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Florida’s voting problems were thrust into the worldwide spotlight last night during the President’s State of the Union Address. As Whitney Ray tells us, just hours after a 102 year old Miami woman was honored for waiting three hours to vote, state lawmakers in Florida moved on a bill to fix Florida’s voting problems.

She waited patiently as the president spoke; a virtue that served the 102 year well while trying to vote last November.

“She was told the wait to vote might be six hours. As time ticked by, her concern was not with her tired body or aching feet, but whether folks like her would get to have their say,” The President said.

Desline Victor was honored during the President’s State of the Union Address for her dedication to the voting process.

“The crowd erupted in cheers when she was finally able to put on a sticker that read ‘I voted,’” The President added.

A long ballot and a cut in early voting days are to blame for Desiline’s wait. The problems were created by a change in state law.

Just hours after the president’s speech, a house committee here at the state capitol passed a reform bill. It would allow elections supervisors to restore early voting to 14 days on a county-by-county basis.

The Florida Senate also has an elections bill. In a one-on-one interview with Senate President Don Gaetz I asked how his chamber plans to fix the voting problems.

“Most counties in Florida had a flawless election and some just keep on having flawed elections,” said Gaetz.

Gaetz says there isn’t a one size fits all fix.

“Not everybody has the same problems. Early voting problems in Miami-Dade are very, very different than early voting problems in Holmes County,” said Gaetz.

With both chambers pushing election reform and the governor changing his tune on early voting, Florida’s next election will likely look a lot different.

The bill passed by the House Ethics and Elections Subcommittee today would also limit ballot questions to 75 words.

A series of websites set up to pair financially strapped women with rich old men has caught the ire of Florida lawmakers.

State Senator Darren Soto sent a letter to Florida’s Attorney General today… asking her to shut down the Sugar Daddy websites. One of the websites is called seekingarrangment.com. It claims to have registered millions of women seeking a sugar daddy, 12 girls for each guy. Soto says it’s a prostitution forum.

“The site bills itself to facilitate arraignments between wealthier older adults and college students who are hard up for money and it just creates an awful scenario that we don’t need here in Florida,” said Soto.

The website has garnered nationwide attention in recent weeks. Reportedly college girls are using the site as a way to pay rising tuition costs. http://www.seekingarrangement.com/joinfree.php

Divorcées may want to pay attention to Tallahassee over the next few months.

This afternoon a House committee passed a bill reforming alimony. The bill would give judges the option to end lifetime alimony, reexamine current alimony arrangements and set up guidelines for future divorce cases. Thomas Duggar with the Florida Bar calls the legislation a nightmare for divorcees and kids from broken families.

“It is very vindictive in my opinion. It is very hurtful for Florida families, especially for women who stay at home and raise kids or for men who stay at home and raise kids,” said Duggar.

The bill was filed last year, but lacked the support needed to become law.

Florida is one of only two states banning nurse practitioners from writing prescriptions for powerful drugs. As Whitney Ray tells us, the skilled nurses are also blocked from running emergency mental health checks on patients they think are homicidal.

Florida nurse practitioners are walking the state capitol warning lawmakers of an impending problem.

Tuesday, they visited Representative Daphne Campbell. The Miami Democrat sponsored a bill to allow them to perform emergency mental health checks on potentially dangerous patients.

“The patient says I want to commit suicide or homicide. You call the police. By the time police arrive that patient could kill themselves or kill the nurse,” said Campbell.

The nurses also want the authority to write prescriptions for controlled substances.

“The problem is we are not allowed to obtain a DEA license in Florida,” said Susan Lynch with the Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners.

“The vast majority of the meds that I’m restricted from prescribing, which by my training I am trained to prescribe, I can’t do,” said Patricia Wahrenberger a nurse practitioners from Orlando.

“The medications that are under the DEA controlled licensure would be things like testosterone for hormonal problems. Cough medicine like Codeine,” said Lynch.

Florida and Alabama are the only states in the union that don’t allow nurse practitioners to write prescriptions for controlled substances. Nurses rally here year after year to change the law. This year could be different.

The nurses say the aging baby boomer population and the insurance requirements under Obamacare will increase demand.

“We have a physician shortage,” Lynch said.

They say the best way to meet the demand is to give them more authority.

Florida TaxWatch and other fiscal groups support the changes. They say the state, hospitals and patients could save millions. Legislative leaders remain skeptical. Senate President Don Gaetz says the best way to fix the demand problem is to stop frivolous medical lawsuits so more doctors will want to work in Florida.

Most everyone at the state capitol has an opinion about what the President should says in his State of Union Address tonight. Governor Rick Scott wants to hear more about the President’s plan to create jobs.

“I hope it will be about jobs and education for Florida Families. We made a lot of progress as you know the last few years. The unemployment rate has come down faster than any state but one. We are putting the money in education, but we need the federal government to focus the same way,” said Scott.

The President of Florida’s small business association wants to hear about regulations and if any will be lifted.

“Let’s get this second term off right. Let’s start some dialogue with the business community, particularly small business owners, so we can take a look at the impact some of these regulations have on small businesses on Main Street,” said NFIB President Bill Herrle.

