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Education Lawsuit will go Forward

September 12th, 2012 by flanews

State lawmakers will have to defend education cuts in court. A lawsuit filed three years ago claims the state doesn’t provide a high-quality level of public education as laid out in the state constitution. As Whitney Ray tells us, lawmakers unsuccessfully tried to block the suit, and this week the state’s highest court ordered it to move forward.

Florida’s constitution guarantees a “high quality” public education, but in 2009, Fund Education Now filled a lawsuit claiming it’s anything but.

“The Florida Legislature has cut funds to public education by four billion dollars,” said Kathleen Oropeza.

We spoke to the group’s co-founder by phone. For three years lawmakers have blocked her suit, but this week their luck ran out.

“We get to have our day in court. We get to present the evidence and we get to have this discussion in front of the people in the light of day,” said Oropeza.

The suit claims billions of dollars in spending cut by state lawmakers and below average pay for Florida teachers are making it impossible for schools to provide students with a high quality education.

Last year Governor Rick Scott and lawmakers increased education spending by a billion dollars. Democrats, say it was too little to late.

“We had cut a billion three a year before and so you do the math. Hopefully this year we will put two billion in to education,” said State Representative Darryl Rouson.

But Republicans say they did the best they could with dwindling state revenues.

“Among those advocates I don’t think there is enough money in the State of Florida to do it. You look at Chicago where you’ve got a union striking and they’re making 70-thousand dollar base salaries,” said State Senator JD Alexander.

At the center of the suit will be the definition of high quality and whether or not it’s available to all Florida students.

Lawmakers argued the lawsuit should be blocked because their responsible for the state budget and the judicial branch isn’t allowed to tell them how to spend taxpayer money. The argument was taken to the state’s highest court and failed.

Posted in State News | 1 Comment »

People in Pain Running out of Places to Turn

September 12th, 2012 by flanews

The state’s war on prescription drug abuse is keeping people in real pain from getting the help they need.

About a dozen protestors were at the state capitol today because they can’t get pharmacies to fill their prescriptions for painkillers. Karen Stateler injured her neck and back 20 years ago, but just last year her pharmacist stopped carrying the methadone her doctor prescribes. She’s even had to be rushed to the ER for withdraws after going days without her medication.

“I think it’s particularly dangerous for seniors, because we have other health problems too and going through repeated withdraws month after month is not healthy,” said Stateler.

The group says they are being treated like criminals. Some of them spend all day driving from pharmacy to pharmacy just to fill one prescription. They’re asking Governor Rick Scott and state lawmakers for help.

Posted in State News | 7 Comments »

Restore Justice Targets Three

September 11th, 2012 by flanews

For the first time in state history there is an organized effort to kick three Supreme Court Justices off the bench. As Whitney Ray tells us, a 2010 ruling on a health care ballot question is at the center of a scheme to reshape Florida’s Supreme Court.

Restore Justice 2012, is trying to make history. In Florida, voters have never used merit retention to boot a judge, but this November Justice Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and Barbara Pariente could be the first.

Restore Justice is targeting the justices because they ruled against a ballot question aimed at banning the new health care law in Florida. The group claims it was a political decision. The justices say the ballot language was misleading.

During a conference call Tuesday, Members of Defend Justice from Politics defended the ruling.

Fueling the debate are these competing reports. This one from The Florida Bar gives the justices a 90 percent job approval rating among Florida attorneys, but this one from Restore Justices gives them all Fs.

Former American Bar President Sandy D’Alemberte says the failing grades are based on poor data. D’Alembert adds merit retention is a tool to remove incompetent judges, not a means to vote out judges you disagree with.

“There are people who disagree with their opinions, I disagree with some of their opinions, but that doesn’t mean they are not qualified to serve,” said D’Alemberte.

D’Alemberte says voting these justices off the bench will politicize the process and in Florida justice will no longer be blind.

Judges are up for merit retention every six years during the General Election. They have no opponent, but to keep their job they have to get a majority vote. Many Florida voters skip the merit retention questions. In 2010, a million people who cast ballots for governor left the merit retention questions blank.

Posted in State News | 5 Comments »

State Spends 50 Million on Gasoline

September 10th, 2012 by flanews

If you think your gas bill is high, check out what the state spends on fuel. 50 million dollar from July 2011 through June of this year. That up five million dollars from 2010. As Whitney Ray tells us, rising gas prices may force the state to rethink how many vehicles it puts on the road.

