by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
State lawmakers will have to pay to party with Jacksonville this year.
Jacksonville Day, the City’s annual two-day networking event in Tallahassee, will no longer be free at the door for Florida legislators. The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce will sell tickets for its breakfast, luncheon and reception to keep in line with a new state lobbying law.
The law forbids lobbyists from passing cash or gifts to legislators. Senate Bill 6 effectively ended the old routine at the lobbying days held by Jacksonville and cities and counties across the state. Jacksonville Day is scheduled for March 29 and 30.
The lobbying days used to employ free food and drinks to lure lawmakers to large meals and receptions where City officials and lobbyists could pitch their legislative priorities. Now that the fare is no longer free, some are predicting a drastic decrease in attendance at the events.
State Rep. Dick Kravitz voiced that concern to Mayor John Peyton Monday. During a City Hall briefing on the City’s legislative priorities, Kravitz told Peyton to expect a smaller audience in Tallahassee this year.
“Members of the local delegation won’t be a problem, but I think it’s going to cut down significantly on your access to other legislators,” said Kravitz.
Kravitz recalled Lake City’s sparsely attended lobbying day earlier in the year. The city rented out two tents for the party.
“They were virtually empty,” said Kravitz. “I felt so sorry for them.”
Kravitz and Rep. Audrey Gibson were among several in attendance who suggested the idea of an all-access event. Essentially, the City would throw a party and invite everyone in Tallahassee.
While that would keep the event within the rules, the open-to-the-public idea had one significant drawback.
“The only problem if it’s open to the public is the bill,” said Gibson.
Typically, Jacksonville Day is sponsored by Chamber members. But an open party would cost significantly more. Rep. Don Davis suggested the City look for increased sponsorship.
Instead, the Chamber is lowering costs for sponsorship and for tickets. That should attract more interest and greater numbers locally, said Amy Tuck Whitman, the Chamber’s director of government affairs.
The Chamber reduced the cost of a gold sponsorship from $3,000 last year to $1,000 this year. The cheapest sponsorship, the bronze level, is now available for $250 compared to $1,000 last year.
Whitman pointed out that Jacksonville Day still provides an opportunity for lawmakers to make a free appearance. Legislators can “pop in” to any of the events for free provided they don’t take anything of value.
Those lawmakers that do attend are likely to hear about some of these issues discussed during Peyton’s Monday briefing:
• The City is backing the St. Johns River Water Management District’s request for $20 million in state funding, of which $15 million would go toward a long-term effort to eliminate waste water discharges into the St. Johns River. Peyton said funding for the river would be one of the City’s top priorities. He called the river, “our Everglades.”
• The City is seeking a $10 million bump in state funding for public libraries. The City’s numbers show that public libraries received about six cents from the state for every local dollar spent. The $10 million increase would bring that up to about 10 cents on the dollar, which is a little below the 2000 level.
• The City wants to protect local interests against state encroachment in several areas. The City opposes blanket state legislation that would regulate outdoor advertising, predatory lending, cable franchises, Internet filtering and water and sewer expansion.