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Congress Member Lobby for Sunrail

April 27th, 2009 by flanews

The CSX Sunrail deal appears dead in its tracks. To give the legislation a boost, US Representatives John Mica and Corrine Brown traveled to Tallahassee to tell state lawmakers they could lose millions if they don’t approve the deal this year. Mica says federal dollars for Sunrail could end up in Texas or New York if Florida doesn’t act soon.

“Now we are at a juncture. The contract does expire the 30th, and something has to be done or we go back and we could lose,” said Mica.

A provision that protects CSX if an accident happens on its tracks is helping keep the legislation down.

Posted in State Budget, State News, Transportation | No Comments »

Swine Flu Preparations Underway

April 27th, 2009 by Mike Vasilinda

At least two Floridians have been tested for Swine Flu and both were negative for the disease that has been deadly south of the border. 40 cases have been identified in 5 states. Florida is not among them, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, health officials here believe they are ready.

Health officials have confirmed that two Floridians have been tested for Swine Flu and both were negative. Governor Charlie Crist got the first of what will be daily briefings. He says he is prepared to respond with an executive order if necessary.

“What’s on my mind is if we do have a case that gets reported, that we have the necessary resources to handle that,” Crist said. “That we can have assistance from our Federal partners. The executive order initially would have that.”

Florida has had a plan to deal with a flu epidemic since 2004. Stage 1 is heightened surveillance.

Instructions are basic. Wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth when you cough, drink plenty of water and stay home if you are sick.

If symptoms worsen, see a doctor.

“The CDC and the Department of Health have asked us to do screening on patients with flu-like symptoms,” Freda Lyon, an RN at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital said.

Florida Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros says hospitals across the state will soon have anti-viral medications being released by the Centers for Disease Control.

“That is medication that you give to someone who has already been infected, in order to minimize, either the length of the duration of the disease or the severity of the disease,” Viamonte Ros said. “There is no vaccine.”

The Surgeon General says she is encouraged that symptoms in the US appear milder than those being seen in other countries, but health officials are not ruling out the possibilities that some could die.

Health officials say it could take months to develop a vaccine for swine flu.

Posted in Charlie Crist, Health, State News | No Comments »

Shylocking Out

April 27th, 2009 by Mike Vasilinda

Governor Charlie Crist signed legislation today removing the words “shylock” and “shylocking” from the state’s law books. The words originated with Shakespeare and were used to denote Jewish money lenders. The measure was championed by Jewish members of the legislature who found the words offensive.

“It’s an insulting word and why you would put an insulting word in a Florida statute is beyond me,” Rep. Richard Steinberg (D-Miami) said. “When it came to our attention that it was in there, it was certainly time to take it out.”

In signing the legislation, the governor also indicated he might be willing to veto legislation depicting the crusification of Crist on license plates because it could be offensive to non Christians.

Posted in Charlie Crist, Legislature, Religion, State News | No Comments »

Software Diagnostics

April 27th, 2009 by Mike Vasilinda

Governor Charlie Crist and Education Commissioner Eric Smith accepted a larger than life check from AT&T today totaling more than half a million dollars. The Money will be used to purchase software that will help teachers identify children with learning problems earlier.

“You will see that this program is designed to bring a strong foundation to our children at the earliest age,” Smith said. “Instead of waiting to find out about deficiencies a child might have down the road when they take the final test at the end of the year, this gives the teachers the chance to be more diagnostic and gives the teachers real time feedback on how they might intervene.”

The software will be tested in five yet to be named counties before being distributed statewide.

Posted in Charlie Crist, Children, Education, State News | No Comments »

Lawmakers Vote to Cap Rate Increases

April 24th, 2009 by flanews

The state’s high risk insurance pool is going to be more expensive next year. Lawmakers are trying to cap the Citizens’ Property Insurance rate increase at 10 percent a year, but as Whitney Ray tells us, if the cap legislation fails, rates could increase as much as 50 percent.

If a major hurricane hit Florida, state run Citizen’s property insurance couldn’t handle the claims. All Floridians would then be on the hook through increased assessments. Lawmakers are turning to a Citizens rate increase to solve the problem.

“This bill will cap the increase and it puts the premiums on a glide path to toward becoming actuarially sound,” said Rep. Alan Hays.

Statewide Citizens rate increases would go up 10 percent a year for six years. Some individual policies would go up 20 percent. Insurance lobbyists say it could be worse.

