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Beer was on the agenda at the state capitol today. State law prohibits beer consumers from trying the beverage before buying. As Matt Horn reports – a proposal may allow people to taste before they buy, just like they can with liquor and wine.

Before you crack open a cold one, some lawmakers think consumers should know what the product tastes like. Beer distributors support the measure and say it’s a great way to promote a product.

“Tasting is a great way for consumers to know the different products in the marketplace,” said Mitch Rubin, who supports the proposal.

A State Senate Committee has approved a bill removing prohibitions on beer samplings at vendors in Florida. Susan Pitman with Drug Free Duval is against the idea. She hopes the proposal never makes it to the governor’s desk.

“You can conceivably see a mom at Publix do a beer tasting get in her car with her three kids and have some kind of serious accident on the way home,” said Pitman.

Concerns were raised over whether tastings could occur in convenience stores…something that will be worked out later.

Another proposal was temporarily postponed Thursday. The bill would allow malt beverages to be sold in 64 ounce growlers at craft breweries…consumers are already able to purchase 32 ounce or 128 ounce containers.

Senator Jack Latvala is behind the growler bill.

“I don’t see how we can in good conscious say now we’re for less regulation and then tell people down to the ounce what sizes they have to pour in their craft brewery,” said Senator Latvala.

Those in support and against the bills both agree on one thing.

“We just want to make sure that it’s done responsibly in terms of beer tasting,” said Rubin.

Similar proposals have been introduced in the Florida House.

Governor Rick Scott is asking the US Supreme Court to review two lower court rulings that prohibit Florida from drug testing welfare recipients. As Matt Horn reports, people are split on across-the-board testing.

Terry Paul worked for the State of Florida for 17 years before losing her job last May. Paul supports across-the-board drug testing for state workers and welfare recipients.

“Everybody needs to be checked, I’m willing to be checked, if I want benefits, I want help, I’ll do whatever they want me to do to get the help,” said Terry Paul.

Governor Rick Scott has continued to push mandatory drug testing. Now he is asking the US Supreme Court to weigh in.

The request comes after the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against across-the-board drug testing on the last day of 2013.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees have been fighting every step.

“The lower courts have taken the position that the people have a right to have a reasonable cause to be drug tested,” said Jeanette Wynn, AFSCME Florida Council 79, VP.

Cheryl Cullens says it’s insulting to be asked to take a drug test.

“It’s almost like assuming that everyone who needs assistance from the state is a drug attic, which is not the case,” said Cullens. “Honestly, it would be a waste of taxpayer money to go through the process when a decision has already been made about it.”

Supporters say testing will save taxpayers money in the long run.

“It needs to be automatic drug testing for new hires and random testing for anybody,” said Paul.

Welfare recipients who were drug tested before the program was stopped were testing positive at a lower rate than the general population.

Four months after launch, the state’s new 63 million dollar computer system isn’t processing claims any faster or better than the decades old system it replaced. The State Department of Economic Opportunity was grilled by lawmakers today looking for answers.

By its own admission, the state says it’s new 63 million dollar unemployment computer system is only processing 73 percent of the claims it receives each week. “Yea, it is pretty close to the performance we were having prior to go live,” says Jessie Panuccio, Economic Opportunity Ex. Dir.

Contractor Deloitte is being fined fifteen thousand dollars a day. The fines are continuing until the state is satisfied the system is working. “More than 20 high impact issues from the November 15 list still remain,” says Panuccio.

Staff is being added to handle calls. An outside contractor has been brought in to advise at a cost of more than three hundred thousand dollars. One state senator called for sanctions against the contractor Deloitte, which has been paid more than three hundred million since 2009. Sen. Tom Lee, R-Hillsborough asks, “to what extent do we have the ability to freeze them out of doing business with the state of Florida until they’ve satisfied the terms of this agreement?”

It has been four months to the day since the connect system launched. The Department’s own estimate is that between 15 and 17 thousand people who should be getting benefits aren’t. But they say that’s only a guess.

Only a guess because the agency told Senators it isn’t sure reports from the system are accurate.

