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The LIBRE Initiative Applauds Florida House for Cutting Corporate Welfare

The LIBRE Initiative Applauds Florida House for Cutting Corporate Welfare

Washington, D.C.  – Today, the Florida House of Representatives approved H.B. 7005 to eliminate Enterprise Florida (EFI) and cut significant funding to a number of major corporate welfare programs – including Visit Florida. As part of the efforts by The LIBRE Initiative to empower Hispanic families, Florida Coalitions Director, Cesar Grajales, testified before the Rules and Policy Committee in support of this bill. 

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

“We applaud the Florida House for making the right decision to remove a barrier to opportunity by cutting cronyism and corporate welfare. Eliminating such wasteful spending is a win for hard-working Hispanic families and small business owners who benefit in a competitive free market where the government does not pick winners and losers. We should always strive to be the land of opportunity where one’s work, not one’s connections, determine a person’s success. We are pleased to hear that this bill passed the House and we now call on the Senate to do the same.” 

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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