October 22, 2025 • 8 mins
Florida Politics Publisher Peter Schorsch discusses how Florida lawmakers are focusing on affordability ahead of the 2026 session.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right now, let's go to the hotline and get an
updated on all things Florida politics from the publisher of
Florida Politics.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Peter Shorsch is back with us.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You can find all of his work and all of
his teams reporting at Florida politics dot com. And Peter
want to start with what seems to be the main
focus for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle ahead
of the twenty twenty six legislative session. Affordability finally the
big topic of discussion, although both parties have a bit
(00:29):
of a different way of going about tackling that issue.
What stood out to you about the numerous proposals released
from House Republicans to tackle the property tax issue.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Well, the first thing that stood out was that they
were released by House Republicans and governors. The governor has
been the one, you know, banging the druma about the
need for abolishing property taxes, not just reforming them, and
so we've talked about it. I thought this was going
to happen. The House is going to move kind of
to the right, maybe outflanked the governor. And so they
(01:04):
put forward eight different proposals they have to pass both
chambers with two thirds to get onto the ballot, and
you know it's Danny Perez basically daring the governor to
take a swing at this pick. It's also telling that
the Senate still doesn't have its proposal that they have.
(01:25):
You know, they haven't been in a hurry to meet
in these committee weeks, and so it looks like as
of right now, the House is driving the train on it. Now.
As for the specifics, I think a couple of things
need to This is what you're gonna hear over and
over again. Number one, in all of the House proposals,
they make it so that law enforcement funding at the
(01:46):
local level cannot come down. You you can't move down
from where you're going to be.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Now.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
The critics will say, yeah, but what happens when you
have to hire new cops and then that money has
to be diverted from somewhere. So that is how how
we fund the growth of law enforcement budgets is going
to be a question. Number Two. They say that schools
are exempted from the property taxes as well, So the
two big issues law enforcement in schools, you know, they
(02:14):
are off the table. But with that that puts additional
pressure on all the other functions. Of local and city
and county governments, parks, waters, utilities in some cases, et cetera.
The other thing I would say that really stood out
as I looked at the proposals is that a lot
of it's targeted for seniors, which will probably make it popular,
(02:36):
But there seems to be a little bit of an
age battle development And why does my sixty five year
old neighbor get an exemption and I don't I'm fifty,
And so there's a little bit of that going on.
You know. I will say, I'm still intrigued to see,
you know, what the governor will put out there, Like
is he going to have a specific plan I've said
(02:58):
to you before. If we don't come out of this
session with something on the ballot, I do think he's
going to continue to call the legislature back into special
session so that there's something on the ballot in November
of twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
We're joined by the publisher of Florida Politics, Peter Shorish.
What do you think we'll end up seeing on the ballot.
It's not going to be multiple different proposals, will it.
I mean, I can't imagine voters having to navigate like
eight different options.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
SKay, that's my thing. I keep saying, this is a
c flet with too many cooks in the kitchen, and
you know the House wants, Hey, these are all of
our proposals. You can pick and choose what you want.
Some of them, some people say, contradict each other. Some
of them go too far in when they're put in
conjunction with each other. Will there be you know, does
(03:47):
this Where does the Senate stand on all of these?
You know, who will campaign for them? Who will campaign?
You know? If ron DeSantis is going to be the
champion of property tax reform and these aren't his proposals,
is he going to go out there in June, July, August,
September and campaign for them. So there's I hate making
this prediction because I do feel like the governor is
going to put his foot down and make sure that
(04:08):
there's something on there. But I think there's just too
many ideas floating around and they may get to the
end of session where nothing that because there's so much
out there, nothing is there. And so you had a
committee with thirty one members on it. It just feels
like they're going to pull that su flea out of
the oven. And sometime in March, and it's just going
(04:31):
to collapse on everybody.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
We're joined by the publisher of Florida Politics, Peter Shoorsch.
I want to switch to a story that we talked
about on the show last week, but you and I
haven't gotten a chance to discuss this. You have former
governor and Congressman Charlie Crist thinking, apparently, according to reports,
about running for Saint Pete Mayer. And I liken this,
(04:54):
although I don't necessarily think Charlie Crist is in the
league of like Bill Belichick, but but I likened it
to going from where Bill Belichick was as head coach
of the Patriots, you know, successful had a really good
run to then deciding just to keep his career going
to take over the program at the University of North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
What is Charlie Chris thinking here?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Oh man, you know all right, So Charlie's my guy.
You know that my wife worked for him. I think
I was his Senate page something like thirty five years ago.
