee, but if you drive ten minutes in
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  Speaker 2: any direction, you're in a rural community here. All across
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  Speaker 2: the northern half and north central part of the state,
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  Speaker 2: and there are structure needs, there are broadband needs, there
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  Speaker 2: are you know, things that these rural communities need, and
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  Speaker 2: that is a high priority for Senator Albritton. It's not
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  Speaker 2: for the House. And those are just and they can't
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  Speaker 2: seem to get on the same page to get it done.
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: And those are just two examples. I also think Preston,
• 8:19
  Speaker 2: and I think you would agree with me. Iron sharpens Iron.
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  Speaker 2: There is nothing but the Republican Party in charge, and
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  Speaker 2: so the tendency is human nature. It's not just the
• 8:30
  Speaker 2: Republican Party that if you're not being challenged and sharpened,
• 8:34
  Speaker 2: you kind of go off in these different directions instead
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  Speaker 2: of focusing on the job at hand. And in this case,
• 8:43
  Speaker 2: it's to make life more affordable for Floridians and reduce
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  Speaker 2: the cost of living for everyday Floridians.
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  Speaker 1: Joining US Doctor Bob McClure with the James Madison Institute
• 8:56
  Speaker 1: will continue our discussion to any lawmaker aid listening to
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: the program, I'll just simply say I don't want to
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: ever hear about a speaker's priority or a Senate president's priority.
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  Speaker 1: I want you to talk about what the people's priorities
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  Speaker 1: are and set yourselves to the side for the sake
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  Speaker 1: of you know, the citizens will elect you. Just say
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  Speaker 1: it back with doctor Bob McClure of the James Madison
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: Institute and doctor McClure, since we're on a slightly different
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: hour here than normal, just reset for everybody. The James
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: Madison Institute, it's purpose, it's mission.
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  Speaker 2: Well, the James Madison Institute is Florida's oldest and largest
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: think tank. And people say all the time, what's the
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: think tank? We focus on good public policy and advanced
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  Speaker 2: ideas preston that help everyday Americans and every day Floridians.
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  Speaker 2: So what does that look like. We have a set
• 10:00
  Speaker 2: of principles that we believe make our state in our
• 10:06
  Speaker 2: country a better place to work and live. And those
• 10:11
  Speaker 2: principles are limited government, free markets, personal responsibility, and the
• 10:17
  Speaker 2: protection of people's private property, whether that be literal property
• 10:22
  Speaker 2: or money or stuff. And so we don't do social issues,
• 10:27
  Speaker 2: we don't do Second Amendment. It is primarily the tax,
• 10:30
  Speaker 2: regulatory environment, education, healthcare, election reform. We do a ton
• 10:36
  Speaker 2: on election reform, all of these different issues, AI and
• 10:41
  Speaker 2: the future of tech in this country. All of these
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  Speaker 2: issues Preston. We believe that if you limit the role
• 10:49
  Speaker 2: of government in our daily lives, you get higher quality
• 10:54
  Speaker 2: of life at a lower cost, and you give Floridians
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  Speaker 2: the chance to use their version of the American dream.
• 11:02
  Speaker 2: And so that's what the James Madison Institute is. We're
• 11:05
  Speaker 2: about to celebrate our fortieth year in Florida, but we're
• 11:09
  Speaker 2: based in Tallahassee, but we are statewide. We are probably
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: do eighty to ninety different events around the state. We're
• 11:17
  Speaker 2: in DC all the time because Florida's congressional delegation and
• 11:20
  Speaker 2: the state itself is so critically important to the future
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  Speaker 2: of the country. And then the last thing we do
• 11:26
  Speaker 2: is everybody else wants to be like Florida. And so
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  Speaker 2: we work in other states, whether it be education in Missouri,
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  Speaker 2: or voter id in Arizona, or healthcare in South Carolina.
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  Speaker 2: They call us and say, hey, help us become more
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  Speaker 2: like Florida. So the James Madison Institute has the opportunity
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  Speaker 2: to do that as well. It's a three legged stool
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  Speaker 2: for us.
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  Speaker 1: It leads perfectly to what we may or may not.
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  Speaker 1: I mean, there's no guaranteeing when it comes to elected
• 11:57
  Speaker 1: officials whether we'll actually get anything done. But is there
• 12:02
  Speaker 1: is there likely to get to some progress done on
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  Speaker 1: property tax with a special session?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah? I do. I think he'll get something done. I
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  Speaker 2: think the pressure has been building to get something done.
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  Speaker 2: I think for there, again we go back to what's
• 12:24
  Speaker 2: the right thing to do and what is good for
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  Speaker 2: one's political career, And we talked about that with Save Act.
