TALLAHASSEE — Committee assignments are important to all legislators, but especially new representatives.
The right committees allow for a launching pad for potential legislation and the opportunity to get bills passed with the right connections.
Both of Bay County’s new state reps believe their committee assignments put them in a strong position to net positive returns for the Panhandle.
Brad Drake, R-Eucheeanna, by virtue of his previous two terms of experience in the Legislature, landed five favorable committees: Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, Economic Development and Tourism Subcommittee, Highway and Waterway Safety Subcommittee, State Affairs Committee, and Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee.
“Tourism is the number one industry in the state. Agriculture is the number two industry in the state and a bigger area of interest in the district,” Drake said. “Transportation is something I talk more about with constituents as a direct injection into the economy.”
Transportation is one of Drake’s favorite interests, serving on a transportation committee in his previous stint as a representative before districts were redrawn. Four highways he’s looking to improve in his district — composed of Holmes, Jackson, Walton, Washington and parts of Bay — are State 20, 77, 79 and 334.
Drake currently is formulating pieces of legislation specific to constituent concerns. A bill slated for the Economic Development and Tourism Subcommittee is S.B. 114, sponsored by Democrat John Cortes, increasing the state minimum wage to $10.10. Florida’s minimum wage is set at $8.05 per hour and Drake feels raising it further would have a negative effect on businesses.
“I don’t have a problem with periodic review of minimum wage laws, but I want to see that no one is being abused,” he said. “A small employer who has three people working for them might go from three people to two.”
Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, also feels he has the right committee assignments to address some of Bay County’s largest industries. He’s on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, Health and Human Services Subcommittee, Health and Innovations Subcommittee, and Veteran and Military Affairs Subcommittee.
He hopes to soon be a legislative point of contact for Tyndall Air Force Base.
“It’s important to keep Tyndall happy and have them stay in Bay County,” said Trumbull, who took over Jimmy Patronis’ district.
With two large hospitals in Panama City, health care has become an important part of the economy for Bay County.
One of the first items on the legislative agenda for health care is Medicaid expansion, which Trumbull is determined to vote against.
“The budget is $77 billion,” Trumbull said. “Three quarters of it doesn’t need to go to Medicaid.”
Trumbull also is working on legislation, hoping to have a bill about taxes ready to introduce within the month.