TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sen. Baker's Doublespeak

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2009

I was shocked to read "Texting's A Driving Legal Issue" (front page, Feb. 17) and how Sen. Carey Baker (R-Eustis) has all of a sudden decided that safety takes precedence over personal choice.

I applaud Baker's bills to stop text messaging in cars and bar minors from cell-phone use in cars. My issue is with the senator is hypocrisy: He blatantly refused to allow the primary seat-belt bill to be heard in 2008 as chairman of the Transportation Committee?

Our family met with Baker in his district office in November 2007 and asked him to allow the seat-belt bill to be heard. He told us he did not believe in the government telling people what to do, that wearing a seat belt was a personal choice. He did, however, tell us he always wore his seat belt, and he believed that seat belts save lives. Now, Baker wants to file two safety bills to save lives. Is the government involved here? Is personal choice an issue here? Unless I am missing something, the senator speaks out of both sides of his mouth.

This is the last year Florida will be eligible for $35.5 million from the federal government if a primary seat-belt bill is passed. This money would go a long way to help in both safety education and construction. Florida continues to be the only state in the Southeast without a primary seat belt law.

DIANNE SIPE

Valrico

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT