LeMieux reviews legislative session - South Florida Business Journal:

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The politically plugged-in LeMieux, who is now chairmamn of the Miami-based Gunster law firm, provided his revies of the 2009 legislative session during a speech Thursday in Fort LeMieux said the Seminole gaming pact, property tax reform and federal stimulus monet in the new state budget will help the business But, he noted that the state’s budget, which Crist signedf into law Wednesday, includes some things that are harmfulo to the business climate, including $800 million in increased fees and a $6 billioh shortfall. Seminole gaming compact: Grants exclusive gaming rights to the tribew in exchangefor $150 milliob annual payment.
“Hopefully, the Legislaturse will approve” the fina l compact as negotiatedwith Crist’sd administration this summer, LeMieux noted. Raising college tuition: Alloww state universities to raise tuition up to 15 percenf a year to reach the nationalaverage – an 8 percen increase this year, and individual institutions may seek an additional 7 percenty increase. With a full 15 percenyt increase, students will pay an averagseof $369 more per school year. “Hoq can we expect to have a first-clasd public education system when we’rwe not investing enough mone yinto it?” LeMieux asked.
Public transportation: The statd Senate failed to pass a proposalp to divert freight traffi c from the Orlando metropolitan area toward Polk Counth in favor of a Central Floridwcommuter rail. “This was a precursor to getting this done inSouth Florida,” LeMieux “We have to do a better job of creating public transportatiomn in Florida so people can get Growth management reform bill: The controversial bill woul d lift some requirements that developers pay for improvemente to surrounding roads and extend government approvalsa for developments for two year s because of the recession. the governor will sign it,” LeMieuxd said.
Energy and oil drilling: The Legislature failed to pass Crist’ss attempt to require that 20 percent ofthe state’s energy come from renewabls sources by 2020. At the same the Senate failed to take up a House bill seeking tolift Florida’as longtime ban on offshore drilling. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you see that [renewablr energy requirement] coupled with the oil drilling proposal at some poinyt inthe future,” LeMieuxc said.