As we prepare for this Easter weekend I want to wish each of you a joyous and blessed holiday.  Apart from eating way too much chocolate - I am looking forward to church service and spending time with friends and family.  "Amazing grace" is a term dear to my heart. For me - it is the grace of knowing that I need God each and every day. 

 

Next week we start the state budget process.  We will caucus on Monday and debate the budget on Wednesday.  Again this year we are cutting government, restoring the homestead tax exemption for our seniors, funding K-12 so we don't lose any per-pupil funding and moving towards Medicaid reform.  Our Joint Budget Committee did an exceptional job this year with the budget and certainly paved the way for us to meet our goals for 2013.

 

Another bit of good news is that the federal court ruled the Amazon tax law to violate interstate commerce and put a permanent injunction on the legislation.  I spent today and yesterday being interviewed by the media on the subject.  Two years ago when the "dirty dozen" taxes were passed, including the "Amazon tax" I said this issue would impose a burden on online retailers, violate privacy and violated the interstate commerce clause.  At the time I was ridiculed by Democrats as "fear-mongering" and exaggerating what the law did - but I was vindicated by Judge Blackburn's decision.  This discussion should be done federally - which is happening now.  My only concern in the federal discussion is that the large retailers like Amazon and WalMart do not place an undue burden on small internet retailers in their attempt to negotiate legislation.

 

It is an honor and privilege to serve you!  Blessings to you and your family!