Committee Votes to Cut Corporate Welfare Following Testimony of The LIBRE Initiative

Committee Votes to Cut Corporate Welfare Following 
Testimony of The LIBRE Initiative

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Rules and Policy Committee of the Florida House of Representatives approved H.B. 7005, following the testimony of Cesar Grajales, Florida Coalitions Director of The LIBRE Initiative. The legislation would eliminate Enterprise Florida and reduce funds to a number of major corporate welfare programs – including Visit Florida.

Cesar Grajales, Florida Coalitions Director for The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement:

“Corporate welfare and cronyism benefit a few at the expense of the many – a problem this bill seeks to remedy. These harmful policies create an uneven playing field, while counting on taxpayers to pick up the tab.  Any money taken from hard-working Florida taxpayers – many of whom are Hispanics – should be used to address the core functions of government, and not to benefit large, well-connected companies. We are pleased to hear that H.B. 7005 made it out of the Rules and Policy Committee, and we will continue to work to ensure passage before the entire Florida House.”

Background:
According to a study by Good Jobs First, which examined similar spending in three states, Florida spends a large majority of these incentives on large companies instead of small businesses. After 20 years of operation, Enterprise Florida has negotiated over 1,600 contracts worth more than $1.7 billion, creating only half the number of jobs it originally promised to provide.

For Interviews with a representative from The LIBRE Initiative, please contact Brian Faughnan, 202-805-1581 or Wadi Gaitan, 202-853-4463

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