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Distaste is growing for the most controversial bill being debated this legislative session in Tallahassee. Some Republican lawmakers are now beginning to turn their backs on Senate Bill six, which challenges teacher tenure and restricts union participation. As Whitney Ray tells us, fueling the revolt is a measure in the legislation forcing schools to spend 900 million dollars on new tests.

Halfway through a campaign of protests, letters and committee stops, teachers are beginning to influence the process.

“We are reaching out our hands, but they have to meet us halfway,” said Amanda Babcock, a 5th grade teacher.

Hundreds of thousands of letters asking lawmakers to nix Senate Bill Six are flooding offices. Democratic opposition has been strong from the get-go now some Republicans are bucking leadership and joining their ranks.

“I think leadership is the ones who are catching heat now, because they realize that some of us are compassionate Republicans and they do what’s right,” said Representative Julio Robaina.

The legislation eliminates tenure, bases pay on test scores, and bans new teachers from collective bargaining. It also forces schools to spend five percent of their budgets on developing new tests.

“Senate bill six does not give us any additional dollars. It’s a 900 million dollar mandate on schools statewide,” said Wayne Blanton, The President of the Florida School Boards Association.

The spending mandate would kick in 2011. Then in 2014, the five percent would be used to pay teachers based on their students’ test scores.

Governor Charlie Crist has received five thousand emails, and two-thousand phone calls from people opposing the legislation.

“As a former commissioner of education I like the part of trying to have merit pay, I just hope we do it in the right way,” said Crist.

It’s unlikely enough House members will vote against the bill to defeat the measure… but if enough voters tell Crist a yes on six is a no on his US Senate campaign, a veto could be in the works.

After three years of trying and two failed compacts, the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe have a 5-year billion-dollar deal on casino gambling. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the Tribe will get banked card games such as blackjack in five locations for 5 years, while the state considers other options.

In a complex deal, the Seminole Tribe gets to keep slot machines at all 7 reservations for the next twenty years. Nat sot.. But it only gets to deal blackjack at 5 locations for the next five years. The deal caps decades of negotiations and three years of serious talks that produced two failed compacts. Tribal Chairman Billy Cypress found humor in the end product.

“I see why Obama had a tough time passing his health bill; it’s similar to that for me,” Cypress said.

Florida gets to keep the 400 million-plus it has already put in the bank and then it will get a billion more over the next 5 years.

“It is my hope that these much needed funds will find their way to the classrooms,” Governor Charlie Crist said.

The compact also sets the stage for Florida to consider authorizing high-stakes casinos over the next five years.

“I think it’s a good deal for Florida, for 2010,” Sen. Dennis Jones said. “We’ll ride it out five years and see where it goes. Certainly we’ve been at an impasse for 20 years.”

“The tribal council is set to approve the deal on Wednesday morning; the Senate on Thursday. So this deal could be done by early next week.

The deal splits dog and horse tracks. South Florida facilities with slots, like it. But everyone else says it will hurt business.

“Without a product, an additional product, for our customers, it’s going to be hard to stay in business,” Richard Winning, with Derby Lane Dog Track, said.

Traditional parimutuels do get 300 yet-to-be-determined bingo-style machines, but nothing like the full slots they have wanted.

The deal helps lawmakers avoid some painful cuts in the state budget and brings the house and senate spending plans closer to resolution.

There is a war at the state capitol over the future of teacher tenure, merit pay and who controls local school budgets. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the fight pits two of the state’s most powerful interests against each other with two different visions of education.

Florida Teachers hit the airwaves first.

Then the Chamber of Commerce fired back.

“Unfortunately, the union message, across the state, needed to be countered,” Mark Wilson, President of the Florida Chamber of Commerce said.

Teachers flocked to the Capitol Monday, angry a bill that they believe would end their tenure and tie their pay to student performance.

“It’s atrocious,” Carol Cleveland, a Columbia County teacher, said. “It’s taking away all the rights from teachers.”

Then waited more than an hour for a committee room to open.

Amanda Babcock came from St. Lucie County.

“They need to ask us what we need, ask our input and let us help and work together,”  Babcock, a 5th grade teacher, said.

This is the first time that anyone in 30 years can remember the legislature scheduling an 8-hour hearing.

The legislation also has the state school boards up in arms because it requires them to set aside five percent of their local budgets for merit pay.

“Some districts would have to move money, that they’re ordinarily using for other things, utilities, transportation, teacher salaries,” Wayne Blanton, with the Florida School Boards Association, said. “It’s all got to go to this one program.”