Todd Hill does a lot of driving. He pastors a church and shuttles kids all over the state.

“We do a lot of transporting and carpooling and gas prices like they are it adds up quick,” said Hill

Todd spends more than six thousand dollars a year on gas.

Reporter: How do you budget for that?
Todd: Cross your fingers and hope nothing else happens when you get ready to fill it up.

The state has seen its gas budget soar to more than 50 million dollars this year. That’s up five million dollars from 2010.

State’s Gasoline Bill
FY 2011-2012 50.7M
FY 2010-2011 50.4M
FY 2009-2010 45.7M

There’s no policy forcing state workers to save gas, but there is a state law requiring agencies to buy fuel efficient vehicles and another statute requiring regular maintenance on cars.

The Florida Highway Patrol is cutting its part of the state fuel budget by shopping around for the cheapest gas, patrolling less and using radar more strategically.

“We use more stationary radar, laser detail, versus just driving around,” said FHP Trooper Ryan Martina.

Governor Rick Scott says he hasn’t directly addressed the issue with his agency heads, but he’s concerned about all spending.

“Gas is one of the issues, but in every agency we have to watch how we spend money,” said Scott.

In the coming months the state will begin exploring more ways to cut fuel costs. One option to save money on gas is selling some of the state’s 26-thousand vehicles.

Even though the state is spending a huge chunk of change on gas, it’s still less than one percent of Florida’s 70 billion dollars state budget.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Scott Launches Education Tour

September 10th, 2012 by flanews

Parents and teachers across the state will get a chance to tell Governor Rick Scott what they think of Florida’s public education system. Scott is on an education listening tour. He visited Jacksonville Monday. At the state capitol, before Scott embarked on the tour, he told reporters he wants to hear from everyone. But the meetings will be behind closed doors and unions are concerned their voices won’t be heard.

“I think it’s important to listen to everybody. I think everybody has ideas. I like talking to people and finding ways we can improve,” said Scott.

Scott will be in Palm Beach County tomorrow and Orlando on Thursday.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Scott Dodges Crist Questions

September 10th, 2012 by flanews

Governor Rick Scott is ignoring questions about a possible matchup against Former Governor Charlie Crist in 2014. Crist is still a registered independent, but he delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention last week. Rumors Crist will run for governor as a Democrat are circulating, but Scott is writing them off.

“Isn’t that a hypothetical? You know what I’m going to do? Everyday I’m going to do my job. I got elected on a campaign to get our state back to work. I’m going to focus on the education system, keep the cost of living low. That’s what I’m going to do every day,” said Scott.

Crist hasn’t said if he will register as a Democrat and run for governor in 2014. Polls show he would be Democrat’s top choice.

Posted in State News | 1 Comment »

Scott Orders State Investigation into Warehousing Scandal

September 10th, 2012 by flanews

Kids suffering from mental and physical disabilities are being housed with seniors in Florida nursing homes. The findings are part of an investigation by the Department of Justice. DOJ says the kids civil rights are being denied because they often don’t have access to education and can’t socialize with their peers. In an exclusive interview with Capitol News Service Scott says he wasn’t aware of the situation until this weekend. Scott is ordering the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Children and Families to investigate immediately.

“I’ve asked agencies involved to get to the bottom of this now. We need to have swift action. I want them to visit all these homes and I want them to go visit all the parents. I also want them to reach out to the advocacy groups and make sure we are doing every thing we can to make sure these children are taken care of,” said Scott

The decision about how to care for a disabled child is the parent’s. Medicaid places some restriction on care. Scott says once investigators locate the kids, they’ll inform parents of all their options. None of the disabled children reportedly living in nursing homes are in the care of DCF.

“Of the nearly 20,000 children in the department’s care, not one is in an adult nursing home. In every situation, our first priority is always to find an appropriate, safe and secure family or home setting for any child in our care while providing for any special needs a child might have,” said Joe Follick, Communications Director for DCF.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

FAMU: Swift and Decisive

September 7th, 2012 by flanews

A strong message for students at Florida A&M University. The school’s interim president Larry Robinson told the entire student body today reports of hazing will be met with “swift and decisive” action. As Whitney Ray tells us, suspensions made this week prove Robinson means business.

To mark the start of a new school year, FAMU’s Interim President Larry Robinson, gathered the entire student body and addressed the school’s hazing problem head on.

“If in fact they do occur, I just want everyone to know our actions will be swift and decisive,” said Robinson.

