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Governor Rick Scott signed the teacher tenure bill yesterday in Jacksonville, but he was looking for more publicity, so he held a mock signing today with lawmakers in Tallahassee.

His PR staff said he would answer three or four questions following the signing as long as the reporters promised to stay on topic… But Scott wasn’t in the mood.

Reporter: Governor, do you want to take a couple of questions?
Scott: Uh, no I don’t.
Reporter: That was less than three or four.”

After Scott snubbed the Capitol Press Corps, a spokesperson told reporters the governor was just too busy to talk… but apparently he wasn’t too busy to hold a fake bill signing a day after the real bill was signed.

Governor Rick Scott wants to cut three billion dollars from education. The state legislature is looking to cut less. But there’s little chance schools end up unharmed in next year’s budget. Parents, teachers and students say they can’t handle anymore cuts, and as Whitney Ray tells us, they took their message to the state capitol today, but the governor wasn’t there.

A group of about four hundred parents, teachers and students stormed the state capitol Thursday to rally against budget cuts. Their message was for lawmakers and Governor Rick Scott

“We come with bags full of postcards from all these kids out here from parents back home,” said Maria Kinzer, with Pinellas County PTA.

But Scott wasn’t there… he was in Jacksonville signing a teacher tenure bill many educators oppose.

“It’s very disappointing the Governor is out in Jacksonville at a charter school,” said Rosanne Wood, a former principal.

The governor may have won the tenure battle, but the education war continues. Scott is proposing a three billion dollar cut. State lawmakers are looking to cut about half as much.

“Education is a lot better than a lot of other items. If you look at some of these other cuts, they are brutal. So I’m happy the PTA is here. There hard work is paying off,” said State Senator Thad Altman.

Parents, teachers and students say if those cuts are passed down to schools, programs like sports, arts, and music will disappear.

High School Junior Luis Estopinana says without music class, he would find it hard to get up in the morning.

“Without the arts, like, there’s not that extra thing to look forward to beside regular academics,” said Luis.

If school funding is cut too drastically, educators are prepared to sue, because the Florida constitution says the state must adequately fund schools.

“A cut is still a cut and when we are already at the bottom at the heap in country as far as funding education. No cuts are acceptable,” said Linda Kobert with FundEducationNow.org.

But first they hope lawmakers listen, and schools are held harmless. Governor Scott says his education budget reductions aren’t actually cuts. The reason; for the past two years federal stimulus dollars were propping up the state budget. Now that money is gone and there’s no way to replace it without raising taxes.

Forty-seven states require booster seats for kids seven and under… But not Florida.

In Florida kids four and under have to travel in car seats. At five the law only requires they be buckled up. Lawmakers say most of those kids are too short to be buckled up like an adult. State Senator Thad Altman, whose sponsoring legislation to require booster seats, says the safety belt crosses their bodies in a dangerous way.

“It’s actually in some cases is more dangerous because that seatbelt goes across that child’s neck. So what this does is it puts it in the law that children 4’9 or less, seven years old or less are required to be in a booster seat,” said Altman.

Similar bans have failed in the legislative process several years running.

Public testimony for and against bringing Vegas-style casino resorts to Florida will be heard next week at the state capitol.

State Senator Dennis Jones is sponsoring the bill that would allow five resort casinos to open in the state. Jones says the expansion will bring jobs and money to Florida, but opponents fear a gaming expansion will cause problems.

“We are the fourth largest gaming state in America right now. We can also show in charts, that in trains, planes, and buses three million people leave the state each year for gaming in other states, just gaming. But we’re looking to bring a trade show industry here that brings its own people, an extra eight to 10 million people each year,” said Jones.

Jones says only about 10-percent of each resort would be dedicated to gambling. He says trade shows and families would be the main money makers for the resorts. Still some state lawmakers say any gaming expansion is bad for Florida.

Prosecutors spent much of the day trying to establish that Northwest Florida State College administrators new little about the Destin airport facility until it was approved by lawmakers. In one exchange, former Vice President for Curriculum, Dr. Jill White, said she only became involved when she was instructed to find classes to be taught at the facility. Prosecutors had her read from an email exchange between herself and college president Bob Richburg.

“These are programs of study, or possible programs of study that were not offered at the time by the college, but were programs that existed on approved state program listings that in my opinion would have been appropriate for the Destin facility,” said White.

White and others testified that they were instructed to find classes “dealing with emergency management” but they replied the center could not sustain such classes. Samson is charged with steering six million state dollars disguised as an emergency operations center but was really for an airplane hanger for a political contributor.

Governor Rick Scott has ordered random drug tests for all state workers and new hirers. The ACLU says Scott can’t do that and as Whitney Ray tells us, lawmakers are worried about how the state will pay for the tests that could cost more than three million dollars a year.

There are more than 100-thousand state workers in Florida, and Governor Rick Scott wants to know they drug-free. Scott’s ordered random drug testing for all state workers.

