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Lawmakers aren’t ruling out new taxes to help balance the state checkbook.

State senators were briefed one the budget today. Declining sales tax collections have helped spur a two billion dollar budget shortfall. A special session to balance the budget will likely be called in January. State Senator Nan Rich said while spending cuts are likely, lawmakers will also consider raising taxes to generate revenue.

“We can’t make more cuts without really hurting the most vulnerable people in our communities and I think we have to have everything on the table. We have to look at new resources and I’m hoping that is what’s going to happen,” said Rich.

The work isn’t over once this year’s budget is balanced. State economists estimate a 30 billion dollar budget shortfall over the next four years.

A trust fund named after the late Governor Lawton Chiles to provide heath care to children and seniors has already seen 300 million dollars siphoned off to plug a hole in the state budget. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, budget troubles in Tallahassee has the family crying foul as lawmakers look to the fund for more cash.

Hear it Here: Chiles Fund

The Chiles Family says the state is spending as much as 4 Billion dollars a year treating problems that could be cured by prevention such as funding pre natal screening.

The once 2 billion dollar fund was set up with money from the states tobacco settlement. The interest was to be used to make life better for children and seniors. Last spring state lawmakers took 300 million to provide health care. Investment losses have cut the fund in half.

Now the family of the late Governor is angry even more might be taken to fund budget deficits.

“We’ve seen a political dynamic where personal tax cuts are trumping children’s funding issues,” Bud Chiles, Lawton Chiles’ son said.

But declining sales tax means massive budget cuts. Governor Charlie Crist says what has been taken so far has been appropriate.

“I can’t read into the mind of our former governor, god rest his soul, but I think it’s been used wisely,” Crist said.

The family is so angry it says if any more money is taken from the fund, they want his name removed from it.

A law suit to stop a raid is also an option, but state lawmakers say they have few places to turn to keep the ship of state afloat.

“Legislature created it and the legislature has to look at all the needs in the state and all the challenges that we’re facing,” Sen. Nan Rich said.

The idea of a dollar a pack increase in the cigarette tax is starting to gain traction, but even that may not be enough to stave off another raid on the Chiles Endowment.

The Chiles Family says the state is spending as much as 4 Billion dollars a year treating problems that could be cured by prevention such as funding pre natal screening.

It was ten years ago this Friday that Governor Lawton Chiles passed away with just 3 weeks left in his term.

The former US Senator and two-term Governor won large cash settlements from big tobacco that became a model for the nation, he fought for kids health care and quality pre school. On the anniversary of his death, his son says life for children in Florida would be better today if his dad had lived to be a voice of reason for state policy makers.

“It would be profoundly different,” Bud Chiles, the former governor’s son said. “We would have continued the priority Pre-K education. We’d have a heck of a lot more kids in the insurance program. We’d be doing outreach to make sure those kids knew about those programs, to get them involved. We’d be spending less on remediation and criminal justice and more on the front end.”

Florida’s infant mortality rate rivals that of a third world nation, and the well being of children rank in the bottom quartile of most statistical ranking.

Just when you though things couldn’t get any worse. Check out this presentation from the Office of Economic and Democgraphic Research that was given to the Senate today. edr-presentation

Governor Charlie Crist unveiled his low cost health insurance plan Monday. The Cover Florida plan offers 25 coverage options for Floridians ages 19 to 64. There are 3.8 million uninsured people in Florida. People who qualify can sign up for the plans starting January 5th for about $150.00 a month.

Hear it Here: Cover Florida Presser

Dr. Todd Patterson, Bud Chiles, David Lawrence, Loranne Ausley

Bud Chiles, the son of Governor Lawton Chiles, help a news conference this morning to protest a pending raid of the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund to cover state revenue reductions. Here’s a partial copy of this mornings press conference. raw-chiles-presser-1209

State inspectors are visiting pet shops across Florida to catch people who are selling sick cats and dogs. The Florida Department of Consumers Services ordered the random checks to find out if pet store owners are complying with the state’s pet lemon law. As Whitney Ray tells us, there are a few things you can look for to make sure you don’t buy a sick puppy.