Robinson says the school is getting closer to hiring an anti-hazing czar, to help prevent rituals like the one last November that cost FAMU Drum Major Robert Champion his life.

The band remained suspended Friday as Robinson unveiled a new website where students can report hazing. A video on the site says hazing has no part in school activities.

It’s not just rhetoric. On Tuesday a university dance team was suspended, just hours after reports of members forcing freshmen in the group to drink alcohol and run up a hill.

Students we spoke to were impressed with Robinson’s quick action.

“The incident that happened over the weekend with the dance team, he took care of it. He was active on that,” said Senior Martez Hurt.

“I’m just happy that somebody is saying they are going to do something and sticking to what they say,” said Sophomore Jonathan Jones.

As a result of FAMU’s hazing problems and the bad publicity that followed, fewer students have enrollment this year. Enrollment is down by about a thousand and that’s affecting the school’s bottom-line.

“We may need to prepare ourselves for possible budget reductions,” said Robinson.

While students seem pleased with the direction Robinson is taking the school, his time at the top is waning. Robinson told students, the school’s search for his replacement is nearing an end.

Robinson also reported at FAMU’s Convocation today, the school is still searching for a new band director, but that search in narrowing.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

GOP Takes on Charlie Crist

September 6th, 2012 by Mike Vasilinda

Former Florida Republican Governor Charlie Crist is in Charlotte tonight preparing to address the Democratic National Convention. Crist became an independent in 2012 after it appeared he could not win a GOP Primary for the US Senate. Now with talk that he could run for Governor again as a Democrat, but the GOP is turning up the heat on Crist.

As a young State Senator, Charlie Crist was tasked with embarrassing the sitting Democratic Governor. The GOP elected Crist statewide three times to Education Commissioner, Attorney General and finally Governor.

But the now infamous bipartisan hug in Fort Myers lit a fire under the strengthening Tea Party, Crist was poisoned. Now a speculation he is setting his sights on a Governor’s Mansion again this time as a Democrat. The state GOP is firing back with a TV spot in which Crist is heard to say, “I’m a Jeb Bush Republican. President Bush he is a leader of courage and conviction”.

We asked party spokesperson Kristen McDonald if the party was afraid of Crist or just paying him back for deserting them. “It’s neither really. As I said it just that we are trying to remind Floridians and the people of America who Charlie Crist really is” she told us.

When Charlie Crist was a Republican, the party kept track of everything he said, wrote, TV, radio so they gotten an archive we are sure to see more of.

“I’m quite happy in the private sector” is what Crist told the national audience. He also said he isn’t likely to run as a Democrat, but he did leave the door open. Political Scientist Carol Weissert believes the GOP has more fear than anger when it comes to Charlie Crist. “I think they’re worried. I mean that would be how I would read it. Why would you spend money that you need to spend on a campaign against somebody who hasn’t even announced” says Weissert.

Crist would have to start making moves to run as a Democrat shortly after the first of the year, and with three other possible contenders, his success would be uncertain.

The former Governor contends he did not leave the Republican Party, but that it left him when it was taken over by the far right.

Posted in State News | 1 Comment »

DOJ won’t Challenge Early Voting Changes

September 6th, 2012 by flanews

A chapter is closing on a year long battle over Florida’s new election law. The last of 80 changes in the controversial law is going unchallenged by the US Department of Justice. As Whitney Ray tells us, once it’s officially approved, early voting this November will be limited to eight days statewide.

A battle that started in the state legislature in 2011 is nearing an end. The state’s new election law requires voter registration groups to register with the state, forces elections supervisors to report results sooner and cuts early voting days.

The early voting reduction from 14 to eight days caused the most backlash. Black lawmakers and the NAACP tried to stop the changes saying it would affect minority voters because they’re more likely to cast an early ballot.

“The people who are being impacted are people of color and African Americans,” said Dale Landry with the NAACP in an August protest in the Governor’s Office.

The early voting changes are already in place in 62 of Florida’s 67 counties. Because of past discrimination, Collier, Hillsborough, Hardee, Hendry and Monroe counties need approval from a federal court to implement the changes.

The US Department of Justice dropped its challenge to the early voting reduction after the five counties agreed to offer the maximum number of early voting hours allowed under the new law.

Voters in those five counties will have 96 hours to cast a ballot, or 12 hours a day for eight days. Division of Elections Spokesman Chris Cate says there’s plenty of time to vote.

