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Floridians fighting foreclosure delivered a letter to the Governor Monday asking for immediate help. Earlier this month a taskforce on foreclosure gave Governor Charlie Crist recommendations on how to slow the foreclosure crisis. ACORN a support group helping Floridians in danger of losing their homes attended all of the taskforce meetings. Member Carolyn Patmon said she needs help right away or she’ll lose her home.

“People in foreclosure who are going through it right now, we need some instant resolve and of course we want to make it better in the future for others, but we would like to see him do something for all Floridians that’s suffering right now,” said Patmon.

The Governor accepted the letter in person.

The fight over what Florida students will be taught about the origin of man continued Monday in Tallahassee. Last week the academic freedom bill cleared the Senate. Monday the House passed its version of the bill aimed at giving teachers the right to teach students about the holes in Darwin’s theory. Opponents of the bill say it would allow teachers to teach religion in the classroom. Governor Charlie Crist still hasn’t taken a public stance on the bill.

“I have to see what they just passed. It just happened seconds ago,” said Crist. “In all fairness I should look at it before I give an opinion.”

The legislation will go back to the Senate for a final vote before the Governor will be forced to take a stance and decide whether or not he’ll sign the bill into law.

After eight weeks of amending and tweaking budget, the legislature has a final proposal. Lawmakers are working with a budget that’s more than 3 billion dollars less than last year’s. Lawmakers are asking the Governor to uses reserves to make up part of the shortfall. They’ve decided to cut their salaries. One state agency not hit as hard as expected is the Department of Corrections. Original budget proposals eliminated more than 500 probation officers. The final version cuts about 200 positions. Florida Probation Officers Chapter President Richard Gordon said losing the positions will make the job harder on the remaining 2,500 officers.

“We’re not going to have to absorb some of those cases that those 199 officers were going to take over so that’s going to increase officers’ case loads. The more work load you have the less opportunity we have to go out in the community and do our real job,” said Gordon.

The Attorney General’s Office prepared for major cuts. The new budget doesn’t eliminate any positions, but it does slow down the opening of two new offices.

“We are committed to bringing our sex crime units to Tampa and Pensacola. We don’t know what the time frame of that will be at this point, but we are very encouraged that there seems to be a commitment from the legislature and the Governor expressing that we have a priority responsibility and we need to keep our children safe from predators. We’re going to get there we just don’t know when yet,” said Attorney General Spokesperson Sandi Copes.

The Pensacola office was scheduled to open last week. The Tampa office is slated to open May 9th. No word on when either office will open. The legislature will take a final vote on the budget Thursday, and then it will be in the Governor’s hands.

A proposed constitutional amendment would offer parents vouchers to send their kids to private schools. The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission approved an amendment Friday combining two plans. The joint plan requires school districts to spend 65 percent of money in the classroom and would allow also parents to receive state vouchers to sends their kids to private schools. ACLU spokesman Larry Spalding says the plan could create an exodus from the public school system and allow the state to provide funding to religious schools.

“Public schools are the foundation of this country and I think tax dollars ought to be restricted to funding our public schools. Private schools are great, religious schools are great, but taxpayers shouldn’t be funding those types of programs,” said Spalding.

The school voucher plan is one of seven constitution amendments the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission approved for the November Ballot.

State lawmakers are fighting over whether or not to authorize a Christian themed license plate. The “I Believe” features a cross on a stained glass window. As Whitney Ray tells us, opponents say if the state approves the tag, they could be forced to issue dozens of other religious tags.

Floridians like to wear their causes on their cars. From “Save the Manatees, to “Support Special Olympics,” it seems everyone wants to make a statement.

“We have Marine Corps on just about everything,” said Leslie Bragg.

Bragg’s husband is a retired Marine. Bragg is glad the State issued a tag that allows her to show patriotism. Representative Ed Bullard wants the State to issue a tag to help Christians pronounce their faith.

“A lot of people don’t support the Dolphins or Tampa or whatever, but the churches are packed” said Bullard.

If approved, the “I Believe” tag would be one of more than a hundred specialty tags in the state. But if you wanted the “I Believe” tag on your car, you’d have to pay an additional 25 dollars.”

The money would go to a nonprofit organization promoting faith-based education. ACLU spokesman Larry Spalding says the State should keep God off of license plates.

“I’m a Christian, but the State shouldn’t be in the business of advertising somebody’s religion,” said Spalding.

Bragg isn’t waiting on the state. She already uses her SUV as a faith-mobile.

“Between the Marine Corps and the Christian symbol someone might ask why you have a fish on your car. It’s just a chance for us to share our testimony,” said Bragg.

