Payne Headed To Tallahassee

PALATKA – Political newcomer Bobby Payne is getting a feel for Tallahassee including his new office in the state’s capital where he’ll be serving in the House as the District 19 representative.

Payne, a Republican, was sworn in along with other legislators Nov. 22 as organizational sessions for the House and Senate got underway. On hand for the ceremony were family and friends including Payne’s wife, Margie. She got the chance to sit with him on the House floor during the ceremony.

“It was an honor to be sworn in to the Florida House of Representatives today. We have many challenges and opportunities ahead of us, and I look forward to working to keep taxes low and state spending in check,” Payne said in a press release. “I am grateful for the trust the citizens of District 19 have placed in me, and I am committed to working hard to represent their interests in Tallahassee.”
Payne is from Palatka and has been at Seminole Electric Cooperative for 34 years.
On his Facebook page Payne says he’s glad to be a part of plans for tougher standards and rules.

Corcoran has said he wants to make the Florida House “the most open, transparent and professional legislative body in America.”

This could also be a contentious year when it comes to education.

On Tuesday Corcoran called the state teachers union “evil” for their decision to continue efforts to sue to overturn the state’s tax credit scholarship program. That’s the program brought in by then-Gov. Jeb Bush that allows businesses tax credits for their contributions to private school scholarships.

Public schools advocates argue that takes money away from the public schools and hurts the general school population. Currently about $559 million goes into the tax credit scholarship program.