The sponsor says his bill is misunderstood.

“It does not eliminate tenure for current teachers. It does not eliminate collective bargaining,” Rep. John Legg (R-Port Richey) said.

Many of the changes don’t take place until 2014. Plenty of time, say sponsors, to fix any problems.

There are also two dueling websites telling stories as different as night and day.  The teachers’ story is on Facebook and at www.makeourschoolsapriority.org and the chamber’s side of the story is at www.classroomflorida.com.

A program providing prenatal care and education to expectant mothers is being cut completely in the House budget. Florida Healthy Start was founded in 1992. Since its inception, the state’s infant mortality rate has steadily dropped. As Whitney Ray tells us, the program saves the state money by preventing costly premature births and helping families stay together after the loss of a child.

Tad David lost his daughter almost eight years ago.

“She was born Sept 23rd, 2002. She wasn’t due until Jan. 16th, of 2003,” said Tad.

Soon after the tragedy, Tad found Healthy Start, a program assisting families with all aspects of childcare. Healthy Start counselors helped his family cope with the loss.

“A grief like that can tear a family apart,” said Tad.

Florida Healthy Start was founded in 1992. The state’s 32 coalitions provide prenatal counseling, education and basic supplies like vitamins and diapers to parents of all ages and incomes.

“Last year the program was able to service nearly 200-thousand mothers and babies statewide, and all with just four million state dollars. But now their funding is on the chopping block. The Florida House is nixing the program from its version of the budget. Representative David Murzin says it’s all part of the process.

“I don’t think anybody here believes that the end will be no funding for the program, but we do have to make tough choices,” said Murzin.

Christine Drepps is filing through a grab bag of brochures and supplies that will be given to a soon to be mother. She says the state will pay now for healthy births or it will pay later for sick babies.

“The cost of not having a healthy baby is astronomical. A stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit can be anywhere from 50-thousand to a million dollars,” said Drepps.

That’s a cost taxpayers have to pick up, if the mother doesn’t have insurance.

Florida TaxWatch, a government oversight group, claims a major storm could bankrupt the state. TaxWatch released a report today laying out the financial risk Citizens Property Insurance and the catastrophe fund face. State owned Citizens insures a million high risk properties most public insurers won’t touch. Representative Bill Proctor is concerned that efforts to keep insurance rates low has left the state facing a crisis it can’t afford

“Our present policy, as far as I can understand it, seems to focus entirely on cost – low cost insurance. Low cost insurance may be the most expensive type a person can buy, particularly if that claim cannot be paid. Based on the statistics and evidence we looked at last summer it’s reasonably clear that Florida could have claims it could not pay,” said Proctor.

Citizens was supposed to be a last resort for homeowners. Florida Tax Watch wants to see Citizens return to that again by raising rates, shedding existing policies, and refusing to write new policies.

Governor Charlie Crist is asking the feds to investigate former state GOP Chairman Jim Greer. Crist sent a letter to US Attorney Thomas Kirwin today calling for an investigation into Greer’s financial dealings with the party. FDLE is already investigating Greer for funneling party contributions to a consulting company he owned. Greer resigned earlier this year after news that as many as 60 Republican lawmakers had party issued credit cards and some were making personal charges. Greer was hand picked by Crist to take over the RPOF in 2007.

College tuition in Florida will likely go up 15 percent next year, and the Bright Futures scholarship program might not pick up the difference. The Senate approved changes to Bright Futures this week to save money and as Whitney Ray tells us, students are not happy.

Abby Fishburn wouldn’t be at Florida State University if it wasn’t for her Bright Futures Scholarship.

“It’s why I stayed in Florida to go to school,” said Abby.

But now lawmakers want to renege on the promise of a full free ride, voting for a tuition increase that won’t be covered by Bright Futures. The change could leave Abby looking money to cover a 15 percent tuition hike.

“I probably will have to loans then because I’m paying for school myself. So that will make a big difference,” said Abby.

It’s the same story for Carrington Gadson.

“It’s my means of income. It pays for my classes. My parents help out,” said Carrington.

Not covering the tuition increase isn’t the only blow to the Bright Futures program.

The Senate plan also reduces the number of years a student has to use the scholarship, raises the standards to qualify, and only allows Bright Futures to be used for required courses.

State Senator Evelyn Lynn is pushing the changes. She says the scholarship program has gotten too big.

“If we don’t’ make these changes to save money then we won’t have bright futures at all,” said Lynn.

Reducing Bright Futures reach is expected to save the state 150 million dollars; money the Senate wants to use to boost higher education spending.

