Vehicle fee cut bill waits for Gov. Scott signature

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A bill cutting vehicle-registration fees increased in 2009 waits for Gov. Rick Scott’s signature today, the completion of one of his top priorities for the 2014 legislative session.

Joining Scott in a 10 a.m. bill-signing ceremony in the Cabinet meeting room will be Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford.

Then-Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature approved the 2009 fee increases, passed to help close a budget shortfall.

In the first year of the rollback, Florida motorists should save a total of $309 million during the upcoming 2014-15 budget year. The lower rates go into effect on Sept. 1.

Future year savings could grow to around $395 million as the cut go into effect for a complete 12 months of the fiscal year.

Fee cuts are likely to play a prominent role in Scott’s re-election effort as he faces former Governor Crist.

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including SaintPetersBlog.com, FloridaPolitics.com, ContextFlorida.com, and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. SaintPetersBlog has for three years running been ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.