Dear Friends,

It has been a whirlwind year for the state of Florida.  As many of you know,
since the first day I was elected back in November, our state has been faced
with a myriad of controversial issues:  the presidential election, election
reform, Florida's nursing home crisis, and prescription drug costs, to name a few.  Through it all I have always remembered something my dad told me, "Mike, you have two ears and one mouth, use those in proportion and
everything will be OK."   Very wise words!  

You sent me to Tallahassee to work on the major issues facing our state, such
as: education, health care, and tax relief.  I worked hard to deliver on
these issues and all my campaign promises.  The 2001 Legislative Session
ended on May 4 and I believe we accomplished many of our goals.

On a local level, I sponsored a bill for the City of Satellite Beach that
will change the city's boundaries to encompass beachfront property purchased
through Preservation 2000 grants.  This will enable the city to provide fire
fighting, rescue services, and law enforcement for these approximately 8.63
acres.  We want to preserve our beachfront for future generations and make
sure our beautiful beaches do not start to resemble the over development of
South Florida.

On that same front, I filed a request in the House to secure beach
re-nourishment dollars for Brevard County.  I  am proud to say that $3.4
million dollars was appropriated to restore, protect, and maintain our
shoreline.   This appropriation will help preserve our way of life as well as
protect property values.  Although I am proud of helping to secure this
money, this is only a short term solution.  We will continue to seek a more
viable long term solution to fix the problem that government created in the
first place.

To help the men and women in our United States Armed Forces, I filed a bill
to amend an outdated landlord/tenant law.  Specifically, my bill makes a
provision for Armed Forces personnel who receive permanent transfer orders 35
miles or more from their rental residence or who have been released from
active duty to terminate their lease with a 30-day notice.  There is also a
provision for family members to terminate a lease in the event a member of
the United States Armed Forces dies during active duty.  Previously, that
military person (or family member) would have had to forfeit the rental
deposit, which can be hundreds of dollars.  Considering their low pay, I
thought it was one small way we could protect the people who serve to defend
our nation.  

I also filed a bill relating to education which, unfortunately, did not pass.
 The bill stated simply that by 2004, if more than 15% of the children in a
school district were taught in portables (trailers), district administrators
would move into those portables and the children would move  into the
district's administrative buildings.  I was outraged to learn that in Broward
County, where the highest percentage of children are in portables,
administrators work in a building dubbed the "Crystal Palace."  A magnificent
$30 million dollar structure complete with covered parking.  If district
administrators don't think portables are so bad, then they should not mind
working in one until they find a solution for school overcrowding.  Though it
did not make it this year, I promise you I will work until I pass this
legislation.  We must put our children first and make sure every dollar spent
on education is used to help kids learn!
 
The legislature and the governor came together to find solutions for election
reform and make sure staffing needs were met in our nursing homes.  We also
wanted to make sure that those who work to save and invest aren't penalized
for it.  This year we will take another 500,000 people off the intangible tax
rolls by increasing the amount before you are taxed to $250,000 for
individuals and $500,000 for couples (up from $20-40,000 respectively).

I felt it was a positive year for the state, but we need to continue to
reform our education system, tax structure, and health care for all
Floridians.  I appreciate your input and it enables me to serve you better in
Tallahassee.  If you have questions or if I can be of assistance, please feel
free to contact my office at 752-3131 or E-mail me at:
haridopolos.mike@leg.state.fl.us   Remember I am YOUR representative.

Thanks again for your support and for giving me this opportunity.  Have a
wonderful and safe summer!

Mike