Residents turned out in droves to a town hall hosted by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, State Sen. Wilton Simpson and State Rep. Danny Burgess.
People filled every seat of the Pasco County Commission’s chambers at the Historic Courthouse in Dade City.
(Richard Riley/Photos)
They sat on extra chairs set up along the aisles. Some stood in the back. And, there were even people sitting in chairs on the dais that are normally reserved for county officials and Pasco County Commission members.
The speakers at the Aug. 25 session had plenty to say at the meeting, which lasted more than three hours.
In the education arena, lawmakers heard complaints about unfunded state mandates, excessive testing in schools and onerous requirements for operators of voluntary pre-kindergarten programs.
One speaker urged elected leaders to find a way to reopen Moore Mickens Educational Center, a school closed by Pasco County Schools.
Simpson said he is willing to work with the community, once it comes forward with a plan regarding the school.
Other speakers complained about the lack of services for veterans.
Bilirakis told the crowd that improving services for veterans is one of his top priorities.
He touched on the idea of creating a Veterans Village, similar to the Veterans Village of San Diego.
It would be have to be some sort of public-private partnership, Bilirakis said, and it would deliver a wide range of services to veterans.
The Veterans Village of San Diego provides services including housing, counseling, employment training and other services.
The issue of cyber security was on another speaker’s mind.
He urged Congress to address the gaping holes that put the nation at great risk.
Bilirakis said he has sat in on briefings and understands the gravity of the situation.
“This is a very, very serious issue,” Bilirakis said.
One speaker asked Bilirakis to respond to the nation’s soaring debt.
“An $18 trillion debt is inexcusable,” Bilirakis said. “We need to set priorities. We need a balanced budget amendment.”
Simpson noted that when he was elected three years ago, Florida had a debt of $3 billion. Now, the state has $3 billion in reserves, and that’s after cutting a billion dollars in taxes, he said.
Florida also is poised to grow at a faster rate than other places around the country, Simpson said, noting that it has invested in infrastructure.
The state’s ports, for instance, are preparing to help Florida become a major import-export hub, he said.
In the arena of education, Simpson said he favors spending more money on educating prekindergarten through fifth-grade students. He also wants to strengthen vocational training.
On some issues, Burgess, Simpson and Bilirakis invited speakers to get in touch with their office so they can delve more deeply into particular concerns.
Burgess told the crowd that his background as a city council member and mayor in Zephyrhills makes him fully aware of the issues facing local governments. In his new role, he attempted to secure funding for a storm water project in Dade City. The budget included the project, but Gov. Rick Scott vetoed it.
Burgess told the crowd that he, Simpson and Bilirakis want to be accessible and are willing to make inquiries with government agencies regarding issues of concern.
Along those lines, Bilirakis told those gathered that efforts are under way to obtain federal help for people whose properties have been damaged by recent flooding.
The governor has requested that President Barack Obama issue a federal disaster declaration for multiple counties in Florida, including Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough, Bilirakis said.
If approved, this measure will enable the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide financial assistance to the individuals whose homes have sustained serious flood damage, Bilirakis said.
Published September 2, 2015