Hear it Here: Pet Checks

Veshon Boyles is Christmas shopping for his two year old daughter. He wants to make sure her first puppy can run with the pack.

“You want to make sure it’s healthy,” said Veshon.

Concerned parents aren’t the only ones keeping their eyes peeled for sick pets. This month state inspectors are visiting pet stores and asking customers to look for signs of disease.

“Look at the conditions that the animals are in. Make sure it doesn’t have any obviously runny noses or eyes or perhaps Diarrhea,” said Dr. Samuel Lamb with the Department of Agriculture.

Inspectors are also checking to see if the puppies and kittens are at least eight weeks old. When you buy a dog or cat, the seller is required by Florida law to give you a certificate of health. Pet store owner Carol Hoover said random checks help keep store owners honest.

“Sometimes things can slip and you can forget to take them back in and get new check ups. So I think it’s a great idea to keep everybody in check,” Hoover said.

So whether you’re just window shopping or ready to buy, be prepared to check the paperwork to make sure you don’t end up with a sick puppy. State law required pet store owners to refund customers who buy a dog or cat and find out from a veterinarian that the animal is sick. But the pet has to be returned with in 14 days of the purchase.

A US Supreme Court case challenging the citizenship of President-Elect Barack Obama has been dropped, but that hasn’t stopped some here in Florida from asking the state’s electors not to vote for the president-elect.

Florida’s 27 electors have received dozens of letters claiming Obama was born in Kenya and his birth certificate was forged. Florida Elector Rick Minor says he is receiving a letter or two a day.

“They’re claims have no basis in fact whatsoever. Barack Obama was born August 4th, 1961, in Hawaii and he has the birth certificate to prove it and both the Department of Health in Hawaii and the Register of Vital Statistics have verified that there is no doubt he was born in the United States,” said Minor.

Florida’s Electors cast their votes next Monday.

Thurgood Marshall became the nation’s first black Supreme Court justice in 1967, the Beatles sang about Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band, and it was the last time a sitting Florida Governor got married after taking office. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, Florida’s current bachelor chief executive appears excited about the change in his life this Friday.

Hear it Here: Goin’ to the Chapel, and Crist’s Gonna Get Married

Governor Claude Kirk showed up at his January 1967 inaugural ball with a woman he would only identify as Madam X. She was 33-year-old Ericka Mattfield. The two were married before the year was out. Like Charlie Crist’s impending vows, the press was kept out. In a year end interview, the current governor says that he and Carol Rome, his bride to be, will split their time between three Florida cities.

“I look forward to her spending a lot of time at the mansion,” Crist said. “I also rent a place in St. Petersburg, she also owns a home in Miami. So between those three, that’s where we’ll be.”

Crist met 39-year-old Carol Rome through mutual friends in New York. He and others describe her as caring and compassionate.

“She’s got a great heart and cares deeply about children,” he said. “We went to a March of Dimes event, for example, this weekend. So I think things like that will come natural to Carol.”

The soon-to-be first lady has two daughters from a previous marriage. They attend school in New York. So it’s unclear if the sound of young children will grace the Governor’s mansion anytime soon.

Crist has been a bachelor since a brief marriage in 1980.

Most details of the wedding, including the guest list, are being kept secret.
A pool reporter will be at the wedding, but no television cameras will be allowed inside the church.

Governor Charlie Crist is calling an investigating into the deaths of 32 students of the Florida School for Boys who died in the 1950s. The human remains were discovered in October. Yesterday four former students of the school who say they witnessed racially motivated beatings and the disappearance of several black students asked the governor to call an investigation. In response Crist ordered the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Department of Juvenile Justice to investigate.