And I will say number one, we have essentially a
failure in city Hall at this point when you add
it all up, whether it be storm recovery, whether it
(05:46):
be the loss or the pending loss of the Rays,
the collapse of the Moffatt Land deal Gable circuit, you know,
not building its second facility. Here. There just seems to
be a and then a variety of other personnel issues
inside the Welt administration. It seems as if we could
(06:06):
do better in the mayor category. And I will say,
like I polled just to see where this race was
going to be at, ken Welch is at like thirty
percent approval, thirty five percent approval, just approval. Bill Foster,
who lost his election, was still at a fifty four
percent approval rate. And so I think that there is
an attitude in Saint Petersburg, and I see it, I
(06:26):
really see it over in my you know, shell shocked,
hurricane ravaged neighborhoods, just an anger with city hall at
this point. So I would say that is the first part. So,
but you can't beat somebody with nobody, and the only
person that really is going to beat a ken Welser's
one of two people. Number one from his left, a
Democrat like Charlie crist or an independent, well financed young candidate.
(06:52):
There's a guy that's been circulating. His name is Ryan Griffin.
He's a very uh, he's an up and comer. He's
a very wellestablished lawyer. But he's also a restaurant tour
people are talking about him. It's just it's still too
much of a democratic town though, I think for that
lane to occupy.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
So does he realize the optics of it though, I
mean he's been education commissioner, attorney general, governor, congressman, He's
ran for the Senate. I mean it almost looks like
the dude just can't quit politics.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
I would say in his defense. So yes, I think
he's acutely aware of it, as you said. I mean,
he's runs, He's run for more offist than Bill Belichick
is on Super Bowls. To tie it all together, but
you know what, the well meaningness of it all, maybe
we need to give him a little grace on it.
And again, Saint Pete really does need a change, at
(07:47):
least from my as I look out at abandoned houses
in Northe and Saint Petersburg, and I see the city
changing right before my eyes because of you know, last
year storms.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
It really could use in the arm, all right.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
The publisher of Florida Politics, Peter shorsh with US again.
You can find all of his work and all of
his team's fantastic reporting at Florida politics dot com.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Peter really appreciate the time. Thanks so much. Thanks for
having me on Ryan The Ryan Gorman Show on NewsRadio WFLA.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Ryan Gorman Show,
and find us online at ryangormanshow dot com.
Right now, let's go to the hotline and get an
updated on all things Florida politics from the publisher of
Florida Politics.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Peter Shorsch is back with us.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You can find all of his work and all of
his teams reporting at Florida politics dot com. And Peter
want to start with what seems to be the main
focus for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle ahead
of the twenty twenty six legislative session. Affordability finally the
big topic of discussion, although both parties have a bit
(00:29):
of a different way of going about tackling that issue.
What stood out to you about the numerous proposals released
from House Republicans to tackle the property tax issue.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Well, the first thing that stood out was that they
were released by House Republicans and governors. The governor has
been the one, you know, banging the druma about the
need for abolishing property taxes, not just reforming them, and
so we've talked about it. I thought this was going
to happen. The House is going to move kind of
to the right, maybe outflanked the governor. And so they
(01:04):
put forward eight different proposals they have to pass both
chambers with two thirds to get onto the ballot, and
you know it's Danny Perez basically daring the governor to
take a swing at this pick. It's also telling that
the Senate still doesn't have its proposal that they have.
(01:25):
You know, they haven't been in a hurry to meet
in these committee weeks, and so it looks like as
of right now, the House is driving the train on it. Now.
As for the specifics, I think a couple of things
need to This is what you're gonna hear over and
over again. Number one, in all of the House proposals,
they make it so that law enforcement funding at the
(01:46):
local level cannot come down. You you can't move down
from where you're going to be.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Now.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
The critics will say, yeah, but what happens when you
have to hire new cops and then that money has
to be diverted from somewhere. So that is how how
we fund the growth of law enforcement budgets is going
to be a question. Number Two. They say that schools
are exempted from the property taxes as well, So the
two big issues law enforcement in schools, you know, they
(02:14):
are off the table. But with that that puts additional
pressure on all the other functions. Of local and city
and county governments, parks, waters, utilities in some cases, et cetera.
The other thing I would say that really stood out
as I looked at the proposals is that a lot
of it's targeted for seniors, which will probably make it popular,
(02:36):
But there seems to be a little bit of an
age battle development And why does my sixty five year
old neighbor get an exemption and I don't I'm fifty,
And so there's a little bit of that going on.
