As
the legislative session began, the House Committee on Transportation and
Economic Development announced a plan to divert more than $426 million from the
State Transportation Trust Fund (STTF) which will ultimately halt lettings for
any new road projects in Florida. We need your action immediately
to tell your elected officials to keep the STTF whole. Share this information
with your employees, their families and support networks to help introduce
lawmakers to the Florida citizens impacted by their decisions. Collectively, we
can take our concerns to Florida's Capital - please join in the effort to put a
stop to this disastrous sweep of the STTF.
Let
Your Legislators Know:
- Nearly
100,000 direct and indirect jobs are at stake should the proposed
reductions in transportation spending be finalized.
- Our
industry has been one of the hardest hit since the economy took a turn for
the worse. Raiding the State Transportation Trust Fund will only make
matters worse. The work my company depends on will be nonexistent and as a
result, my employees' jobs will suffer.
- We
understand that everyone has to share in the pain while our economy lags,
but our industry has already experienced automatic strains. Without a
strong economy, the state sees reductions in collections on the gas tax
and that directly affects the FDOT's work program and our ability to do
business.
- In
1989, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) faced similar hardships
and essentially went bankrupt, unable to fulfill all of their obligations
and essentially stopping projects. We cannot let this happen again.
- In
order to protect jobs, salvage ongoing projects and defend new
construction business, the Florida Legislature must realize the serious
impacts of this diversion.
Click
this link to find your local legislators - http://bit.ly/acdDEd. Enter your zip code and you will be directed to
a list of your local Representatives and Senators that need to hear from you. Simply
click on their picture and then hit the "Contact" tab for their
Capitol/Tallahassee office number so you can share the potential real
life consequences you and your employees will face if FDOT is allowed to be
stripped down to its barebones.
Aside
from your local lawmakers - it is imperative to reach out to the members of the
House Committee on
Transportation and Economic Development for their support in this manner.
Click on the links below and be sure to call each of their Capitol offices to
share your concerns with them as well.
