By: Eric Dolhon, Osceola County Republican Executive Committee
-Eric: Hello Mike. First off, congratulations for receiving the 2010 VA Legislative Achievement Award.
-Representative Horner: Thank you very much.
-Eric: Let’s get right into the interview if you do not mind.
-Representative Horner: Alright, fire away.
-Eric: What was your biggest accomplishment of 2009?
-Representative Horner: The passage of the Constitutional Amendment to exempt military personnel employment taxes; Pay cuts for state legislators (7%); We made deep budget cuts (Republicans must be fiscally prudent); I voted against cigarette tax and expansion of state gambling.
-Eric: What is your plan for 2010 legislatively?
-Representative Horner: Top priority is to put Floridians back to work, especially in Osceola County; To reform the state legal system through tort reform; To Improve infrastructure by attracting employers and streamlining government.
-Eric: (Follow up) And beyond 2010?
-Representative Horner: Just what I explained, creating jobs, tort reform, and improving infrastructure.
-Eric: What does Conservatism mean to you?
-Representative Horner: Using a quote from Thomas Jefferson “Government that governs least governs best”.
-Eric: What do you think the message the people sent to elected officials on both sides of the aisle with the victory of Scott Brown in Massachusetts?
-Representative Horner: That independents are starting to realize the Obama agenda is bad policy for the country.
-Eric: With the current situation with the RPOF and the chairman’s position, what advice would you have for the local REC’s?
-Representative Horner: My advice to the local REC’s is to use sound judgment to select the next RPOF Chairman.
-Eric: With out of control government spending and unemployment the two biggest issues both locally as well as nationally, how would you address these two issues?
-Representative Horner: The Florida Legislature cut the budget from 74 to 65 billion dollars (Cuts to government spending); I sponsored legislation to streamline the business licensing process; Moved to build and improve roads in Osceola County through the economic development process and will do the same this legislative year.
-Eric: What is your reaction to the backlash on the SunRail legislation?
-Representative Horner: SunRail will improve infrastructure as well as bring jobs to Osceola County; I have no bones against it or comment for the opposition.
-Eric: It is stated that the Florida State Legislator has no idea how they are going to pay for the SunRail tentatively past the 7th year. What is the plan to fund the legislation beyond the 7th year?
-Representative Horner: I will say that the state has made adequate preparations to fund SunRail.
-Eric: With Lynx in the red and still being funded by tax dollars and the SunRail not stopping in any of Central Florida’s key destination areas such as the airport, the beaches, I-Drive, etc., how will this benefit Central Florida?
-Representative Horner: We save tax payer dollars by using existing railroad track for SunRail through the 5 county service areas.
-Eric: (Follow up) Would you support any future expansions to those key destination areas?
-Representative Horner: I would have to see cost to expand to major destination areas.
-Eric: Do you or would you give your record as well as your statements during this interview support any tax increases?
-Representative Horner: As a rule, I do not support tax increases.
-Eric: So you do not support tax increases?
-Representative Horner: As a rule I do not support tax increases.
Eric: What message do you want to send to fellow conservatives who have lost trust in our elected officials?
-Representative Horner: That there is a reason to be hopeful in the 2010 election cycle. We have an opportunity to elect more conservatives to office, increase Republican seats in the Florida Legislature, retain the governor’s seat (Keeping it in Republican hands), and retake Congress in Washington.
-Eric: How is your re-election campaign going?
-Representative Horner: I am humbled by the amazing outpouring of support for my re-election campaign and I look forward to meeting with more voters as the campaign proceeds.
-Eric: Thank you Mike and talk to you soon!
-Representative Horner: Thank you and take care!
-Eric: Hello Mike. First off, congratulations for receiving the 2010 VA Legislative Achievement Award.
-Representative Horner: Thank you very much.
-Eric: Let’s get right into the interview if you do not mind.
-Representative Horner: Alright, fire away.
-Eric: What was your biggest accomplishment of 2009?
-Representative Horner: The passage of the Constitutional Amendment to exempt military personnel employment taxes; Pay cuts for state legislators (7%); We made deep budget cuts (Republicans must be fiscally prudent); I voted against cigarette tax and expansion of state gambling.
-Eric: What is your plan for 2010 legislatively?
-Representative Horner: Top priority is to put Floridians back to work, especially in Osceola County; To reform the state legal system through tort reform; To Improve infrastructure by attracting employers and streamlining government.
-Eric: (Follow up) And beyond 2010?
-Representative Horner: Just what I explained, creating jobs, tort reform, and improving infrastructure.
-Eric: What does Conservatism mean to you?
-Representative Horner: Using a quote from Thomas Jefferson “Government that governs least governs best”.
-Eric: What do you think the message the people sent to elected officials on both sides of the aisle with the victory of Scott Brown in Massachusetts?
-Representative Horner: That independents are starting to realize the Obama agenda is bad policy for the country.
-Eric: With the current situation with the RPOF and the chairman’s position, what advice would you have for the local REC’s?
-Representative Horner: My advice to the local REC’s is to use sound judgment to select the next RPOF Chairman.
-Eric: With out of control government spending and unemployment the two biggest issues both locally as well as nationally, how would you address these two issues?
-Representative Horner: The Florida Legislature cut the budget from 74 to 65 billion dollars (Cuts to government spending); I sponsored legislation to streamline the business licensing process; Moved to build and improve roads in Osceola County through the economic development process and will do the same this legislative year.
-Eric: What is your reaction to the backlash on the SunRail legislation?
-Representative Horner: SunRail will improve infrastructure as well as bring jobs to Osceola County; I have no bones against it or comment for the opposition.
-Eric: It is stated that the Florida State Legislator has no idea how they are going to pay for the SunRail tentatively past the 7th year. What is the plan to fund the legislation beyond the 7th year?
-Representative Horner: I will say that the state has made adequate preparations to fund SunRail.
-Eric: With Lynx in the red and still being funded by tax dollars and the SunRail not stopping in any of Central Florida’s key destination areas such as the airport, the beaches, I-Drive, etc., how will this benefit Central Florida?
-Representative Horner: We save tax payer dollars by using existing railroad track for SunRail through the 5 county service areas.
-Eric: (Follow up) Would you support any future expansions to those key destination areas?
-Representative Horner: I would have to see cost to expand to major destination areas.
-Eric: Do you or would you give your record as well as your statements during this interview support any tax increases?
-Representative Horner: As a rule, I do not support tax increases.
-Eric: So you do not support tax increases?
-Representative Horner: As a rule I do not support tax increases.
Eric: What message do you want to send to fellow conservatives who have lost trust in our elected officials?
-Representative Horner: That there is a reason to be hopeful in the 2010 election cycle. We have an opportunity to elect more conservatives to office, increase Republican seats in the Florida Legislature, retain the governor’s seat (Keeping it in Republican hands), and retake Congress in Washington.
-Eric: How is your re-election campaign going?
-Representative Horner: I am humbled by the amazing outpouring of support for my re-election campaign and I look forward to meeting with more voters as the campaign proceeds.
-Eric: Thank you Mike and talk to you soon!
-Representative Horner: Thank you and take care!
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SunRail is a new tax. Osceola County has already signaled the need to raise the gas tax to pay for it. Not to mention that I believe Horner voted for the increases to all of the fees that all Florida drivers pay (among other fees). It seems that he broke his "rule" on no tax increases.
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