Lawmakers say real people are suffering. “And people have gone for up to nine weeks without any kind of reemployment assistance,” Sen. Geraldine Thompson, R-Orlando.

The US Department of Labor is sending in a team to help the state. That team will arrive this week.

Florida is one state that doesn’t currently protect pregnant women in the workplace. As Matt Horn reports – legislation to give work place protections to those who are expecting is moving through committees in the State Capitol.

It’s illegal to fire Employees because of their race, sex, or other attributes, but not pregnancy. Florida Democratic Senator Geraldine Thompson says pregnant women facing discrimination in the workplace.

“We had one case where a woman worked in a restaurant and during her pregnancy as it advanced she was told that she was too large to work in the restaurant,” said Sen. Thompson.

Florida courts have issued different rulings on pregnancy discrimination. That’s why Senator Thompson says the law needs to be clarified this session.

“Right now there’s some confusion as to whether discrimination based on pregnancy is prohibited in the state of Florida,” said Sen. Thompson

Women Rights Activist Barbara DeVane says something should have been done years ago.

“A lot of times it’s a single woman who are trying to raise a family and that’s their economic base,” said DeVane.

Opponents have argued pregnant women are already covered under the “gender” category — like it is under federal law. Those in support of the Florida proposal say that’s not true.

“Federal law is very specific it has an amendment to the civil rights law act that adds pregnancy, no discrimination against pregnancy,” said DeVane.

The Senate Bill passed the committee unanimously. The house bill also passed its first committee today with one dissenting vote.

40 year old Spanish born Carlos Lopez-Cantera was tapped by Governor Rick Scott today to be his Lt. Governor and running mate in the 2014 re-election effort. Lopez Cantera brings legislative experience to the job and has a personality not unlike the Governors.

Governor Rick Scott first made the announcement of a new Lt. Governor on Facebook. He’s taken his time to fill the job. His first running mate, Jennifer Carroll, resigned ten months ago after being linked to an internet cafe accused of wrongdoing. In Miami, Scott said he took the right amount of time in picking the state’s first Hispanic Lt. Governor. “The economy is turning around and that is in great part to the leadership of this man, Rick Scott. I thank him for his leadership, thank him for the opportunity,” says Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Lt. Governor.

Carlos Lopez-Cantera spent eight years in the State House, rising to majority leader. He was elected property appraiser in Miami Dade County in 2012.

Governor Rick Scott ran as an outsiders to Tallahassee politics but he has picked a consummate insider to be his number two.

Senate President Don Gaetz calls Lopez Cantera a wise choice. “He learned how to coalesce widely varying opinions in order to bring a consensus to the floor and get legislation passed.” Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, Senate President.

State Sen. Tom Lee was on the first short list for the job and reportedly turned it down. “I know there were a lot of people involved in that discussion over a protracted period of time and, like I say, I’m very happy with the choice he has made,” says Sen. Tom Lee, D-Hillsborough.

Democrats called Lopez-Cantera “the poster child for what is wrong with Tallahassee today, an ultra-partisan career politician.”  Barbara Devane sued two weeks ago to try and force Scott to fill the office. She’s glad he did, but. “I don’t believe he was good on any of the issues that I represent, mainly woman.” Barbara DeVane, Democratic Activist.

State law gives Scott total discretion for the pick and no confirmation is necessary.

This post went out just after six Monday evening

 

More people called the state to complain about unwanted phone calls than anything else last year. Now unwanted texts are a growing complaint, legislation to include text messages on the Do Not Call list (has passed) or (is expected to clear) A Senate Committee.

Eighteen thousand times a year, someone calls the state to complain that they got a call from a telemarketer even though the recipient had signed up for the Do-Not-Call list. “Sometime they are frustrated,” says a complaint analyst.

The Do Not Call legislation was created long before mobile phones and texting were in use. The changing technology is bringing new complaints from people whose privacy is being invaded.

Just six hundred people called to complain about unwanted text last year, that number is growing.”