“There’s going to be more flexibility to vote before work and after work. They are going to be guaranteed a Sunday of early voting, which they weren’t guaranteed under the old law,” said Cate.

Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Harry Sawyer is the lone hold out on the early voting changes. He told the court he would abide by its wishes.

“I said that I would follow the law, period,” said Sawyer.

But he didn’t promise to be happy about it.

“The old plan was working really well. I still don’t know why they changed it,” said Sawyer.

Sawyer says cutting the number of days will disenfranchise voters and create long lines on Election Day.

Since the Department of Justice is no longer challenging the early voting provision, pre-clearance by the court is almost certain.

Posted in State News | 1 Comment »

FAMU Dance Troupe Suspended over Alleged Hazing

September 5th, 2012 by Mike Vasilinda

An all female dance troupe at Florida A&M University has been suspended pending an investigation into a weekend report of hazing. The report came from a parent who called the school on Tuesday afternoon. The group was suspended before the end of the day.

A promotional video from the FAMU Torque Dancers screams “Why Don’t You Love Me?

The all female dance group was suspended late Tuesday after a parent reported an alleged hazing over the Labor Day Weekend. Freshmen were reportedly forced to drink alcohol and run up a hill. FAMU police are investigating.

The anonymous police report says only that the incident happened on Jakes and Paterson Street.

The report came out on the same day FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson was beginning a series of anti hazing workshops. He told Boosters on Wednesday that the message must get out.

“The point that I want to make is that we will take swift and decisive action It is very disappointing, but at the same time there are a lot of students out there that have gotten the message” says Robinson.

There were mixed reactions on campus. Some students didn’t want to talk about it at all.

“I gotta. I gotta be somewhere really quickly” is what one camouflage clad student told us. Others, like Elizabeth Oyecora, called the alleged incident unforgivable. “They didn’t learn so they deserve what happened to them. So, I guess other organizations will learn from this” says the first year Pharmacy student.

FAMU’s reputation for hazing became national news with the death of drum major Robert Champion last November. Colin Johnson chose to enroll this fall anyway. “It’s like, sometimes certain individuals will make bad choices. But overall I still feel like FAMU is a good decent school to go to”, says Johnson.

The investigation may lead off campus and involve Tallahassee Police. Until resolved, the dance troupe will remain suspended.

An all female dance troupe at Florida A&M University has been suspended pending an investigation into a weekend report of hazing. The report came from a parent who called the school on Tuesday afternoon. The group was suspended before the end of the day.

This is a promotional video from the FAMU Torque Dancers.

NAT. “Why Don’t You Love Me?”

The all female dance group was suspended late Tuesday after a parent reported an alleged hazing over the Labor Day Weekend. Freshmen were reportedly forced to drink alcohol and run up a hill. FAMU police are investigating.

The anonymous police report says only that the incident happened on Jakes and Paterson Street.

The report came out on the same day FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson was beginning a series of anti hazing workshops. He told Boosters on Wednesday that the message must get out.

“The point that I want to make is that we will take swift and decisive action It is very disappointing, but at the same time there are a lot of students out there that have gotten the message” says Robinson.

There were mixed reactions on campus. Some students didn’t want to talk about it at all.

“I gotta. I gotta be somewhere really quickly” is what one camouflage clad student told us. Others, like Elizabeth Oyecora, called the alleged incident unforgivable. “They didn’t learn so they deserve what happened to them. So, I guess other organizations will learn from this” says the first year Pharmacy student.

FAMU’s reputation for hazing became national news with the death of drum major Robert Champion last November. Colin Johnson chose to enroll this fall anyway. “It’s like, sometimes certain individuals will make bad choices. But overall I still feel like FAMU is a good decent school to go to”, says Johnson.

The investigation may lead off campus and involve Tallahassee Police. Until resolved, the dance troupe will remain suspended.

Posted in State News | 1 Comment »

Help for Veterans

September 5th, 2012 by flanews

Florida veterans miss out on millions of dollars in state and federal aid every year. Mainly because they don’t know they qualify or don’t know where to turn to receive benefits. As Whitney Ray tells us, the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs is launching a new campaign to help Florida’s 1.6 million veterans receive the help they earned.

US Air Force Veteran Jimmy Fox was at the state capitol Wednesday to spread the message to his brothers-in-arms that help is available.

“I get paid to go to class. The VA gives you a certain amount of money per credit hour,” said Fox.

