Senate chief sees mandate to turn right

TALLAHASSEE -- Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos reaffirmed Friday that the newly elected, more conservative Florida Legislature will primarily set its sights on creating jobs, cutting regulations and reducing lawsuits.

But he'll also give a green light to lawmakers seeking stricter abortion laws and other social changes, the Merritt Island Republican said.

``I feel that the Senate was not as conservative as it should be,'' said Haridopolos, arguing that Tuesday's election sweep by Republicans gives the Legislature a clear mandate to continue moving to the right.

With Republicans capturing two new seats in the Senate and five in the House -- building veto-proof, two-thirds majorities -- political moderation is out the window, although the new leader said he continued to plan to work with Democrats and give party members a significant role on committees.

``The overall body was moderate,'' Haridopolos said of the pre-Tuesday Senate. ``It was very sympathetic to unions, very sympathetic to trial lawyers, very sympathetic to the idea that big government maybe doesn't need to go on a diet. I think you're seeing right now the most conservative Senate in your history.''

OUTLOOK

In a wide-ranging sitdown with reporters, Haridopolos framed Florida's two-year future, in which he said he'll team with incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and Gov.-elect Rick Scott to revive the state's gasping economy with an injection of conservative policies.

On jobs:

``Our goal is to produce two basic items: Increase predictability and certainty. Predictability that there's not going to be a new tax or new regulation that's going to limit job opportunities in this state. That certainty will then, I think, come. When we send that very clear message that we're open for business, it will attract those people who didn't come here in years past.''

While Scott has talked about creating 700,000 jobs in Florida over the next seven years, Haridopolos said his own job-creation benchmark isn't set. But lowering the state's almost 12 percent unemployment rate is a logical measurement, he said.

On immigration reform:

``If we choose to go this direction, we're going to create a Florida-style plan that works for Florida. Arizona's a different state.''

ON PRISONS

On cutting prison spending:

``One of the things we are openly looking at is means-testing prisoners. If they qualify for Medicaid, let them in. If they are really wealthy, make them pay. We are looking at all options.''

Haridopolos also said that he would be looking for pay and benefits concessions from the state's correctional officers' union, the Police Benevolent Association, which backed losing Democrat Alex Sink in the governor's race. ``We all saw the ads in the campaign,'' Haridopolos said. ``They clearly didn't want Rick Scott. Rick Scott won.''

On the Department of Management Services:

Haridopolos stands by his demand that DMS Secretary Linda South quit, in the wake of a Sink audit of lavish spending at the new First District Court of Appeal building. ``If she's choosing not to resign, the Governor is (working on transition) in Fort Lauderdale and the good news is that we'll have a new person at DMS.''

On state government and its workforce:

``Do what every business is doing across this state and say, `How do we right-size our organization? Can you consolidate? Can you do things better?' I think there's prime opportunity for it.''

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