Lawmakers who believe will have to put the fate of the tag in the hands of two Chambers that may not have enough faith or votes to pass the plate to the Governor. The “I Believe” tag proposal is part of a larger bill to issue several new tags. The state Senate booted the Christian tag from the bill, but the House could add it back when they vote on the legislation.

As if a trip to the dentist doesn’t cause enough anxiety, now there’s concern about dangerous metals in the implants and crowns. Implants made in China and India and shipped to the U.S. aren’t strictly regulated. The first confirmed case of lead contamination in a crown happened in Ohio earlier this year. Friday the women who found the lead crown, Faye Lewis, addressed lawmakers in Tallahassee to gain support for a bill that would implement stricter regulations on dental imports.

“The way it made me feel was at first fear, concern, and then anger and that’s why I’m here, I’m angry that someone can get away with this, many somebodies obviously,” said Lewis.

The bill cleared the Senate. It’s still waiting to be heard in the House.

Nursing home workers say budget cuts will put them out of business. Lawmakers propose cutting healthcare funding by about a billion dollars. The cuts would leave Florida’s nursing homes with 165 million dollars less. Nursing homes get state funds and are required to provide about three hours of personal care a day to every patient. Florida Healthcare Association Chairman David Sylvester said if funding is cut then nursing homes couldn’t meet the three hour requirement.

“We’re faced with a choice of breaking the law perhaps and not standing where we’re suppose to by the law or putting our facilities in serious financial risk,” said Sylvester.

Sylvester wants the state to use matching federal funds to lessen the blow to nursing homes.

As one of it’s last acts, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission voted to put two amendment on the November ballot dealing with vouchers. The Florida Supreme Court found unconstitutional a state program that allowed parents to enroll their children in religious schools with partial payment from the state. One amendment eliminates a 140 year old prohibition blocking state money going to religious institutions. The second re-authorizes vouchers. The ACLU has opposed both measures.

“So the two combined essentially rips a hole in the law of separation between church and state, and says there’s nothing wrong, in fact we encourage, the use of public money to fund parochial schools, private schools, faith-based institutions,” Larry Spalding with the ACLU said.

Both proposals must be approved by voters and both require a 60 percent margin of approval.

The ink is barely dry on a proposal to swap a portion of your property taxes for a higher sales and other taxes. Groups are already talking about campaigns  supporting or opposing the idea. Voters will make the final decision this November, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, they may tired of hearing about it by the time election day rolls around.

About 25 cents of every dollar you pay in property taxes goes to schools. A powerful commission wants you to vote to swap those taxes for a higher sales taxes and maybe a services tax. A 1987 services tax was national news and saw boycotts of the state.

The tax lasted just six months. Florida Broadcasters will likely lead the revolt this time as well.

“‘87, there was a revolt once people realized it was on the books,” Pat Roberts with FBA said. “But we’re not going to let this go on the books.”

Dan Wolfe and his family were visiting the Capitol from Jacksonville. We asked about the swap.

“Consumables and those kinds of things would increase as well,” Wolfe, a medical equipment dealer, said. “So I think I would prefer to stay with what I had.”

Realtors were able to make sure home sales wouldn’t be taxed in the swap. They will lead the effort to pass it.

“We proved again with Amendment One, that we can rally the troops,” John Sebree with the FL Association of Realtors said.  “We’ll work harder than anybody. We’ll out work them all.”

If the swap passes, lawmakers will have to decide which taxes to raise or create by 2010. Mike Haridopolus expects to be Senate President.

“The numbers do not add up,” Haridopolus said. “It’s a bait-and-switch that will cost the voters big time.”

“Supporters believe the swap will be an economic stimulus and the extra money will fill the hole in the budget.”

But in the short run, the biggest economic stimulus might be the multi million dollar campaigns for and against the swap.

The governor is yet to weigh in on the full tax swap package.

The state Senate debated but delayed a vote on a bill that would require women to have an ultrasound before getting an abortion. As Whitney Ray tells us, the delay may mean the bill doesn’t have enough votes to pass.

Katie Phinazee is looking at pictures of the life inside of her. Katie was 19 when she found out she was pregnant.

“I wasn’t completely sure if I was ready to have a baby,” said Katie.

Katie had dreams of being a college professor. She considered her options, have an abortion or put her plans on hold.

“I had an ultrasound when I was 6 weeks pregnant and once I heard the heart beat, I knew I could do it from then on. Once I heard the heart there was no way, I couldn’t be a mom,” said Katie.

Katie didn’t have to have an ultrasound but Senator Carey Baker wants to require one before women can have an abortion.

“We as a state feel that women who are about to make a very important choice should have all the information available to them, and that information includes an ultrasound,” said Baker.

While seeing and hearing the baby boy inside of her, helped Katie make up her mind, she doesn’t think anyone one should be forced to have an ultrasound.

