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Library Savings Small Part Of Sen. Storms' Agenda

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By RHONDA STORMS Special to the Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 3, 2009

Updated: 01/03/2009 01:12 am

The Tribune is nothing if not relentless in its determination to present a distorted picture of me. The most recent example is Catherine Dolinski's article, which editorialized about my comments regarding public library policies and procedures.

Dolinski would have the readers believe that in the entire state budget my only concerns include libraries purchasing Seinfeld tapes and the use of the Dewey Decimal System. Inasmuch as Dolinski was not in attendance at the meeting, the meeting did not run live, and it strains credulity to believe that she watched five taped hours of a committee meeting, perhaps she missed many of my other concerns.

In the meeting in question, I advocated for cutting every dime of non-essential services so that our committee could offer up the excess funds to ensure that core services, such as child-protection services for abused children and other essential services remain intact. I commented extensively on the ridiculous absurdity of the federal bailout elements; I advocated for transportation projects with completed preliminary design and engineering; I advocated for requiring governmental consolidation of services; I advocated for effective tourist strategies but against inefficient strategies, such as renting mall storefronts in Minnesota; and I advocated for many other cuts, both immediate and long term, to stabilize Florida's budget.

In libraries, for instance, I advocated for protecting the book budget but advocated against spending to buy television sit-coms, such as Seinfeld. Also, as a long-term strategy, I advocated for abandoning the Dewey Decimal System (DDS) and advocated for a more user-friendly method such as that used by any national book chain. The harsh reality is libraries are experiencing drastic cuts; the DDS is labor intensive in addition to being user-unfriendly, particularly so for literacy-challenged people. Other libraries across the nation have abandoned the DDS, and we should, too.

My strategy for protecting and prioritizing essential services can also be seen in my 2008 legislative successes. It was my privilege to sponsor a bill which provided the emergency funding vehicle for the continuation of vital child welfare services, though the Tribune declined to cover the bill, and similarly declined to cover either my multi-state Military Compact bill, which was requested by the Department of Defense and military families across the nation, or the Money Services Bill, also which I sponsored, that provided the necessary tools to law enforcement to prosecute money laundering which funds organized crime and terrorism.

Another one of my bills the Tribune declined to cover included provisions to allow additional protections for vulnerable seniors in assisted-living facilities and nursing homes who are the victims of violent crimes, money fraud and other terrible examples of abuse and to fund the monitoring of those facilities found to breach the safety of their residents.

In closing and on a personal note, I am keenly aware of the dire straits of Florida's economy. Though my husband's business has been in operation for more than 25 years, he too has seen some of his best clients cease operation, has been forced to lay off employees, has sold off inventory and equipment, and has taken other drastic measures in order to operate in this perilous environment. Knowing this, it was I who corrected the record when, as early as last fall and winter, the senate's professional economic staff opined that Florida's economy was fine. And it was I who advocated for absolute cuts in frivolous spending and deeper tax breaks for regular families across Florida.

I will continue to do the same this legislative session while I serve the people of District 10 and the entire state of Florida.

Florida Sen. Ronda Storms represents district 10, which includes eastern Hillsborough and parts of Pasco and Polk counties.

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