There should be little surprise that the state’s largest and most authoritative business advocates expect to be as -- or more -- engaged in the 2012 election cycle than they were in past campaigns.

This could mean more TV ads as the campaigns race to the wire, and even more attention to social media, such as YouTube and Twitter.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida, which have historically sided with the Republican Party and candidates in the Sunshine State, are already maintaining that trend in terms of where they’re spending their money.

The chamber has already spent $1.9 million in the current cycle, less than half of the $5.5 million spent in the 2010 cycle. And while numerous candidates have already qualified through the petition method, the official qualifying period is a week away -- June 4-8.

“We’re prepared to invest whatever it takes to continue moving the Legislature in a pro-jobs direction,” Edie Ousley, chamber vice president of public affairs, stated in an email.  

Part of that will be protecting the business-friendly majority now in legislative leadership roles.

Ousley noted that the chamber was prepared to exceed seven figures when state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, a deputy majority leader, was facing an in-party challenge.

State Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers, ended her challenge for the Senate seat earlier this month.

AIF is more guarded about its operations and membership, but is also expected to top its 2010 spending, which according to the Sunlight Foundation and OpenSecrets.com was $337,403 in 2010.
 
“AIF will be bringing the weight of its political resources to bear this election cycle,” Tom Feeney, AIF president and CEO stated in an email. “AIF is also better positioned than ever to impact the outcome of targeted races through legal sources of independent expenditures.”

In addition to state and federal candidates, AIF is already supporting three of the Florida constitutional amendments going before voters in November:

• Amendment 1, prohibiting laws that compel a person to buy health care coverage.
• Amendment 4, which would extend the “Save Our Homes” protections against rising home prices to nonhomesteaded properties including businesses and rental homes, limiting annual increases in valuation to 5 percent, and would give new homebuyers an additional homestead exemption of up to $150,000 for up to five years.
• Amendment 10, which would provide an exemption from ad valorem taxes levied by counties, municipalities, school districts, and other local governments on tangible personal property if the assessed value of an owner's tangible personal property is greater than $25,000 but less than $50,000.

“We’ll continue our efforts to provide businesses and property owners with tax relief, while also ensuring quality health care is affordable and accessible without undue government mandates,” Feeney stated.

Both business groups are currently in the process of conducting candidate interviews in advance of the Aug. 14 primary and Nov. 6 general election.

Some need for additional spending will be because this is a redistricting year, with every state legislative seat up for election. We’ll know June 8 how many seats have contests.

Also, the state’s population growth has resulted in Florida picking up two additional congressional seats this year.

The congressional seats are more of an issue for AIF, as the chamber focuses strictly on state races.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which spent nearly $33 million on federal elections in 2010, and already hit the $3.4 million mark in the current election cycle, also is expected to see a bump in spending.



Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.