In his inaugural address, Thomas Jefferson said that “[a] wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.”
I am pleased to report that from the beginning of my work last year in the trenches on government affairs committees and with lobbyists for this legislative season, through my time in Tallahassee and post session wrap up, Florida state government has stayed true to Jefferson’s enlightened words. Our state government has largely stayed out of private industry’s way and prevented local government, perhaps not so enlightened, from taking our bread. Having spent the last twelve months working in preparation for this year’s two-month session now concluded, I can honestly say that it never gets old. As a Patriot I find joy in being a voice to our representative government – a government that listens. As an Advocate I feel privileged to represent the will of the very people who build America. I hope this legislative briefing will enlighten you as I remain humbly at your service.