Latvala also criticized House efforts to limit “home rule” by city and governments, including legislation to pre-empt the ability of the local governments to regulate vacation homes.
“We’ve got an unprecedented assault on home rule, absolutely unprecedented,” Latvala said. “They (House members) think they know more than anybody else elected by the same people on the same ballot.”
Latvala decried the House mantra of wanting to eliminate a system that picks “winners and losers.”
He cited legislation that could help utilities, such as Florida Power & Light, invest in natural-gas reserves and recoup the money from consumers. And he said eliminating Florida’s “no fault” auto accident system would likely favor trial lawyers at the expense of insurance companies and consumers.
“We’re picking a winner and a loser every single day up there even though we say we’re not doing it,” Latvala said. “It’s somewhat discouraging.”
Latvala has been involved in some of the major bills in the session, saying Negron asked him to help pass a major Everglades restoration bill (SB 10) off the Senate floor.
