Posey Named Champion of Business

Monday, May 19, 2008

May 16, 2008 - State Senator Bill Posey (R– Rockledge) was one of three Space Coast area lawmakers to receive the 2008 Champions for Business award yesterday.  The award, presented by Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), was also presented to Senator Mike Haridopolos (R-Indialantic) and Representative Thad Altman (R- Melbourne).  Recipients of this year’s awards provided leadership in areas such as Florida’s space program, work force and education development, and property taxes.

Senator Posey was recognized mainly for his hard work on behalf of Florida’s space program.  He filed numerous space industry bills this year, but none more than important than Senate Bill 2426.  The Space & Aerospace Catalyst and Enhancement Act makes available over $16 million dollars to accomplish four things:

• Provides funds to refurbish a launch complex to attract private launch companies
• Allocates funds for work-force retention and training
• Provides a qualified tax refund as an incentive for contractors that retain workers
• Limits the legal liability of companies and their contractors that provide space tourism flights

“It’s a no-brainer that every legislator on the Space Coast considers this to be of the utmost, highest priority,” Sen. Posey said. “That leaves about 150 more lawmakers who need to be committed to the cause.”

The 2008 Champions for Business award recipients are chosen for their dedication to Florida’s prosperous future and support for initiatives which will help to jump-start the economy and encourage business growth.  AIF instituted the Champion for Business award in 2003 to acknowledge lawmakers who do more than vote for business by providing leadership on key legislation. A Champion for Business is a legislator who takes risks for their belief in the free-enterprise system, who defies the status quo when it is harmful to our state’s competitive climate and who faces down opponents of the growing prosperity of Florida’s citizens.