In this episode: Lobbyists for rent-seeking retailers like Walmart, Target and Home Depot are pushing policies in Florida that send small-time shoplifters to prison for many years — and then make it harder for them to get back on their feet when they finally get out. It’s an example of short-sighted, self-interested corporate lobbying that prioritizes protecting the profits of a few above all else. And it is blocking bipartisan reform efforts in the Florida Capitol that could help more workers find sustainable careers, bring prices down for consumers, and save money for taxpayers.
Further Reading:
The Captured Economy: How the Powerful Enrich Themselves, Slow Down Growth, and Increase Inequality (Book, Website)
House Bill 785 / Senate Bill 704 – Limited Barbering (2024)
House Bill 549 – Retail Theft (2024)
House Bill 133 / Senate Bill 42 – Professional Licensing Requirements for Barbers and Cosmetologists (2024)
Institute for Justice: License to Work (3rd edition)
Florida Policy Institute: Saving Taxpayer Dollars and Reducing Recidivism Through Occupational Licensing Reform
The Marshall Project: What the Panic Over Shoplifting Reveals About American Crime Policy
KPMG & Florida Department of Management Services: Charting a Path to a Safer, More Efficient Correctional System
CNBC: Retailers are shaping a wave of laws to crack down on organized theft — here’s how they do it
Seeking Rents: The Florida Legislature just let Target dodge $15 million in corporate taxes
Contact: Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com
Follow: Twitter
Retail giants like Walmart, Target and Home Depot want to put more people in prison in Florida