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35 thousand new jobs are coming to Florida. The US Census Bureau is hiring Floridians to help with the population count. The count will provide temporary relief to jobless Floridians and as Whitney Ray tells us, could help the state secure more federal dollars for schools, roads, and health care.

The US Census Bureau will spend millions to count Florida’s population, hiring people to go door to door, mail-out surveys and advertise the count. Dan Krasner, the Florida of Chamber of Commerce representative on the governor’s census committee says thousands of unemployed Floridians will be hired.

“Having more than 35-thousand census jobs and an opportunity to get some part time work or some full times positions out there is a good thing for Florida,” said Krassner.

There will be about 12-hundred positions available at each of Florida’s 32 census offices. The jobs will be temporary with an average wage of 12 dollars an hour, but it’s an uphill climb for census workers who will be fighting a battle against apathy and fear.”

In 2000, only 63 percent of Floridians responded to the survey. College students, the homeless and minorities had the lowest response. Members of The Florida Legislative Black Caucus will host census rallies to spread the word.

“We need to lead the effort to make sure that people are not afraid to fill out the form. To make sure they count every single person in their household,” said Representative Audrey Gibson.

Language barriers and a fear of government keep many people from responding.

“There are cultural barriers because maybe the country they can from where the government was not so trustworthy in terms of giving information to the government, so we have to overcome all those obstacles and make sure that people know that it is safe secure and important to be counted,” said Representative David Rivera.

Florida receives 2-thousand dollars for every person counted, with 400 billion federal dollars up for grabs.

For more information on employment with the census bureau visit http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/ or www.census.gov/roatl/www/emply.html You can also call 866-861-2010

An increase in the state’s tax credit for the entertainment industry could leave fewer Floridians looking for jobs.

The credit is intended to attract TV shows, movies, and other digital media to Florida in an effort to create jobs. If it passes, the existing credit will go up from 15 to 20 percent. State Representative Steve Precourt says the industry will also have opportunities to make that deal even sweeter.

“Now you can even increase that by 5% by filming during hurricane season and another 5% by being a family-friendly production. We want to be the family friendly capitol of moviemaking and digital media products. That gets us a potential 30% match,” said Precourt.

The tax credit wouldn’t be available until 2012, because it can’t be claimed until after the production is finished. Legislators say that means the bill won’t cost taxpayers a penny.

A bipartisan effort to clean up the legislative process is underway in Tallahassee.

State Senator Paula Dockery and Representative Adam Fetterman filed legislation to ban lawmakers from voting on or lobbying for any bill that would directly benefit them financially. Dockery says the dozens of scandals among state leaders and politicians is pushing voters to the breaking point.

“People are very angry. In 1996, when the budget was in better position, when I was first elected, people where cynical toward government but, they weren’t angry. When they are cynical they tune out. Now people are tuning in and they are demanding change. They want their elected officials to look out for them. They don’t feel that we are,” said Dockery.

The legislation has been filed three years in a row. Legislative leaders have never assigned it to a committee.

Members of the Florida Black Legislative Caucus are raising money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Today the Hispanic Caucus donated 5-thousand dollars to the cause. State Senator Gary Siplin says the donation will go into an account until enough money is raise to send members of the caucus to Haiti.

“The black caucus will be setting up an account and we will be raising further money to get to Haiti for expedient resources,” said Siplin.

Members of the black caucus plan to make the trip once relief efforts slow and it’s easier to get a flight into the country.

The state is opening its ports to expatriates and orphans and is prepared to send refugees back to Haiti. More than 5-thousand US citizens caught in last Tuesday’s earthquake have returned to the states. As Whitney Ray tells us, dozens of orphans have also landed in Orlando and Miami.

The state is sending plane loads of food and supplies to Haiti. The planes are bring back people. More than 5-thousand US citizens have already returned. So have dozens of orphans. Social workers from the Department of Children and Families are greeting the displaced.

“They haven’t slept in days. They are hungry, so the food banks have stepped up. The Red Cross is offering meals as they arrive,” said DCF Secretary George Sheldon.

The battered and bruised are also landing in Orlando and Miami. More than 100 people injured in the Haiti earthquake are being treated in Florida hospitals.

During a tour of the state’s emergency operations center Florida’s Surgeon General reached out to Haitians in their native tongue.

Governor Charlie Crist is offering up hurricanes supplies to assist in the relief effort.

“We have a lot of supplies and resources as a state because of our preparations for hurricanes. Those recourses are still available. Some of them have already been transferred over,” said Crist.

The private sector is also chipping in. JetBlue Airlines is offering free flights to qualified volunteers seeking to help the Haitians.

About a hundred small business owners are protesting a new fee increase on the blue highway exit signs.

Some of fees for businesses advertising on the Florida Department of Transportation signs have increased 400 percent, costing some business owners as much as 5-thousand dollars more. The Asian American Hotel Owners Association hosted a sit-in at the state capitol Tuesday to protest the increase. The Association’s former chairman Nash Patel says the new fees could lead to layoffs.

“We want to employ people in this country. We want to employ people in the state of Florida. It makes it difficult for us to do that, so where do we cut cost? We ultimately have to let people go because we are going to end up doing our own work,” said Patel.

The business owners are also asking for the legislature to reverse the unemployment tax increase. The tax has increased 12 fold and will cost businesses tens of thousands of dollars.

The state is offering free food, shelter, and counseling to Haitian-Americans fleeing the devastated country. An estimated 45-thousand US Citizens were in Haiti when the earthquake struck. As Whitney Ray tells us, they are flying into Florida by the hundreds.

Haitian-born Olivier Guerrier joined his fraternity brothers in a Martin Luther King Rally Monday, but his mind was on Haiti.

“I’m still in shock right now, because I can never go back, its never going to be the same,” said Olivier.

Olivier’s grandmother was one of 24-hundred Haitian-Americans flown into Florida after the earthquake struck. The state is providing food, shelter and counseling for the victims. The aid will cost millions.

The state is fronting the money with the promise that the federal government will write a reimbursement check. Although a state holiday, the Department of Children and Families has staff at airports in Orlando and Miami to help the displaced. As of noon Monday, 2,400 people were receiving aid.

“The intensity of these flights are picking up. We have at least ten flights coming in to Sanford today. These planes are carrying 100, 200 people each flight,” said Joe Follick, a DCF spokesman.

In Tallahassee, emergency workers were on the job using the latest technology to keep track of the rescue efforts. Satellite images show pictures before and after the disaster.

“This is allowing us to get a feel of what our guys are up against down there,” said Richard Butgereit, a Division of Emergency Management worker.

So far Florida first responders have joined forces with other search and rescue teams to help save 35 Haitians buried in the rubble. The majority of people flying into Florida are Haitian-Americans, although aid isn’t being denied to anyone in need regardless of legal standing.

Refugees

The direr living conditions in Haiti could spark a mass exodus to Florida. The Department of Homeland Security is asking the more than three million Haitians affected by the earthquake to stay put. The US Navy has ships in the waters surrounding Haiti to help the victims, but they’ll also keep an eye out for people fleeing the country. Interim Director of the Division of Emergency Management David Halstead says any refugee found in Florida will be feed and given medical treatment, but they will go to be sent back to Haiti.

“I think those interdicted at sea would go to Guantanamo Bay, then they would go to other federal facilities to be processed back to Haiti. I think Secretary Napolitano was very clear on that, but from a humanitarian standpoint, with our large Haitian community, we stand ready to offer what ever assistance we can,” said Halstead.

It takes three days by boat to get from Haiti to Florida, but it’s a dangerous trip and hundreds of people have died trying to make it to the US.

Young and old made the march to the state Capitol this morning to honor Martin Luther King.

People sang and carried signs honoring the civil rights leader. The march was peaceful, but Shirley-Johnson-Delgado can remember a time when demonstrators were beat for standing up for equal rights. Shirley was living in Montgomery, Alabama in the 1960’s. She says it’s important to teach kids about Dr. King’s courage.

“That’s what young people need to know that you’re not just guaranteed something, you have to work for it or someone else has to work for it for you,” said Shirley.

Speakers at today’s rally applauded the progress made in the civil rights struggle but say more needs to be done to assure equality for all Americans.