Text messages often cost users who must pay by the text. State Senator Jeff Clemons wants to add texting to the Do Not Call List. “This legislation was written years ago to protect people from this kind of behavior. Here we are in 2014, texting is more prevalent than ever so it’s important that we extend it to include text as well,” says Sen. Jeff Clemons, D-Palm Beach.

The legislation has bi-partisan support. Signing up for Do Not Call is free, but being on the list won’t do you any good unless you are willing to file a complaint when you get unwanted calls or if the legislation passes, text messages pitching a product or service. “So when we have the tools, we can take the action. We do go after them and there are fines involved. When there are multiple violations, the fines just continue to go up,” says Liz Compton, Department of Agriculture.

Once signed up, the Do-Not-Call designation if good for five years.

Eight states have smoking bans in private vehicles when a child is present. Florida lawmakers are pushing to make the Sunshine state the next on the list.

“Smoking, it’s been demonstrated as certainly harmful for people’s health,” said Senator Rob Bradley, (R) Orange Park.

Six out of every ten children are exposed to secondhand smoke. Now state lawmakers say a change is needed to protect those under 18.

“We have a responsibility, I think as a society to protect our children who cannot make these decisions about whether to smoke or not,” said Senator Bradley.

Registered Nurse Sandy Grischy says secondhand smoke is dangerous, especially for those still in the developmental stage.

“Carcinogens are those pieces that affect our DNA and that’s where the potential for cancer arises,” said Grischy

Its estimated second hand smoke is responsible for nearly 300-thousand cases of bronchitis and pneumonia annually.

Grischy is working to educate Floridians on the dangers of secondhand smoke.

“Someone who’s in a car for about an hour, if someone’s smoking a cigarette and they’re not, it’s equivalent to smoking about three cigarettes,” she said.

One loophole in the proposal: police would have to stop you for something else before you could be ticketed for smoking in a car with a child present.

Another anti-smoking bill would give local authorities the ability to ban smoking at playgrounds when a child is present.

Florida has the tightest restrictions on nurse practitioners in the country. But Concerns of a physician shortage have lawmakers looking to expand nurse practitioners responsibilities in Florida. As Matt Horn reports opponents fear expanded responsibilities will backfire for patients.

A push is underway to loosen restrictions on nurse practitioners in Florida. Under current law, nurse practitioners like Laurie Grissman are required to have a doctor’s signature before prescribing certain medications and doing procedures for patients.

“They only sign once a week, so if something happens on a Wednesday, come Thursday if something goes wrong they have to wait a week to get something signed,” said Laurie Grissman, Nurse Practitioner.

State Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda is pushing for changes to make sure all Floridians have access to quality healthcare in Florida by expanding nurse practitioners responsibility – especially as the number of physicians decrease in the state.

“We need to make sure its not a turf war that we’re thinking about, that its common sense we’re thinking about, that we’re thinking about the patients in Florida that don’t have access that need quality healthcare and need it at lowest cost,” said Rep. Rehwinkel Vasilinda.

The cost of getting doctor approval costs big bucks.

“I spend a heck of a lot of money, to be exact over 70-thousand dollars worth of money goes to signatures from physicians and not one of them ever sees my patient,” said Grissman.

State lawmakers held a workshop on loosening restrictions Friday.

Those in support say it will help Floridians gain access to healthcare facilities, while opponents say it will put more Floridians lives in danger.

“I anticipate there will be an increase in morbidity and mortality in the patient and they will get less quality care and the patient’s safety is at state,” said Dr. Linda Young, University of Florida at Jacksonville.

Physicians say they support a team approach, but not a full reform to the current laws.

Nurse practitioners have at least a Master’s Degree in Nursing, pharmacology or other specialties, and many hold a PH.D.

Alimony reform was one of the hottest topics of last year’s legislative session. Governor Rick Scott vetoed the bill sent to his desk but sponsors are ready to try again this spring.