The ACLU is crying foul and points to a 2004 case in which a federal judge ruled in favor of a state worker who didn’t want to take the test.

“It’s the same grounds as what occurred in 2004, that with out a reasonable suspicion of wrong doing, that this is a violation of their privacy,” said ACLU Spokeswoman Danielle Prendergast.

There are also financial concerns over the tests. They cost about 35 dollars a pop, and opponents say that means the state will be flushing 3.5 million dollars down the drain every year.

Only one state worker would talk to us on camera today, State Senator Mari Sachs. Sachs, a Democrat, says there are better ways to spend the cash.

“Let’s first make sure they have enough money to do their jobs. Number two, what’s the need,” said Sachs.

But Governor Rick Scott is sticking to his guns. We caught up with him late Wednesday afternoon. He says the tests will protect taxpayer dollars.

“Private companies are doing it. It creates safety. It’s the right thing to do, so I’m very excited about doing it because it’s good for the taxpayers of the state,” said Scott.

Scott is giving his agencies 60 days to begin the random tests. The ACLU is offering free legal representation to any state worker who refuses a drug test and wants to challenge the new policy in court.

One year ago today President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Health Care Act. On the very same day the State of Florida filed suit against the new law calling it unconstitutional. Supporters of the law were at the state capitol today armed with signs and a birthday cake. They celebrated the changes that ban insurance companies from denying coverage to people with preexisting conditions, allow college students to stay on their parents insurance and open the Medicaid rolls to more people. Barbara Devine, with the National Organization for Women,

“While there are people inside this very capitol and all over the United States who want to refight the same old political wars and give control over our health care back to insurance companies, it’s time to move forward,” said DeVane.

Attorney General Pam Bondi marked the occasion with a statement encouraging opponents in the state’s suit against the new laws.

“This case is about protecting individual liberty and preserving the
Constitution’s limits on federal power. With the expedited appeal schedule granted by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, we hope to have this issue before the U.S. Supreme Court as soon as possible,” said Bondi.

The killing of an adopted foster kid in South Florida is prompting children’s advocates to push for better protections for kids in state care. Nubia Barahona was found dead earlier this year. The man who adopted her was arrested for her death. Dozens of children’s advocates who represent foster kids in court gathered at the state capitol to honor Nubia and talk about preventing the future abuse of foster kids. George Riggs a former foster youth is taking action to make sure Nubia’s death isn’t forgotten.

“We can’t have a system that relies on luck, and although tragic cases like hers are not the norm, they happen all too often,” said Riggs.

Riggs will work with Voices for Children in Miami-Dade County to create a model program aimed at protecting foster youth from domestic violence.

Governor Rick Scott will soon be eating fish and chips and shaking hands with bobbies. Today Scott meet with Britain’s US Ambassador Nigel Sheinwald to discuss job creation. The UK is promising to visit Florida’s Space Coast to see if it can’t help save jobs that will be lost because of a loss of federal funds and Scott has promised to embark on a trade mission to England. Sheinwald says trade keeps his country connected with Florida

“The UK and Florida do have a great relationship, there’s a great foundation there, and between us. Huge numbers of people live here, visit here and the life blood of our relationship is our economic links,” said Sheinwald.

The Brits will be in Cape Canaveral sometime next week. Plans are still in the works for trade mission trip.

Florida college students are lobbying state lawmakers to save education funding and protect the Bright Futures Scholarship program. More than a hundred students from Florida’s 11 public universities were at the Capitol today. As Whitney Ray tells us, despite their cries, there’s little chance higher education funding will be kept intact.

John Stevenson, a journalism student at West Florida University in Pensacola, covers the state legislature for his school paper.

“This is a great time to start getting involved in the legislature, and continue to do so as an adult,” said Stevenson.

John and more than a hundred students from Florida’s 11 public universities traveled to the state capitol Tuesday, upset over proposed changes and cuts to higher education.

While the number of concerns were as plentiful as the number of schools represented at the state capitol, freshmen and sophomores seem to have the same concern cuts to the Bight Future’s Scholarship Program.

Lawmakers want to cut 100 million dollars from the program. Those changes would leave FAU Freshman Brittany Finn looking for more money to pay for school.

“I’ve got 75 percent so of course it’s a majority of my tuition and fees,” said Finn.

There’s also talk of closing enrollment in Florida’s Prepaid College Program. One in five students at state universities has a prepaid plan. The program helped USF Senior Lara McDermott pay for school. She worries about future students.

“Parents are going to have to make hard choices, students are going to have to make choices about whether or not they are going to have to accrue massive amounts of debt,” said Lara.

University Systems Chancellor Frank Brogan, a guest speaker at the rally, held an impromptu meeting with students. He was kind but blunt.

“The legislature for the last three or four years with all the budget cuts, pulled every rabbit out of every hat. There are just no rabbits left,” said Brogan.