“To do it in a way that would be actuarially sound, you would have to raise the rates as much as 50 to 70 percent,” said Insurance Lobbyist Bob Lotane.

Governor Charlie Crist is happy with the lower rate increase.

“The lower the better,” Crist said.

The bill also lowers the amount of money in the state’s catastrophe fund. The state offers back up insurance to companies through the cat fund. Decreasing the fund will force insurance companies to look for private back up insurance.

Insurers could then pass the extra cost on to their policyholders without seeking state approval. Public interest groups say people can’t afford more.

“This is not the time to be raising rates,” said Brad Ashwell with Florida PIRG.

If no changes are made and a major storm hits, the state could go bankrupt.

The legislation also pumps more money into the ‘My Safe Florida Home’ program to help people strengthen their houses against hurricanes.

Posted in Charlie Crist, Hurricane Season, Insurance, Legislature, State Budget, State News | No Comments »

State Workers Rally Against Pay Cuts

April 24th, 2009 by flanews


Both the House and the Senate have plans to cut state workers pay to balance the budget. More than a hundred state workers from across Florida rallied against the cuts at the state capitol Friday. Many of the employees haven’t had a pay raise in five years. Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda said the legislature has been ignoring their efforts too long.

“They are already the hardest working state employees in the nation. They are paid poorly. We have the lowest number per capita. They are already lean as they can possible be and we have not appreciated them. You know even in the Bible it says pay your workers in the field fairly,” said Rehwinkel Vasilinda.

Florida has 100-thousand state workers. Lawmakers have proposed cuts as high as five percent. Still the House and the Senate haven’t reach a final agreement on how or if to cut pay.

Posted in Legislature, State Budget, State News | No Comments »

Smoking Wars Continue

April 24th, 2009 by flanews

More than a hundred employees from Miami Cigarette-maker Dosal rallied at the state capitol today. The workers protested a plan to force Dosal to pay the same taxes levied against bigger cigarette companies in the 1997 tobacco settlement. Dosal CEO Yolanda Nader said adding the tax could force her company to shut down.

“They are here. They are worried about their jobs. Some of these people have been with this company for 20, 25 years. They are very concerned. Where are they going to go. Never mind in a normal economy, what about today’s economy. That’s why we though it was important to take our message to the legislature,” said Nader.

Bud Chiles, son of former Governor Lawton Chiles, who championed the tobacco settlement says Dosal should pay. Chiles says Dosal has thrived since the big tobacco was forced to pay more.

“They were left out of the settlement. They were able to increase their market share from two percent to 20 percent. They’re selling cigarettes for a $1.75 when a normal pack is $3.50 and a lot of youths are smoking their cigarettes, so they can afford to pay another 45 cents a pack and that will defer some of the health care cost they are creating,” said Chiles.

The increase would cost Dosal smokers an extra 45 cents a pack. The increase could come on top of a dollar increase that passed the House last week.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Claims Bill Passes Senate

April 24th, 2009 by flanews

The state senate signed off on what could end up as the most expensive claims bill the state has ever paid. Eleven years ago Eric Brody’s car was hit by an off duty Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy. Brody suffered brain damage. A judge said Brody was owed to 30 million dollars for his suffering. The Senate has been quick to act on the bill, but the House is stalling. House Sponsor Rachel Bergin says the family has waited long enough.

“This has been an eleven year battle and the family has a million and a half in personal liens against them and their home for medical bills. And it’s important now because the insurance company has yet to really come to the table with an actual amount of money that they are willing to pay. After the bill was filed they finally sat down and began negotiating with the family. They’re still using it in the arguments now that they are still in negotiation with the family and that’s not really taking place,” said Bergin.

There is still a week left for the House to take up their version of the claims bill. Representative Bergin is banking on the Senate version making it to her chamber.

Posted in Legislature, State Budget, State News | No Comments »

Voting Rights Still a Concern

April 24th, 2009 by Mike Vasilinda

Legislation labeled “Draconian” by voting rights groups is being watered down, but is still alive at the state Capitol. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the only reason the measure is becoming less punitive is because thousands of Floridians spoke out.

An elections bill that passed a legislative council after public debate was stopped, is being watered down after public outcry. But it’s still moving forward.

“It still would mean that voters might not qualify for elections, might be purged from rolls,” Brad Ashwell from the Florida Public Intrest Research group said. “It would still inhibit the ability of citizens in grass roots groups to use the ballot initiative process.