Sometime after the wedding day toast, the glass becomes empty for half of all marriages. Legislation passed last year made sweeping changes to alimony, including ending permanent alimony. But The bill was vetoed because it would have allowed disgruntled spouses to change their existing settlements based on the new law.  Sponsor Rich Workman has a scaled back bill for this spring. ” Let’s make sure that if you lie about cohabitation, that you have to pay back the alimony that you received once you lied about living with your new spouse,” says Rep. Rich Workman, R-Brevard County.

National Organization for Women lobbyist Barbara DeVane worked night and day to successfully get last year’s bill vetoed. “Every case is different, it’s very personal, they’re very different and we shouldn’t just trade what he calls, cookie cutter approach for another bad cookie cutter approach,” says Barbara DeVane,        NOW Lobbyist.

But Workman says he’s paid attention to what the Governor said last year. “I still believe that we should be able to fix mistakes in the past. But that is not something that we will be able to pass again this year,” says Rep. Workman.

Even a scaled down version may be a tough sell.

What’s different in 2014 from last year is that this is election year and the last thing that Rick Scott needs is to make woman angry.

Rick Scott is in a fierce re-election battle. DeVane says Scott has made his position clear. “I understand that the Governor didn’t want any alimony bill on his desk this election year,” says DeVane.

The scaled down legislation is expected to be filed next week.

An estimated 60,000 Floridians experience severe seizures. As Matt Horn reports, parents are now pushing for an experimental drug using a marijuana component to save their children.

In a 2012 CNN documentary – a Colorado family started using oils from one of marijuana’s major components to help save their daughter, who suffers from severe seizures. The mother, Paige Figgy spoke to Florida lawmakers Thursday.

“We are just asking for leniency to treat these children,” said Figgy.

The oil extracted from the marijuana plant has been found to have an extremely high success rate.

“I can’t promise, we don’t make claims this will help everyone, I want people to understand that,” said Joel Stanley.

Marijuana has two major components: THC which makes people high and CBD which is already being used to help eliminate seizures for children in Colorado.

Here in Florida – the oil is illegal since it comes from the illegal plant. But those in support of the potentially life saving oil says it has no street value. Families say they’ll do whatever it takes, including moving, if it means their child has a chance of living.

”We’ve looked at options of sending my wife and daughter to reside in Colorado so my daughter can receive this treatment,” said Coy Browning.

Republicans law makers expressed support for decriminalizing this marijuana oil to help save a life.

“I don’t think this is substance abuse, I think this is using the substance wisely as God intended it for,” said Rep. Charles Van Zant, (R) Palatka.

The legislation is not related to the medical marijuana amendment currently gathering signatures in Florida.

Florida A and M University has named the Vice President of an Ivy League university to be the institutions first woman President. A start date and salary must still be worked out for the President-Elect.

FAMU’s national Alumni Association, Students, some faculty, and even a former FAMU President all made a pitch to keep interim president Larry Robinson at the helm. “And today we said thanks, but no thanks Dr. Robinson,” says Tommy Mitchell, FAMU National Alumni Association.

Robinson had pledged not to be a part of the search when he was named the interim president.

By a ten two vote, Elmira Magnum, the VP at Cornell University was named FAMU’s 11 President. Trustee Marjorie Turnbull, FAMU Trustee calls her, “a rising star in the academic world. She’s taken on major challenges at Cornell, they were having some serious budget issues.”

The President elect was also called an agent for Change. “I am a change agent, I’ve always worked for change. In order to go forward you have to change,” says Elmira Magnum, FAMU President Elect.

FAMU has been led by a woman before, but she was an interim President. Magnum is the first to be Permanently named to the top post. “I’m hoping that it will be a great example for our female students, to understand that they can achieve whatever they want to achieve,” Magnum.

No start date has been set for the new president yet but it will likely coincide with the change in semesters.

The man Magnum will replaces remains a tenured faculty member, but whether Larry Robinson stays is still an open question.

Prosecutors squared off today against the NRA and gun toting lawmakers who want to allow people to fire warning shots without being charged with a crime. Prosecutors say the legislation will do little when it comes to deciding who to prosecute.

