The Florida Chamber Needs You to Call Your Senator Now!

March 09, 2012 | Important Updates | Chamber of Commerce Print

Late last evening, around 10:30 p.m., thanks to the strong leadership of House Speaker Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) and the wisdom of Representative Mack Bernard (D-West Palm Beach), a bipartisan solution to immediately lowering your workers compensation premiums by an average of 2.5% passed the full House and is now waiting in the Senate for a final vote.

Fortunately, there is significant support among the members of the Florida Senate for lowering your artificially high premiums.  The fate of this $62 million reduction in Florida’s workers’ comp premiums rests in the decision Senate President Mike Haridopolos (R-Melbourne) makes today.  Today is the final day of the regular Legislative Session and President Haridopolos’ phone has been ringing constantly from you on this issue. But I am urging you to make a few more calls today.  There is quite a bit of noise in the Capitol today and calls from you, your managers, your employees and your colleagues could be the difference.

Fortunately, similar language has been supported in committees this year by Senator Alan Hays (R-Umatilla,) who served as an incredible bill sponsor and has fought vigorously on behalf of Florida’s job creators, and Senator Don Gaetz (R-Destin), Senator Anitere Flores (R-Miami), and Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R-Miami).  In other words, the majority of the Senate, supports passing good policy that would immediately lower your premiums.

Even if you’ve already made phone calls on this issue, please take a few minutes and make more calls right now.  President Haridopolos has over 200 bills that he and the full Senate are considering today and I need your help making sure that this great bill is one of the pro-business bills that receives a vote today.

Tell your Senator that:

• Workers’ comp rates are going up an average of 8.9% this year.
• By passing HB 307, the Office of Insurance Regulation can and WILL immediately reduce rates by 2.5% – a $62 million savings for Florida’s employers.
• This $62 million savings will help create jobs and improve Florida’s economy.
• Vote YES on HB 307!