And with federal stimulus dollars all gone, tuition at all schools will likely increase by 15 percent, and that still won’t be enough to stave off budget cuts. Education funding is expected to drop by at least 150 million dollars this year as lawmakers struggle to find ways to fill the 3.75 billion dollar budget hole.

A former Miami Dolphins football star is pushing legislation to help kids with developmental disabilities further their education.

Dan Marino was at the state capitol today asking lawmakers to pass a bill to help fund the Dan Marino Foundation Vocational College. The school would be located in Broward County and open to students with developmental challenges from ages 19 to 26. Marino has a son with Autism and has been working with lawmakers for years to improve the quality of life for Floridians like his son.

“This is just really our next step. It’s the next step for the state. It’s the next step for our foundation and helping kids with developmental disabilities in the transition period,” said Marino.

The foundation has already purchased a three story building for the school; it’s unclear how much state funding would be needed.

Efforts are underway to permanently ban synthetic drugs known as bath salts. In late January Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an emergency order making the drugs illegal in Florida. Now legislation to permanently ban the substances is moving in the state House. Representative Jimmy Patronis is sponsoring the bill.

“It’s definitely a problem and the results of what this chemical does to individuals has been well documented and it’s a harmful part of our society,” said Patronis.

Prior to the emergency ban, bath salts could be found on the shelves at head shops and even some gas stations.

People with landline telephones may be paying more if legislation to deregulate telephone companies gets final approval. The bill received unanimous approval from a key Senate Committee this morning. As Whitney Ray tells us, AARP fears it would increase costs but the president of AT&T Florida says deregulation would bring rates down.

No one knows for sure if rates will go up, or if eventually they would drop as many supports of the bill claim, but opponents were able to kill a similar bill last year by claiming rates would go up as much as 20 percent.

As the world cuts the cord and goes wireless… some older Floridians are finding it harder to make the switch.

There are more than 165-thousand landlines still in use in Florida, but the communications industry says strict regulations are making it hard for them to operate.

While cell phones and other wireless devices are thriving with little government interference, landline companies claim they’re getting tangled up in state regulations.

Marshall Criser, the President of AT&T Florida, made his case to state lawmakers Monday. AT&T supports a bill that would allow companies to set rates without state approval.

“When customers have choices they’re going to be able to make decisions about what they want to pay, what kind of features they want. They control the market,” said Criser.

But AARP disagrees. The group conducted a study, claiming four out of every 10 Florida seniors struggle to pay their bills. They say deregulation would spell financial doom for some of their members.

“The telecommunication companies can raise the rates as much as they like, as often as they like, whenever they like,” said Jack McRay, an AARP Lobbyist.

AARP also fears, the bill would allow landline companies to stop the service… forcing some seniors with arthritis and memory loss to use smaller, easy to lose cell phones.

The trial that promises to expose the inner workings and sometimes backroom dealings of the Florida State legislature began today. It centers on Former House Speaker Ray Sansom and his roll in trying to secure six million state dollars to benefit political contributors. As Whitney Ray tells us, the prosecution says the money would have built an airplane hanger, the defense says classrooms.

From the pinnacle of legislative power… to a defendant in a grand theft trial… the fall from grace for Former House Speaker Ray Sansom has been a long one. Sansom is in court for the way he tried to spend six million tax dollars while in power.

In 2007, Sansom funneled the money to Northwest Florida State College in Okaloosa County for construction…. but to construct what is still in question.

The six million dollars came from state education funds, and the defense says the money would have been used to build classrooms and to store emergency vehicles if a hurricane hit, but the prosecution says that’s just the cover story… and the secret purpose of the building was to house jets for a political contributor.

That contributor Jay Odom is on trial with Sansom. At the off-set of the case there were three co-defendants, but college president Bob Richburg struck a plea deal and will testify against Sansom and Odom.

In the opening statements Monday morning Leon County Prosecutor Willie Meggs told jurors they’d hear testimony proving the project was an airplane hanger.

“You’re going to see as this project developed and as it moved through the process, evidence of fraud and deception and false pretense and misappropriation,” said Meggs.

The defense says those plans were scrapped once the legislature was told the state had no money for special projects….

“You’ll see an email from Bob Richburg to Ray Sansom saying, ‘Jay understands he has to build his own FBO with his own money,” said Sansom.

Former Governor Charlie Crist is on the witness list. He’s expected to testify late in the week. Sansom’s time as speaker was short lived. He took the leadership roll in November of 2009 and resigned under pressure from his own party in February of 2010.

A potential union-busting measure was approved today in Tallahassee. The bill prohibits automatic payroll deduction of union dues from government workers’ paychecks. Police officers and firefighters from around the state came to speak against the bill. Labor union spokesman Rich Templin says the bill would create more hassle for organized labor.

“This is about making the process of people joining of their freewill a union in the state of Florida much more difficult, much more difficult, much more difficult, much harder,” said Templin.

Union members also complained the bill would take money away from charitable organizations to which they donate.