The bill changed after voters spoke out.

Governor  Charlie Crist got more than 150 letters and emails. Lawmakers were likewise inundated.

What made the letters so powerful is that they were not form letters, but were individually written.

“Public pressure really worked, because this bill has received so much attention, nationally from the New York Times even,” Sen. Dave Aaronberg (D-Green Acres) said. “Yet it’s still out there, it’s still alive.”

Council char Dave Murzin says he still wants to regulate paid petition gatherers, but the rest of the bill is still up in the air.

“Well there’s a lot of ideas that were being discussed over the last couple of years,” Murzin (R-Pensacola said. “There’s a need to fix things.”

During the final week of the legislative session, there are fears that the worst parts of the legislation will be revived, giving the public little chance to be heard.

“We always must guard against people like the folks who did this because they keep popping up, we have to keep knocking them down to protect Americans’ rights,” Rep. Franklin Sands (D-Weston) said.

Even with the watered down version of the bill, activists say it does more harm than good.

“I’m very optimistic and I’m very patient. The longer it takes, the better. We keep  Rachel’s memory and spirit alive and that’s what this is all about. We will make it a safer and more effective informant system so that this doesn’t happen to anymore parents or children.”

Now, this is not quite the same bill that you started with, not quite as strong as it was, are you still hopefull that it will make a difference?

“I know it will make a difference. We have a foundation to build on. We have a team out in place for next year to get our amendments added. I’m totally optimistic.”

If any version of the bill should pass, voting rights activits will seek a veto from the governor.

Posted in Charlie Crist, Legislature, State News, Voting | No Comments »

Rachel’s Law

April 24th, 2009 by Mike Vasilinda

Legislation to let confidential informants know they have other options is nearing passage in the state House. Dubbed “Rachel’s Law” after 23 year old Rachel Hoffman died during a drug deal gone bad while cooperating with Tallahassee Police, the legislation requires statewide guidelines on recruiting and training confidential informants. The legislation is a far cry from its original version. The first draft would have required informants be told they could talk to an attorney. Rachel’s mother, Margie Weiss, is still hopeful the legislation will save lives.

“I’m very optimistic and I’m very patient, Weiss said. “The longer it takes, the better. We keep Rachel’s memory and spirit alive and that’s what this is all about. We will make it a safer and more effective informant system so that this doesn’t happen to anymore parents or children.”

Now, this is not quite the same bill that you started with, not quite as strong as it was, are you still hopeful that it will make a difference?

“I know it will make a difference. We have a foundation to build on,” she said. “We have a team out in place for next year to get our amendments added. I’m totally optimistic.”

Final passage in the House is expected on Monday.

Posted in Criminal Justice, Legislature, State News | 1 Comment »

Pimpin For State Dollars

April 23rd, 2009 by flanews

Several bills the state legislature has voted down for more than a decade could be passed this session. The economic downturn has some lawmakers selling their morals for more state revenue. As Whitney Ray tells us, the governor is even getting in on the action and asking the Seminole Tribe for a billion dollar cash advance to expand gambling.

Legislation to raise the tobacco tax, make buckling up a primary offense, and expand gambling have all been nixed by state lawmakers for more than a decade.

“The Seminole Tribe has been trying to negotiate a compact since January, 1991,” said Max Osceola with Seminole Indian tribe.

A deal with the tribe could pump as much as much 6-hundrend million dollars into the state’s checking account. The seatbelt bill would also bring in millions.

“It’s hard to leave 35.5 million dollars on the table,” said the bill sponsor Rich Gloriosos.

The Senate unanimously passed a dollar tobacco tax. Senator Dave Aronberg said a crisis is a horrible thing to waste.

“A crisis brings on a lot of problems, but it also brings on a lot of opportunity. You can solve problems that have been around for years,” said Aronberg.

Environmentalists opposing an offshore oil drilling bill, say people are gaming the system.

“Everybody recognizes the best way to move their agenda is to wrap it in the cloak of the economy,” said Julie Wraithmell a spokesperson with Audubon of Florida.

Legislation that would allow more red light monitoring cameras at intersections is gaining more support. Flipflopping lawmakers are using the economy as a copout.

Senator Jim King has helped kill the red light bill four straight years. Now he’s trading cash for the cameras.

“I find myself between the dog and the fire-hydrant. We need the money,” said King.