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  Speaker 2: In this case, they don't do anything on property taxes,
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  Speaker 2: or they do kind of minimal cuts around the edges
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  Speaker 2: and whatnot, it would be a disaster for many political
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  Speaker 2: careers over there in that legislature. And rightfully so, I
• 12:45
  Speaker 2: think the governor has done a really really interesting thing.
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  Speaker 2: He has laid out what he wants. He hasn't laid
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  Speaker 2: out specifics, but he's laid out clearly what he wants,
• 12:55
  Speaker 2: and he's building pressure on the legislature and then he's saying, now,
• 12:59
  Speaker 2: go and do it. So what does that look like
• 13:02
  Speaker 2: that I don't know, and I don't think anybody can predict,
• 13:06
  Speaker 2: but they're going to have to do something significant, whether
• 13:10
  Speaker 2: it's put something on the ballot, pass something in the legislature,
• 13:14
  Speaker 2: whatever the case may be, because you can't have this
• 13:17
  Speaker 2: build up this kind of political pressure to go big
• 13:22
  Speaker 2: and then not do anything, And I think that's really
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  Speaker 2: kind of an interesting strategy on the part of the governor.
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  Speaker 2: Is not his first rodeo, and so that's what he's done.
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  Speaker 2: They're going to come back. There are so many different proposals.
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  Speaker 2: We're just gonna have to see what they decide.
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: I would bet tell me if you concur that whatever
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  Speaker 1: they do will have to be a stare stepped gradual
• 13:45
  Speaker 1: process that takes a period of time to kind of
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  Speaker 1: get counties and cities used to working without property tax
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  Speaker 1: revenue and doing it in graduated form, is that maybe
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  Speaker 1: the best likelihood I.
• 14:00
  Speaker 2: Would say that it is. I think that my concern
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  Speaker 2: with anything that's done is that the cities and the
• 14:08
  Speaker 2: counties will simply cast shift. They'll raise taxes in other areas,
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  Speaker 2: and it won't It'll be it'll be a big hole
• 14:16
  Speaker 2: in the bucket. So sure, let's cut property taxes, but
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  Speaker 2: then we raise taxes in other areas to make up
• 14:23
  Speaker 2: for the difference. The key for us at the James
• 14:25
  Speaker 2: Madison Institute President is you've got to reduce spending. The
• 14:29
  Speaker 2: simplest thing to do, in my opinion, is what we
• 14:32
  Speaker 2: call a Levey cap and that is that you rule
• 14:37
  Speaker 2: you you know, local government, not all not rural communities,
• 14:40
  Speaker 2: but most of these communities that have you know, decent
• 14:44
  Speaker 2: sized municipalities have been surfing the wave of property values
• 14:47
  Speaker 2: the last twenty years. In Florida, they never reduce the
• 14:51
  Speaker 2: milage rate. They say, oh, we didn't raise your taxes,
• 14:53
  Speaker 2: but they don't reduce the mility rate. And so the
• 14:56
  Speaker 2: simplest thing to do, and this is what we think
• 14:59
  Speaker 2: needs to happen, is don't get into the oh we're
• 15:02
  Speaker 2: gonna do this for veterans, or we're gonna raise your tax,
• 15:05
  Speaker 2: your home set exemption. It'll be ten years from now.
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  Speaker 2: Just cap what people can spend. Roll it back to
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  Speaker 2: twenty twenty two or twenty twenty one. I don't care.
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  Speaker 2: Cap what local municipalities can spend. Cap it hard, cap
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  Speaker 2: and then say we index it to inflation and population growth.
• 15:22
  Speaker 2: That helps places that doesn't. I mean, then a place
• 15:25
  Speaker 2: like Madison County knows what they have to work with.
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  Speaker 2: They can spend as much as they had in twenty
• 15:30
  Speaker 2: is they spent in twenty twenty two. We'll call your
• 15:33
  Speaker 2: county where Naples is, which is you know fifty times bigger.
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  Speaker 2: They also know, but they can have a budget that
• 15:40
  Speaker 2: they can manage, and you can't cost shift. These local
• 15:43
  Speaker 2: governments are not going to put up with this. I mean,
• 15:45
  Speaker 2: you see it with the teachers unions. I mean they
• 15:48
  Speaker 2: just can't handle still choice. So it's a long winded
• 15:51
  Speaker 2: answer to your question. But a levy cap that just
• 15:54
  Speaker 2: caps what they can spend on an annual basis and
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  Speaker 2: then indexes. It is the way, the simplest and best
• 16:00
  Speaker 2: way to go for Floridians.
• 16:01
  Speaker 1: We'll talk again next month, doctor McClure, Thanks so much
• 16:04
  Speaker 1: for the time.
• 16:06
  Speaker 2: Thanks for having me, my friend. Talk to you soon.
• 16:07
  Speaker 1: Alrighty, doctor Bob McClure, President James Madison Institute, my guest,