State workers could be laid off to help fill an estimated three billion dollar budget gap. There are 150-thousand state workers in Florida costing taxpayers more than seven billion dollars in salaries and benefits. State workers beat a two percent pay cut last year, but as Capital Correspondent Whitney Ray tells us, making it past the legislature’s budget ax this year will be a tougher task.

Facing a two percent pay cut in last year’s budget state workers joined forces, and convinced Governor Charlie Crist to veto the pay reduction. State workers may have won the battle, but the war rages on.

The state is facing a three billion dollar budget hole and legislative leaders are already discussing laying off state workers to help fill the gap.

Senator Dave Aronberg says layoffs aren’t the answer.

“We’ve had pay freezes for state workers for years. We’ve had furloughs for years, so to keep piling on state workers is not going to balance our budget and really it’s not fair considering they have bore a lot of the brunt from our recent budget cuts,“ said Aronberg.

State employee unions say layoffs would force more people onto the state’s unemployment rolls and cause a slow down in government assistance programs.

“We would urge our leaders not to take steps that while may seem politically popular or seem like a simplistic solution would actually do more economic damage,” said Doug Martin, with AFSCME Council 79.

But even if jobs are saved benefits like health insurance and retirement for state workers may be scaled back. Democrats and State employee unions says the state could easily find the money needed to safe the jobs by eliminating tax loopholes for luxury items like yachts, skybox tickets to sports games, and limo rentals.

As people open their hearts and their wallets to help Haitians caught in the debris and rubble, some are trying to make a profit off the tragedy. Scammers claiming to represent victims are online collecting money. Capitol Correspondent Whitney Ray tells us, what you need to look for before giving.

Clee Guerrier is trying to track down loved ones caught in the debris and chaos of the Haiti earthquake.

“I’m still in shock for the most part and right now my main concern is how are my parents dealing with it,” said Clee.

Clee is asking everyone to give what they can, in hopes that some of the aid will find its way to his family.

“What’s needed is money. Cash,” said Clee.

Technology has changed the way people give in times of great need. Donations can be collected through email, text message or social networking sites. But with new ways to donate comes new ways to rip people off. Email scams have already surfaced. Sales of internet domain names with the word Haiti in them have skyrocketed.

State Representative Yolly Roberson has family in Haiti. She’s outraged that some would try to make money off the suffering of her people.

“This is not a joking matter and if anyone would be unconscionable enough to take advantage of this situation for their own purposes, all I can say is its unfortunate,” said Roberson.

The Attorney General’s Office is asking people to find out if charities asking for money are registered with the state and to report any suspicious activity.

People can report scams to the Attorney General’s office by calling 1-866-9NO-SCAM or by visiting www.myfloridalegal.com. The AG’s office says never give cash because it’s hard to track it, be wary of solicitors, and give to proven organizations, like the American Red Cross (www.americanredcross.com).

Other reputable charities include www.volunteerflorida.com, and www.yele.org. People want to check on family members in Haiti can call1-888-407-4747

State economists say next year’s budget shortfall will reach 3 billion dollar, but the recent freeze could add another half a billion dollars to their prediction.

Early estimates show crop loss reaching into the hundreds of millions of dollars. The lost crops could force thousands to file for unemployment. 700-thousand people statewide work in agriculture. It’s Florida’s second largest industry behind tourism. Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson says the damage will ultimately impact schools, roads, and prisons.

“Depending on how bad this really gets toward the end of this narrow window we are going to be looking at, it’s going to have a big economic impact on the state and on the tax collection the state brings in to pay for schools and health care and corrections and all sorts of things,” said Bronson.

Lawmakers are also considering laying off state workers to make ends meet.

The Public Service Commission spent the day frinding through hundreds of issues in the Florida Power and Light’s rate case, voting to cut the company’s rate of return, and giving the company just 75 million of the ONE BILLION it had been seeking. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the man in charge of fighting the rate hikes for customers could lose his job… because he’s doing too good of a job.

As the Public Service Commission went through one issue after another in FPL’s billion dollar rate hike request, JR Kelly sat silently in the audience.

Kelly heads the Office of Public Counsel. Monday, he persuaded the PSC to turn down a rake hike for Progress Energy. Recently he got the PSC to reconsider a hike it had given to Tampa Electric. Now his job is on the line. State lawmakers who hire and fire the Public Counsel are re-advertising his job.