While Fox is enjoying his earned benefits thousands of Florida’s veterans don’t even know they qualify. Millions of dollars worth of state and federal aid goes unclaimed ever year.

“We are here to announce an initiative that we hope will connect more of our state’s veterans with those benefits and those services that they rightly earned,” said Florida Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary Mike Prendergast.

The Florida Department of Veteran Affairs is launching a new campaign to inform veterans of their benefits. The department created a website and a mobile phone app where veterans can apply.

Spreading the word becomes increasingly complicated when you take in to account the thousands of Florida veterans with no place to call home. Among the homeless one out of five is a veteran. Many still carry the mental wounds of war.

Suicide is also common. Since 2005 more than 17-hundred veterans have ended their own lives. The pace is quickening, with nearly one suicide a day this year. The website and app give veterans and family members worried about their soldier emergency access to mental health.

The online services are aimed at Florida’s 230-thousand veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. For the remaining 1.4 million there are PSAs and the state will also take out newspaper ads.

To find all the benefits available to veterans visit floridavets.org. There are also directions on the website to download the mobile app to your smart phone.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

National Debt 16 Trillion

September 4th, 2012 by flanews

A distressful milestone for the US today. The nation’s debt has just topped 16 trillion dollars. While the national debt continues to grow, as Whitney Ray tells us, Florida has a balanced budget and is paying off its debt.

Tuesday afternoon, US Debt passed the 16 trillion dollar mark and kept going. The interest alone is expected to cost taxpayers five trillion dollars over the next decade. And since the feds spend more than they collect there’s no end in site.

“The 16 trillion dollars that we are looking at is a record for what our country has ever owed,” said Rob Weissert with Florida TaxWatch.

Weissert says one reason the nation’s debt is growing is Congress isn’t required to balance its budget, like states do.

“The State of Florida has done a good job of keeping its budget balanced and keeping it’s expenditures in line with its revenues. At the same time we have not seen that kind of discipline in the federal government,” said Weissert.

In 2010, state lawmakers put the balanced budget issue in front of Florida voters. Seven out of 10 supported the measure, but the amendment had no teeth and Congress keeps spending. In Florida lawmakers are required to balance the budget.

Although the state has issued 23 billion dollars in bonds, mostly for construction. Rick Scott is the first governor in decades with a serious plan to pay off the bond debt.

“This year for the first time in 20 years we paid down state debt. We paid it down 500 million dollars. This year we are on track to pay our debt down by over a billion dollars,” said Scott.

Without a constitutional requirement, many believe Congress will never take action. One the other side of the argument opponents say a balanced budget amendment would handicap the country in times of war, or during recessions.

For the past three years state lawmakers have filed balanced budget bills directed at Congress, but since the state acting on its own doesn’t have the power to change the US Constitution, the bills have been filed to send Congress a message.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Pension Case Primed for Action

September 4th, 2012 by Mike Vasilinda

The state and more than a half million employees and retirees will soon be one step closer to knowing if employees will continue to pay three percent of their salaries into the pension fund. Lawmakers instituted the contribution in 2011, but this past March a judge overturned the contribution requirement. Now, the states highest court will make the decision.

Tens of thousands of police officers, teachers and state employees continue to have three percent taken out of each check as a contribution to their pensions, even though the law ordering it was ruled unconstitutional last March. The Florida Supreme Court will review the decision this week. At issue is this section of Florida law which says the state has a contract to pay the full retirement costs of employees. Matt Puckett of the Florida Police Benevolent Association is one of the plaintiffs.

“In 1974 they said if you were part of the Florida Retirement System, you will not contribute to that. That did not change, they did not take that out of the law” says Puckett.

The state relied on a 1981 ruling by the Florida Supreme Court . It lost. The ruling said the state could alter benefits for future service. A spokesman for the state personnel agency said they are keeping track of who’s contributed how much, but then he added, if they had to give it back, it could get messy”.

The good news is that the state has enough money in its rainy day fund to give everyone a refund. But Governor Rick Scott remains confident the state won’t be paying anything back. “I’m very comfortable we’re going to win. I mean, this is a thirty year old precedent, so I am very comfortable we did the right thing, and the courts will do the right thing” says the Governor.

The state has already paid a half million in legal fees and it’s prepared to pay another three hundred fifty thousand for the appeal. The state is on its third set of lawyers in the case. It has hired Raul Cantero, a former Florida Supreme Court Justice who left the court in 2008. He will argue before seven justices who are all paying the three percent contribution to their retirement.

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