“I think it would cut down on a lot of abortions, I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do,” said Katie.

Which is the exactly the thing lawmakers expect to happen if an ultrasound is required. In 2006, almost a hundred thousand abortions were preformed in Florida.

Lawmakers want more training for 911 dispatchers. A bill named after Amber Lee, a North Port mother who was kidnapped and murdered earlier this year, passed the Senate Thursday. A woman called 911 when she spotted Lee trying to escape her abductor. 911 Operators didn’t give the report high priority and by the time police got the message, it was too late. Senator Dave Aronberg is sponsoring the bill.

“We hope that her death will lead to changes in our 911 laws and hopefully we’ll have better training and better certification so there won’t be other Amber Lee Tragedies,” said Aronberg.

The bill sets up training and certificate criteria that the 67 counties can utilize on a volunteer basis.

It’s not as heavy, but now Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow has another piece of hardware for his trophy case. Today the state Senate awarded the University of Florida quarterback with the medallion of excellence. Tebow, who apart from winning college football’s highest honor, also has a 3.6 grade point average, says he wants Florida’s youth to follow his example.

“There are a lot of role models in football, but there are not a lot of good role models. My hope and my prayer is for my self is to be a good role model that parents can say I want my kid to be like that,” said Tebow.

Tebow visited both chambers and the Governor’s office.

Mayors from around the state traveled to Tallahassee Thursday to tell lawmakers to back off. The League of Mayors addressed reporters in a crowed room at the Capitol. Mayors say there has always been a battle for control between city leaders and lawmakers. They say right now they’re losing the battle. Sunrise Mayor Steven Feren said proposed tax caps and budget cuts are the issues that are hurting every city in the state.

“If we start letting people go, if there’s anymore cuts that hurts the recession. If we stop building projects because we don’t know whether or not we have the money to build them, then there are contractors and they’re employees who aren’t working,” said Feren.

Mayors fear when Amendment One property tax breaks hit the general funds later this year, things will get worse.

Efforts to stimulate the economy won out over a fear that a tax swap would cause havoc and make schools worse. Come November, As Mike Vasilinda tells us.  voters will now decide if they would like to raise the sales tax and replace a part of their property taxes.

It may be the most powerful commission that you’ve never heard of.

With the power to send something directly to the ballot, tension was obvious on those in the audience as the commission debated whether to trade a sales tax increase for reducing property taxes.

Opponents painted a dire picture.

“We’re about to do something and put it in our constitution that’s going to wreck our economy,” Randy Miller with the FL. Retail Federation said.

Because the sales tax raised less than half the money that will be lost from property taxes, the plan could lead to a tax on everything from legal fees to dry cleaning. In the end, lower property taxes trumped fears of a massive tax hike.

“Every property tax bill, minimum 25 percent reduction? We have got to do something,” Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson said.

“I kind of think that this is saving our school system,” realtor Nancy Riley.

As passed, there are questions about whether this can really force the legislature to hold education harmless.

“We’re unsure at this point,” Andy Ford with FEA said.  “We’ve got out constitutional lawyer still looking at the issue on whether this actual is a guarantee that the legislature has to fill the hole or not.”

The plan already has bitter opposition.

“And the average homeowner is going to pay the tax when they go buy stuff,” Pat Robert with the Florida Broadcasters Association said. “They’re going to start taxing services like they did in 1987.”

The tax Swap is likely to spur the most expensive and bitter battle of this election year.

Alternative theories to evolution may soon be taught in your child’s classroom. Just two months after the Board of Education voted to incorporate the Theory of Evolution in state science curriculum, the Florida Senate says, what about alternative theories. As Whitney Ray tells us, opponents fear the bill will lead to religion in the classroom.

This fall Science teachers in Florida will be able to use the word “Evolution” for the first time when teaching the origin of man. Whether or not teachers will be able to present holes in Darwin’s Theory without being reprimanded is still being decided. The Senate passed a bill Wednesday to protect teachers who want to present evidence against evolution to their students. Bill sponsor Ronda Storms says the legislation is about free speech.

“This is a freedom of speech issue and I dare say a legitimate good scientist would not be afraid of the general criticism,” said Storms.

Senator Steve Geller says if the bill is signed into law, Florida would become the laughing stock of the nation.

“I submit to you that in 2008 it is embarrassing for us to be debating evolution,” said Geller.

Opponents say the bill would allow religion to be taught in the classroom.

“The Florida Legislature has said we want to teach creationism. We want to be able to teach that the earth was carried on the back of a turtle,” said Geller

The legislation must still clear the state House and the Governor’s Desk. Governor Charlie Crist avoided questions about the bill. He told reporters he would wait to see if the legislation made it through the chambers before he weighed in on the topic.