You know. I will say, I'm still intrigued to see,
you know, what the governor will put out there, Like
is he going to have a specific plan I've said
(02:58):
to you before. If we don't come out of this
session with something on the ballot, I do think he's
going to continue to call the legislature back into special
session so that there's something on the ballot in November
of twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
We're joined by the publisher of Florida Politics, Peter Shorish.
What do you think we'll end up seeing on the ballot.
It's not going to be multiple different proposals, will it.
I mean, I can't imagine voters having to navigate like
eight different options.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
SKay, that's my thing. I keep saying, this is a
c flet with too many cooks in the kitchen, and
you know the House wants, Hey, these are all of
our proposals. You can pick and choose what you want.
Some of them, some people say, contradict each other. Some
of them go too far in when they're put in
conjunction with each other. Will there be you know, does
(03:47):
this Where does the Senate stand on all of these?
You know, who will campaign for them? Who will campaign?
You know? If ron DeSantis is going to be the
champion of property tax reform and these aren't his proposals,
is he going to go out there in June, July, August,
September and campaign for them. So there's I hate making
this prediction because I do feel like the governor is
going to put his foot down and make sure that
(04:08):
there's something on there. But I think there's just too
many ideas floating around and they may get to the
end of session where nothing that because there's so much
out there, nothing is there. And so you had a
committee with thirty one members on it. It just feels
like they're going to pull that su flea out of
the oven. And sometime in March, and it's just going
(04:31):
to collapse on everybody.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
We're joined by the publisher of Florida Politics, Peter Shoorsch.
I want to switch to a story that we talked
about on the show last week, but you and I
haven't gotten a chance to discuss this. You have former
governor and Congressman Charlie Crist thinking, apparently, according to reports,
about running for Saint Pete Mayer. And I liken this,
(04:54):
although I don't necessarily think Charlie Crist is in the
league of like Bill Belichick, but but I likened it
to going from where Bill Belichick was as head coach
of the Patriots, you know, successful had a really good
run to then deciding just to keep his career going
to take over the program at the University of North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
What is Charlie Chris thinking here?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Oh man, you know all right, So Charlie's my guy.
You know that my wife worked for him. I think
I was his Senate page something like thirty five years ago.
And I will say number one, we have essentially a
failure in city Hall at this point when you add
it all up, whether it be storm recovery, whether it
(05:46):
be the loss or the pending loss of the Rays,
the collapse of the Moffatt Land deal Gable circuit, you know,
not building its second facility. Here. There just seems to
be a and then a variety of other personnel issues
inside the Welt administration. It seems as if we could
(06:06):
do better in the mayor category. And I will say,
like I polled just to see where this race was
going to be at, ken Welch is at like thirty
percent approval, thirty five percent approval, just approval. Bill Foster,
who lost his election, was still at a fifty four
percent approval rate. And so I think that there is
an attitude in Saint Petersburg, and I see it, I
(06:26):
really see it over in my you know, shell shocked,
hurricane ravaged neighborhoods, just an anger with city hall at
this point. So I would say that is the first part. So,
but you can't beat somebody with nobody, and the only
person that really is going to beat a ken Welser's
one of two people. Number one from his left, a
Democrat like Charlie crist or an independent, well financed young candidate.
(06:52):
There's a guy that's been circulating. His name is Ryan Griffin.
He's a very uh, he's an up and comer. He's
a very wellestablished lawyer. But he's also a restaurant tour
people are talking about him. It's just it's still too
much of a democratic town though, I think for that
lane to occupy.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
So does he realize the optics of it though, I
mean he's been education commissioner, attorney general, governor, congressman, He's
ran for the Senate. I mean it almost looks like
the dude just can't quit politics.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
I would say in his defense. So yes, I think
he's acutely aware of it, as you said. I mean,
he's runs, He's run for more offist than Bill Belichick
is on Super Bowls. To tie it all together, but
you know what, the well meaningness of it all, maybe
we need to give him a little grace on it.
And again, Saint Pete really does need a change, at
(07:47):
least from my as I look out at abandoned houses
in Northe and Saint Petersburg, and I see the city
changing right before my eyes because of you know, last
year storms.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
It really could use in the arm, all right.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
The publisher of Florida Politics, Peter shorsh with US again.
You can find all of his work and all of
his team's fantastic reporting at Florida politics dot com.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Peter really appreciate the time. Thanks so much. Thanks for
having me on Ryan The Ryan Gorman Show on NewsRadio WFLA.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Ryan Gorman Show,
and find us online at ryangormanshow dot com.
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