Legislature Passes Vehicle Registration Reduction

BRADENTON – Floridians will pay less when registering their vehicles this fall, just before they go to the polls to decide whether to re-elect Governor Rick Scott.

On Thursday, the Florida House unanimously passed a bill approved by the Senate earlier in the week that would meet the governor's request to eliminate a $20-25 fee increase which had been passed in 2009, when the state was experiencing massive declines in revenues.

The rates would go into effect September 1 and amount to about $309 million in tax savings/revenue losses.

House Democrats accused Republicans (who pushed the measure in 2009) of supporting the bill because it would be a political tool that Scott could use in the November election, especially since his likely opponent, former Governor Charlie Crist, was the one who ultimately signed the increases into law in 2009.

The measure is part of $500 million in tax cuts that Governor Scott has called for.