Marissa Alexander is the poster child of what some are saying is wrong with the State’s 10-20-Life law. She was sentenced to twenty years for firing a gun in the direction of her estranged husband and children. “Something is wrong and something needs to be fixed and we think this bill does that,” says Eric Friday, Florida Carry.

Her case was front and center at a legislative hearing over whether to allow people who fear for their safety to fire warning shots or display their gun, without being charged with a crime. “Threatening to use deadly force to stop a violent attack is not aggregated assault, it is self defense. Self defense is not a crime,” says Marion Hammer, Unified Sportsmen of Florida.

Gainesville State’s Attorney finally had enough. “Please don’t characterize all of Florida’s 2000 prosecutors as being some sort of renegade, there is another side or nobody would have been arrested, nobody would have been before a court anyhow,” Bill Cervone, Prosecutor, 8th Judicial Circuit.

But the NRA says innocent people are going to jail and that the current law is sending a message that it’s better to shoot to kill than to fire a warning shot.  “I mean the message is, if you’re attack go ahead and shoot somebody and that’s the wrong message,” says Hammer.

Prosecutors were blunt, telling lawmakers if they don’t want people to get mandatory sentences for brandishing a gun then they need to take aggravated assault out of the 10-20-life statute.

The bill faces at least two more hearing in the Senate before a final vote.

Florida lawmakers are fighting to raise the state minimum wage for Florida’s lowest paid workers. As Matt Horn reports opponents say it will have a negative affect for Floridians.

These fast food workers all make slightly more than the states minimum wage of seven ninety three an hour. Manager Jason McQueen says it’s difficult to make ends meet for many, but a proposed hike in the state’s minimum wage may hurt more Floridians in the long run.

“You wouldn’t hire like two people, you might hire one person for two if you’re paying that much,” said Jason McQueen, Fast Food Manager.

Florida Democratic lawmakers are pushing to increase the minimum wage to 10 dollars 10 cents an hour – even for tipped employees.

“Our hope is of course to move people out of poverty, make folks not have to be as reliant on public assistance as they have been in the past,” said Senator Dwight Bullard, (D) Cutler Bay.

Republican lawmakers say they won’t support such the hike.

“It hurts people and it hurts opportunities for increased employment and there’s just no way you can argue anything other than that,” said Representative Neil Combee, (R) Auburndale.

A 2004 Florida constitutional amendment increases the state minimum wage each year to keep pace with inflation. This month’s increase puts Florida’s minimum wage 68 cents higher than the national wage.

The legislation would only force raises for those making the least…not everyone in the workplace.

“And unfortunately you’re right, this bill doesn’t create a solution for that,” said Senator Bullard.

Florida’s 2014 minimum wage increase adds roughly five extra dollars a week to a person’s paycheck.

On the day after Florida State University won its third national championship, fans are buying up championship gear as quickly as its coming out. As Matt Horn reports – the Noles are the hot topic across the country.

It was an emotional night for fans watching their beloved Florida State Seminoles playing and eventually beating Auburn in the final BCS National Championship game in Pasadena.

“Go Noles! Unconquered, we’re unconquered,” said Jake Yaeger.

“Nobody thought a redshirt freshman was going to go all the way, win the Heisman and the National Championship. He’s too amazing, FSU is the champions,” said Trent Loboda.

Police report few incidents after the game. The most serious was fans lining the streets near campus and setting an old Christmas tree on fire. FSU Police say six were arrested on minor charges as fans celebrated the victory.

As soon as the game clock struck zero – national champion memorabilia hit the press bringing extra money to businesses across Florida.

“This is our bread and butter. This time would normally, football season would be over and we would slow down tremendously,” said Joshua Williams, Garnet and Gold Asst. Manager.

Karen Bishop returned from cheering on the Noles Tuesday morning. Her first stop back in Tallahassee was to buy a national championship shirt. Bishop has been to all three national championship games – she says the atmosphere is electric.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Rose Bowl and we finally got there and it’s the last BCS, so it was just awesome,” said Bishop.

Jameis Winston is just the third Heisman Trophy winner to win a national championship and lead his team to an undefeated season since 1950.

Florida’s last championship came in 1999.