If foul play is discovered charges could follow. Read the letters here: 2008-12-9-peterman

2008-12-9-bailey

You can hear the entire pre cabinet news conference and Q & A here: raw-pre-cabinet-1209

Governor Charlie Crist defended this summer’s pricey overseas trade-mission.

In July Crist and 25 state officials toured England, France, Russia, and Spain to meet with foreign business and political leaders. The trip lasted 12 days and cost taxpayers 430,000 dollars. Charlie Crist defended the spending and pointed to the fruits of his South American trip as proof that trade missions create jobs.

“I hope they are benefited by the jobs it creates. Embraer is a good example. They are creating a 50 million dollar plant in Melbourne. 200 jobs, not at 30,000 each by at 50,000 each. We’ve got to keep fighting for Florida,” said Crist.

Crist’s own expenses on the trip totaled 30,000. His tab was paid with private investment dollars.

DCF Points People Goes Cyber to Keep Up With Food Stamp Request

Florida’s Department of Children and Families is pointing people to the web to lighten the load on its call center.

The number of calls to the state’s food stamp hotline double last month to three million with 1.7 million Floridians receiving food stamps. The increased need is taking a toll on hotline operators. Today DCF Secretary George Sheldon joined Governor Charlie Crist to launch the “My Access Account” website. The site allows people to check the status of their food stamp applications and Medicaid accounts. Sheldon said DCF will spread the word to people put on hold.

“We’re actually going to be putting on our call center voicemail to drive people to the web. Drive people to “My Account” so they can begin doing things for themselves,” said Sheldon.

Besides allowing people to check their food stamp and Medicaid status, the site also allows people who qualify for to print temporary Medicaid card. To access the site go to www.myflorida.com/accessflorida

Governor Charlie Crist isn’t answering questions about his pricey overseas trade mission to Europe. In July taxpayers picked-up a 430,000 dollar tab for Governor Crist and 25 state employees to travel England, France, Russia, and Spain. The goal of the trip was to bring jobs to Florida, but as Whitney Ray tells us, some say the trip was a waste of taxpayer money.

Hear it Here: Overseas Trade-Mission Costs Taxpayers 430 K

This summer Governor Charlie Crist mingled with royalty, met with foreign business leaders, and sat down with overseas journalists. The cost: 430,000 dollars. Florida Democrats are outraged and have asked the governor to refund the money.

“Since he’s been there we’ve lost 48,000 jobs and 150,000 people have lost their homes. It’s completely indefensible and he should reimburse the treasury,” said Florida Democrats spokesman, Eric Jotkoff.

The governor’s expenses, including a one night stay in a 2,000 dollar hotel suite and a 1,300 dollar mini-bar tab, were paid for with private dollars. But tax dollars paid for nine FDLE agents, four staffers, a spokeswoman and a photographer to tag along.

The governor’s office denied our request for on on-camera interview to discuss the expenses.

Instead, they released a statement highlighting Florida’s relationship with the countries. England, France, Russian and Spain operate more than 900 companies in the state and employee 50,000 Floridians. Florida Chamber of Commerce spokesman Dan Krassner said the trip will help boost the state’s economy.

“We want to see those Florida companies add jobs. We want to see them expand and the governor’s trip overseas provided a great opportunity to get dialoged going with those companies,” said Krassner.

One of the oddest expenses of the trip was 320 dollars spent on electric fans. Governor Crist uses fans to stay cool while giving speeches.

Four men who survived beatings at The Florida School for Boys in Marianna are calling on state and federal officials to investigate.

The men attended the segregated school in the 1950s. They said teachers and counselors at the school killed black students. Survivor Roger Kiser said he expected kids were being killed, but was too afraid to tell anybody.

“If you had the slightest frown on your face of even said the slightest word out of context, it could cause you to be sent to the White House and be viciously beaten to the point where you would become unconscious and bleed profusely down your legs and back,” said Kiser.

The men decided to call for the investigation after 32 people were found buried near the school in unmarked graves.