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Stew Lilker’s

Columbia County Observer

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North Central Florida News

FL House Rep. Keith Perry Speaks at North Central Florida Regional Planning Council 


FL Rep. Keith Perry addresses the Council

COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The North Central Florida Regional Planning Council met for its monthly business meeting last night in Lake City. The Council's guest speaker, Republican Keith Perry, District 21 Florida House of Representatives (Alachua, Gilchrist, Dixie County) spoke about the struggle of moderate income families trying to keep up with the rising cost of living, and the U.S. Constitution. He said, "Nobody understands the founding principles."

Representative Perry spoke about the increasing costs for moderate income families over the past 35 years.


Productivity has surged, but income and wages have stagnated for most Americans. If the median household income had kept pace with the economy since 1970, it would now be nearly $92,000, not $50,000. (Mother Jones)

He said, "A family pays about 25% more in taxes, adjusted for inflation, than they did 35 years ago."

Rep. Perry continued, "There is a lot of debate about health care. A family pays 72% more for health care."

"The biggest increase is housing at 74%. The ability for a lot of people to own their own home is unachievable. Two parents – both working – still can't afford a house."

Rep. Perry said that in the past moderate to low income families had an 11% savings rate. "Today they are in debt and have no savings."

Rep. Perry said the country was not founded on the principle of wealth creation, but on "Having freedom – the freedom to make your own decision and your own choices. What I have to do as an elected official is look at the balance between individual property rights and collective rights. The Constitution didn't have a lot to say about collective rights. It had a lot to say about individual rights."

"I think an improper role of government is when elected officials decided we are going to social engineer the way people live and the way people work."

Rep. Perry said that in the 1830's Americans understood and revered the Constitution. "Today, nobody understands the founding principles."

Before the Planning Council got back to its business, Rep. Perry told the gathering, "The future is not bright if we don't understand the founding principles."

 

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