Where the search for money ends, and what the state looks like after the dash for cash is over largely depends on a few lawmakers meeting behind close doors.

While lawmakers are turning to tobacco, gambling, and increased traffic fines to generate more state revenue, a tax break for people buying airplanes and yachts still remains on the table.

Posted in Charlie Crist, Economy, Environment, Gambling, Health, Legislature, Oil Drilling, State Budget, State News, Taxes | No Comments »

Public Safety at Risk

April 23rd, 2009 by flanews

Law enforcement officers say cutting their budget will jeopardize public safety.

The Florida Police Benevolent Association is lobbying against more budget cuts. More than a hundred police, corrections, and probation officers have been laid off over the last two years. PBA President John Riviera said if police officers lose any more money, many will be left to fend for themselves.

“You all need to learn how to defend yourselves because your government may not be able to do it for you. Police officers are not the policymakers. We only follow orders and we do the best we can with what we have,” said Riviera.

The House and Senate have yet to lay out a joint budget plan. PBA officials say as many as 70 FDLE and 500 corrections jobs are on the line.

Posted in Criminal Justice, Economy, Legislature, State Budget, State News | No Comments »

Legislative Session Could Be Extended

April 23rd, 2009 by flanews

Optimism is waning as lawmakers lose hope they’ll end the legislative session on time.

Budget negotiations between the House and Senate are moving at a snail’s pace. A compromised budget has to be agreed upon 72 hours before the legislature can take a vote. At this point the horse trading is taking place behind closed doors. State Senator Dave Aronberg said he’s losing hope session will end on time with every passing hour.

“I think there is a 60 percent chance we’ll still be here past May 1st, and every hour I’m going to raise it by one percent. So pretty soon it’s going to be a 120 percent chance,” said Aronberg.

In order to meet the May first deadline, a budget deal would have to be completed by next Tuesday to be passed by Friday.

Posted in Legislature, State Budget, State News | No Comments »

FHA Supports Dollar Tobacco Tax

April 23rd, 2009 by flanews

One out of every five middle school kids and twice as many high school students in Florida admit to having smoked at least one cigarette.

The Florida Hospital Association says raising the tobacco tax would cut down on teen smoking. FHA officials were at the state capitol Thursday asking the House to support a one dollar tobacco tax. The tax would raise an estimated 800 million dollars a year. FHA President Bruce Rueben said it will also save the state health care dollars.

“Florida spends about 6.2 billion dollars on smoking related illness. That’s close to 600 dollars for per family in Florida. If we can reduce the rate of smoking, we can reduce those costs overall and help mitigate the challenges Florida seems to deal with every year in terms of funding these human services,” said Rueben.

The Tobacco tax passed the Senate on a unanimous vote. The House has been allergic to the tax all session, but the House Speaker says he’ll consider the idea.

Posted in Children, Health, State Budget, State News, Taxes | No Comments »

University Presidents Paint Dire Picture

April 23rd, 2009 by Mike Vasilinda

In a rare show of strength, 10 of the 11 State University Presidents were at the state capitol today pitching for more money. Across the state,  as Mike Vasilinda tells us, college will be harder to get into and many programs won’t be available under current funding plans.

Universities will lose 500 million in the House budget, but just half that much in the Senate plan. But either way, the news is not good.

“It takes generations to build universities but they can be destroyed in a very short period of time,” Mitch Maidique, Florida International University president said. “This is Armageddon for the state university system.”

Dozens of programs at every school are on the chopping block.

“Summer school in 2010 is just out of the question,” FAMU president Dr. James Ammons said.

And if you are a community college student, good luck transferring.

“We have to let go over 300 full-time faculty members, we just can’t teach the number of students we’re teaching now, so more students are going to be denied admission,” University of Central Florida president John Hitt said.

At a meeting with the Governor, the Presidents were urged to be patient and not to say bad things about lawmakers just yet.

Senate Education Chairman Don Gaetz is trying to convince House negotiators his plan does less damage. So far the answer has been no.

“So I think it’s going to take some discussion, it’s going to take some hard bargaining. And there are people of good faith and good will on both sides,” Gaetz said.

Even major business groups like the Florida Chamber are writing to the House Speaker, saying you can’t make the kind of cuts you’re talking about.

Students who do get into a Florida college will pay more next year under legislation moving through both chambers. But even a 15% hike will not stop faculty from leaving
and programs from being cut.

Posted in Education, Legislature, State Budget, State News | No Comments »

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