By ALEX
LEARY TALLAHASSEE -- Backed by a cheering section of hundreds of frustrated taxpayers Tuesday, House Speaker Marco Rubio maneuvered his far-reaching property tax plan into position for a key vote today. After a rally concluded outside the Capitol, the GOP-controlled House beat back Democratic criticism on the plan to abolish property taxes on homesteads in exchange for a 2.5 percent sales tax increase.
House Republicans heralded the $35-billion package as the largest tax cut in state history while Democrats bored in on the plan's perceived vulnerability: the sales tax increase. "Florida would have the highest sales tax in the nation, at 8.5 percent, and some counties would have sales taxes as high as 10 percent," said Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando. Rep. Jack Seiler, D-Wilton Manors, held up a copy of Rush Limbaugh's property tax bill, saying the radio host would save $419,000 on his $23-million Palm Beach home. Democrats offered an amendment that would keep a rollback on local government budgets to 2001, with a cap on growth based on inflation, but eliminate the sales tax swap. But the amendment failed on a party-line vote. Republican Gayle Harrell of Stuart, who is running for Congress, voted with Democrats. "Only in Tallahassee could a bunch of politicians declare that a $7-billion net tax savings is a tax increase. This is a political stunt," scoffed Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach. The House plan, which requires a constitutional amendment, calls for a 1 percent sales tax increase to eliminate property taxes for schools. Voters in each of Florida's 67 counties would then vote on whether to eliminate all other property taxes on primary homes for an additional 1.5 percent in sales tax. Time and again Tuesday, Democrats tried to alter the plan. Each time they came up short. The stagecraft inside the House chamber could not match what went on outside the Capitol. An hour before the House debate began, more than 300 people staged a rally on the steps of the Old Capitol, demanding lower tax bills. The turnout fell short of the 1,000 promised by a Republican-backed group calling itself Floridians For Property Tax Reform, but it was a boisterous bunch. "Can you say it with me? Cut taxes now. ... Let them hear it all over the state - Cut taxes now," shouted David McKalip, a St. Petersburg doctor and antitax activist who helped organize the rally, which clearly sided with Rubio's plan. Bused in from across the state, many in the crowd wore yellow T-shirts with picture of a man pulling out his hair. Signs illustrated their anger. "Git 'er done or don't come home," read one held aloft by Hernando County resident Wayne Dukes. Rubio, who was showered with a hero's applause, pledged to work with "our friends in the Senate." Yet he said the House could accept only the plan that saved taxpayers most. And he seemed to disparage Senate talk of a bipartisan effort. "I can get you a consensus package," Rubio said. "But consensus isn't going to pay your bills." While Gov. Charlie Crist made an appearance, senators were a no-show. "It's too scripted," said Sen. Dan Webster, the majority leader. Property tax plansTHE HOUSE THE SENATE
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