A line has been drawn in the sand and opponents of offshore oil drilling are shocked about who is on the other side.

Earlier this week President Barack Obama announced his support of increased drilling off Florida’s coast. The news shocked about a dozen anti-drilling protesters who decided to gather outside the state capitol today. Judson Parker organized the event.

“President Obama, during his campaign, made a promise to the state of Florida that as long as he was president, he would not support oil companies coming and drilling off the coast of Florida. This is a big re-nig on Obama’s part and the environmental community is very upset about it.”

There’s currently no state legislation to allow drilling in state waters, which are between three and ten miles off the coast. But last year a drilling bill was snuck in late during the session. The group expected 75 people for the protest; about a dozen showed up.

State employee retirements are being used as a bargaining chip between House and Senate budget negotiators in Tallahassee. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, hundreds of thousands of retirees could lose as much as one hundred and fifty dollars a month.

Roy McCloud spent more than 30 years working for the state. He receives five dollars for each year, or 150 dollars a month as a subsidy to pay for health insurance.

Without the cash, Roy worries how some retirees will get by.

“It’s just a ridiculous way, I think, after a person works for the state of Florida all their life and tries to retire on state retirement, which is difficult for thousands of people,” McCloud said.

On Thursday, some Republican House members bucked their leadership and voted with Democrats to save the subsidy.

Victory was short lived. Arms were twisted, a new vote was taken.

Roy isn’t surprised.

“It’s a typical government issue, the way they always work,” McCloud said.

To some retirees, it may mean the difference between buying a new car or giving gifts to their grandkids. But to others, they may have to choose between paying their electric bill or eating.

Democrats call the move a promise broken. Republicans says the cuts are a necessary evil to balance the budget, all the while conceding the subsidies may be restored.

“People have to remember that session is a nine-week process. We’re in the fifth inning of a nine-inning game,” Rep. Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel) said. “We have a lot of ball to be played, so to speak.”

But in the meantime, several hundred thousand retired state workers are being left in limbo, not knowing how much they’ll have to make ends meet come July first.

House Democrats are asking the State Senate to fight to keep the health insurance subsidy cut out of the final budget.

A spokesman for Governor Charlie Crist will not confirm whether the Governor has received a letter from a domestic-based extremist group demanding he resign within 3 days. At least 30 Governor are said to have received the letter. A spokesman for Governor Crist says “ We are aware of the threat and we will work to continue to insure the safety of the Governor and First Family.” The states official policy is that neither the Governor, his office or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will comment on specific security matters.

If you gave to the Republican Party of Florida last year, your contribution may have been used to fatten the pockets of the former chairman. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating Former RPOF Chairman Jim Greer for reportedly pumping party money into a consultant business he owned. As Whitney Ray tells us, Republican lawmakers are trying to distance themselves from the controversy.

On the day former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer announced his plans to resign, a paper shredding truck was parked outside party headquarters.

Three months later Greer finds himself the target of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, which could lead to embezzlement charges. Republican lawmakers are calling the news disheartening.

“Certainly a little bit disturbed by some of the articles I’ve read and some of the comments I’ve seen,” said Representative Will Weatherford.

But party leaders aren’t talking claiming they don’t want to jeopardize the investigation.

The IRS isn’t saying whether or not it’s reviewing the party’s finances. Calls for a federal investigation began last year once news broke of GOP lawmakers using party issued credit cards on everything from fancy dinners to overseas trips.

The Florida Democrats continue to push the issue.

“Not only did they break IRS laws, that say the money at the political party has to be used to further the cause of the party, but they also clearly were in violation of Florida’s racketeering statutes,” said Eric Jotkoff, Florida Dems Spokesman.

Greer is fighting back, planning to file suit against the party claiming it violated a severance agreement in which the party agreed to praise its former leader and affirm that all of his financial dealings were on the up and up. The Republican Party claims the severance agreement was never finalized.

It’s April Fools Day at the capitol, but there were very few laughs from House lawmakers charged with balancing the state budget.

The House passed its spending plan relying on stimulus dollars, a tuition hike, and trust fund raids to make up for three billion dollars in lost revenue. Representative David Rivera says the House tried to fund the necessities.

“We made sure particularly education and health care, programs that really protect everyday people’s lives, we’ve protected that to the greatest extent possible, and we hope that going forward, as we deliberate with out senate colleagues, we will be able to continue to protect those important areas,” said Rivera.

The budget passed on a party line vote. House Democrat Ron Saunders hopes the Senate heard his party’s objections.

