‘Cut the Red Tape’ forum set for Friday

LAKEWOOD RANCH — State Sen. Mike Bennett plans to join incoming Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos on Friday to host a “Cut the Red Tape” public forum.

The forum, set for 3-5 p.m. at the Lakewood Ranch campus of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, also will feature the rest of the local legislative delegations and members of the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, representing the local building industry.

The forum will focus on local businesses and business advocacy groups, who might have suggestions about how state leaders can help them get back on track, cutting what the senators termed government regulatory “intrusion” and “duplicitous oversight.”

“In my area alone, I have heard of many in the marine industry leaving Florida because of the length of time for permits and licensing,” said Bennett, a Bradenton Republican.

“This is a real problem in our community, and I am sure my other colleagues around the state have heard the same from their local businesses.

“The marine industry left basically because of headaches dealing with our government — local and state,” Bennett said Monday.

He contended that in a time of economic uncertainty, local businesses and employers help put Floridians to work and stimulate the area’s economy and tax base.

He encouraged businesspeople and those representing businesses to attend “so that we can hear first-hand what we need to do as state lawmakers to stimulate businesses and cut the red tape.”

Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said he is hearing complaints about what he termed the impact government “intrusion and red-tape” has had on a business’ ability to operate.

“It will be a priority of my presidency to lessen the regulations, reviews and duplications put on businesses by state and local governments,” Haridopolos said. “It is time to get Floridians back to work, and the first step to doing this is to help businesses through incentives and less regulation.”

Sara Kennedy, Herald reporter, can be reached at (941) 745-7031.