“I love this position and I think I’ve done a very good job in working for rate payers,” Kelly said.  “I hope to continue and I am very, very committed to remaining public counsel.”

Kelly has saved electric customers millions. State Senator Mike Fasano won’t say his successes have put his job in jeopardy…but

“Perception is everything,” Fasano said.

Fasano is one of the few coming to Kelly’s defense.

“I believe he needs to stay,” Fasano said.  “I don’t think there should be any other choices out there. There should be no solicitation of anyone else applying for the job.”

By the time the election cycle is over, FPL representatives here are expected to give the Republican party over 5 million dollars and the Democrats about half that much.

And if Kelly doesn’t keep his job, it would be a clear signal to whomever replaces him that protecting consumers doesn’t lead to job security.

A recent string of sinkholes in Central Florida has thousands of Floridians worried about their homes. Many Floridians dropped their sinkhole coverage in 2008 when state legislation removed mandatory coverage for all. As Whitney Ray tells us, people without extra coverage are still protected if their home falls into the ground.

About a dozen sinkholes have formed in Central Florida. The phenomena are happening just two years after the state eliminated a mandate for sinkhole coverage, which insurers says is leaving many out of luck.

“Now you are seeing that exposure be realized by some of those folks who opted out of that coverage and really they indeed need it in those more hazardous areas,” said Jeff Grady with the Florida Association of Independent Agents

Homeowners with extra coverage can make claims on cracks in their driveways and foundation problems caused by the sinking ground.

But homeowners without sinkhole coverage have no need to panic because if there house does fall into the ground they can still file a claim. State Senator Mike Fasano led the charge to eliminate the mandate because many people couldn’t pay for it.

“Those who couldn’t afford that 300 percent increase, in fact dropped their coverage completely of homeowners insurance because they couldn’t afford it now they are able to get some sort of insurance. They are going to have to take a little more risk, but at least they have something than nothing like they had before,” said Fasano.

But for people who are now interested in more comprehensive coverage buying a sinkhole policy could become more expensive.

Governor Charlie Crist says his straw poll loss to Marco Rubio in a Pinellas County Republican Party straw poll is meaningless. The 106 to 54 vote has no force being it, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the vote is unlikely to have much effect when Republicans vote in an August primary.

Charlie Crist took time to have his picture taken with veterans following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.  It is classic Crist, working a crowd. These veterans are likely voters in the August primary and they are not going to forget.

Prior to the meeting, Crist downplayed his 106 to 54 loss to Marco Rubio in his home county’s GOP executive committee.

“It’s such a small number compared to the electorate,” Crist said.

Political scientists agree. They say it would be a mistake to think Executive committee votes like this one mean Crist is in trouble.

“Remember who these folks are,” FSU political scientist Bob Crew said. “They are an unrepresentative sample of the voters. These are party activists.”

Still, there is perception.

In an effort to stem some of the criticism he’s been getting, Governor Charlie Crist sought advice from the only other man who has run for the Senate in recent years while still governor, and that’s Bob Graham.

And the persistent rumor that he would leave the Senate race for a safe re-election bid is nonsense he says.

“I’m being the best governor that I can and I’m laser-focused on it,” Crist said.

What about the idea of switching out of the senate race and continuing to be the best governor you can?

“No change,” he said.

And then there is money.  Political scientists say with millions more than his opponent, he’ll be tough to beat.

Governor Crist is yet to report how much money he raised in the last three months, but he is already leading challenger Marco Rubio by a 6 to 1 margin in cash.

State officials continue to caution people to be vaccinated against swine and seasonal flu.  The number of cases has been tapering off, but officials caution there could be yet a third wave of infection through April. And for the first time in months, state health doctors are reporting good news.

“Last week, Florida reported no laboratory confirmed deaths from H1N1 flu,” Florida Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros said. “This is the very first time, in many months, that we have been able to report this very good news. While this is encouraging information, we must continue to fight against the flu and we ask all Floridians to consider getting their H1N seasonal flu vaccinations.

Vaccines supplies for both seasonal and swine flu are good and can be obtained at county heath offices.