“Some of these bad things are not in the Senate bill, that’s why some Democrats in the Senate voted for the Senate bill because some of these bad things are not in the Senate side, so we are trying to point out some of these bad things that we did not get a lot of input on and hopefully the Senate will listen and in conference they’ll eliminate the cut of the healthy start coalition, they’ll eliminate the raid on the retirement benefits,” said Saunders.

Legislation to cut retirement benefits to save the state 200 million dollars was originally defeated when 15 Republicans stood with the House Democrats to vote down the measure. The House then took a short break, reconvened and used legislative rules to jam the bill through. If the Senate agrees to the cut, thousands of retired state workers will have to rework their retirement plans.

A bill to protect students who prayer at school functions like football games is gaining traction in the state House.

This comes after complaints about a new Santa Rosa County policy that keeps teachers from participating in student-led prayer. Supporters of the prayer-in-schools bill say students have a right to free speech. But opponents worry that the bill could violate separation of church and state or marginalize minority religions. Representative Brad Drake, the bill’s sponsor, says students should be allowed to speak freely about their religious views.

“People should not infringe on their right to be able to exercise free speech, whether it includes a pray or some other desire to have an inspirational message or utter an inspirational message to their colleagues,” said Drake.

The bill would not allow prayers in classrooms. And school officials would be prohibited from leading prayers.

Massive changes to the way the state employs and pays teachers are steam rolling through the state legislature as teachers are saying stop. Legislation would end tenure as it is known and also create a system of paying teachers based on student performance. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, lawmakers are trying to keep dissent at a minimum.

Pinellas County Science teacher Julie Clark is spending part of her spring break holding protest signs in from of the state Capitol. She is angry and nervous about changes lawmakers are pushing that could change how she will be hired or fired.

“It’s going to cause me to start teaching to tests because my performance is going to be based on learning gains of students, most of whom I have no control over,” Clark said.

Liz Ballard came on her own from Sarasota. She was button-holing a state senator on the Capitol’s fourth floor.

“Standardized tests that your students take are going to dictate whether or not you have a job or whether or not you get a certain amount of pay and it’s just scary,” Ballard, a P.E. teacher, said.

The bill was pushed through the Senate before teachers could get organized.

Begun just over two weeks ago, this Facebook page now has over 18 thousand fans.

House members are being told not to allow any changes to the bill once it comes to the House floor.

This meeting for aides to Republican House members  was supposed to be closed until our camera showed up. Inside, it was made clear that the House leadership would like to keep the education bill from being changed. That way it would not have to go back to the Senate, and could go directly to the governor.

It’s a message Rep. Eric Eisnaugle hasn’t gotten yet.

“Well, I haven’t been told that,” Eisnaugle said.

Time is on the teachers’ side. The longer they have, the more opposition and doubts they can generate. And that is something legislative leaders would like to avoid.

The Governor’s Office has received more than 400 emails and letters asking him to Nix SB Six.

One year after state lawmakers jacked up the price you pay to fish, register your car, and buy a Florida driver’s license… They’re looking to lower the price. Most of the fees wouldn’t be reduced as much as they were originally raised, but As Whitney Ray tells us, lowering the fees would give those lawmakers seeking higher office something to hang their hats on this campaign season.

The rush to beat dreaded drivers license and tag renewal fee increases before the September 1st deadline overloaded DMV computers.

“I tried this morning and last night and it said it was down for repairs,” said Annett Hackett.

Some fees doubled. Others went up slightly. But for those people who renewed or registered after the deadline… here’s a slap in the face. State lawmakers now want to lower the fees they just raised.

Senator Dave Aronberg voted against the fee increases last year.

“Everyone is affected by it so there’s an attempt this year to undo it and I think it’s a good thing,” said Aronberg.

Not all the fees will go down as much as they were raised. Drivers would save about six dollars renewing their vehicle tags depending on the weight of the car. Renewing a drivers license would go down about 15 dollars.

For the first time in state history…. Lawmakers imposed a fee on people fishing from shore. Senator Carey Baker is now asking for the state to pick up the tab.

“That was a federal requirement so we had no choice, what we don have a choice about whether we are going to charge our citizens or not,” said Baker.

Reducing the fees will allow the 20 plus lawmakers seeking a higher office to brag about saving fisherman and drivers money but only if voters don’t remember who raised the fees in the beginning.

The fee increase were expected to bring in a billion dollars a year, The roll-backs would cut a third out of that number leaving lawmaker looking in other places for the money.