As the opening of the 2009 legislative session nears, the 11-member Duval Delegation will head to Tallahassee with plenty on their plate. Starting Tuesday, they will take up everything from education funding to alternative energy. Today, the Daily Record starts a series of question and answer sessions with members of the Delegation, all of whom were sent the same eight questions. We begin with State Sens. Tony Hill and Stephen Wise.
State Sen. Stephen Wise
What district do you represent and what area of Northeast Florida is that?
District 5 – Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Nassau counties
What are the two biggest issues facing Northeast Florida this session and why?
Funding/Transportation Concurrency
What is the biggest issue facing you and your constituents?
How to fund education
Given the state’s economic situation, are you optimistic or pessimistic heading into the session and why?
Optimistic — we will find solutions to difficult problems.
What committee (s) are you on?
• Education Pre-K-12 Appropriations, Chair
• Policy & Steering Committee on Social Responsibility
• Policy & Steering Committee on Ways & Means
• Children, Families and Elder Affairs
• Community Affairs
• Education Pre-K-12
• Regulated Industries
• Rules
• Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.
What is the number one concern you hear from your constituents?
Why isn’t there sufficient funding for education.
What can be done at the state level to help the foreclosure problem in the Jacksonville area?
This is more of a federal issue.
Who are you living with while in session?
No one
State Sen. Tony Hill
What district do you represent and what area of Northeast Florida is that?
Senate District 1 which includes portions of Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler and Volusia counties.
What are the two biggest issues facing Northeast Florida this session and why?
Foreclosures and unemployment
What is the biggest issue facing you and your constituents?
1) Long waits for unemployment compensation 2) foreclosures 3) the increased need for food stamps and other social services.
Given the state’s economic situation, are you optimistic or pessimistic heading into the session and why?
Both, however, as long as we continue to not take a look at new revenue sources and continue to cut taxes in a year where there is so little we will have problems.
What committee (s) are you on?
• Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations, Vice Chair
• Policy and Steering Committee on Governmental Operations
• Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means
• Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
• Community Affairs
• Military Affairs and Domestic Security
• Regulated Industries
• Select Committee on Florida’s Economy
• Florida Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, Chair
What is the number one concern you hear from your constituents?
Foreclosures and lack of employment opportunities.
What can be done at the state level to help the foreclosure problem in the Jacksonville area?
Re-establish the mortgage broker’s trust fund and put a moratorium on foreclosures.
Who are you living with while in session?
I am not living with anyone.