Senate President Don Gaetz would like to hear the President reach across the isle and talk about Democrats and Republicans working together. But even if the president does Gaetz won’t be listening, at least not as it happens.

Gaetz: I’ll be with Speaker (Will) Weatherford at an Episcopal school tonight talking about education and choices. So I hope to hear Speaker Weatherford tonight.

Reporter: So you’re not going to listen to the State of the Union?

Gaetz: I’ll listen to a replay of it because I’m interested in what the president has to say.

At least one Floridian will hear the speech lived and in person. A 102 year old Miami resident, who reportedly waited three hours to vote in the November election, will be recognized for her determination.

Representatives from Florida’s 28 private colleges and universities are asking state lawmakers to protect higher education options. A group of presidents and students from the schools were at the state capitol today meeting with legislative leaders and the governor. Ed Moore, President of Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, says the trip to Tallahassee allowed them take their message straight to policymakers.

“The critical issue for us is the Florida Resident Access Grant. It’s a small grant that enables students to have a choice in higher education to help finance their education and make access possible,” Moore said.

The grant provides tuition assistance to Florida students who want to attend a private, not for profit universities.

By now you may have heard how expensive Obamacare could be but now we are hearing it could actually save the state money. As Whitney Ray tells us, a Georgetown researcher claims the Medicaid expansion optional under Obamacare could save Florida 100 million dollars a year.

A multi-billion dollar decision will be made at the state capitol this spring. The legislature must choose whether or not to expand Medicaid. The expansion would allow an extra million people to claim benefits.

But the people in charge of making the decision are the same folks who tried to stop Obamacare in court. They lost the larger lawsuit, but were able to make the Medicaid expansion optional for each state.

Since then Governor Rick Scott has been building a case against the expansion predicting state costs as high as 26 billion dollars.

State lawmakers heard testimony to the contrary Monday. Georgetown Researcher Joan Alker says Florida could actually save money by expanding Medicaid.

“It would be much better to give these people preventative and primary care upfront. They won’t have to bankrupt themselves and hopefully they won’t get as sick and wind up in the hospital,” said Alker.

The savings could be as high as 100 million dollars a year. The predication is based on the expansion offsetting other state costs like mental heath services, substance abuse programs and emergency room visits.

“We are spending some taxpayer dollars on these folks already so we think the state should take a careful look at it’s budget see where these costs are today, pick up the federal dollars to cover those folks primarily at federal cost and give them better care on the bargain,” said Alker.

The study fingers prevention as the main source of the costs savings. Still opponents aren’t ready to bite just yet. They say even though Florida may save money, the federal government will still have to borrow to pay the state.

Florida has the highest percentage of uninsured adults in the nation. Counting children there are nearly four million people in the state without coverage.

Florida leads the nation in online learning offering more degrees over the internet than any other state in the union. As Whitney Ray tells us, education experts met in Tallahassee today to discuss the future of online education.

College Junior DeJa-Nique Frierson hates history.

“I loss interest really, really quickly because I don’t like history,” said DeJa-Nique.

To better suit her learning style she took the course online.

“I’m able to work at my own pace,” said DeJa-Nique.

Four out of 10 college students in Florida have taken at least one class over the internet. Statewide there are more than six-hundred degrees offered completely online.

“Florida is actually a national leader in online learning,” said Randy Goin with the University System’s Board of Governors.

Friday the Florida Higher Education Coordinating Council discussed options for expanding online learning. A previous plan to create a standalone state university for all online classes was scrapped.

“Folks are actually now less interested in the idea of a standalone, brand new, from scratch online university,” said Goin.

The council could recommend appointing one school to take the led in online learning. Education Commissioner Tony Bennett says any type of expansion would save tax dollars.

“This is really an educational economics question in many ways and I think there is probably no better way to do it,” said Bennett.

But not all classes work well online.

Reporter: You took PE online?
DeJa-Nique: Yes
Reporter: How do you do that?
DeJa-Nique: It’s easy.”
Reporter: Did you have to do any exercises?
DeJa-Nique: I didn’t “have to do it.”

Before the state moves forward with the expansion, the legislature and Board of Governors will further study their options. The University System’s Board of Governors will meet in Gainesville next Wednesday to continue the conversation. The issue will also be brought before state lawmakers.

State lawmakers will soon have to decide whether or not Florida will participate in the Medicaid expansion made optional under Obamacare.

Today the Florida Hospital Association released a poll claiming six out of 10 voters want the expansion. Six hundred Florida voters were surveyed for the poll. FHA President Bruce Rueben says if lawmakers pass on the Medicaid dollars they’ll just go to another state.

“The fact that we will pay for this regardless of whether we accept the coverage means we will have an even bigger amount of uncompensated care,” said Rueben.

The Federal Government is promising to pick up 90 percent of the expansion cost through the first 10 years. Governor Rick Scott and state lawmakers worry who will pay for the program once the federal promise expires.

For the first time since the death penalty was reinstated Florida lawmakers voted on a bill to repeal capital punishment. As Whitney Ray tells us, the plan was to abolish the death penalty, but the effort could be used to try to speed up executions.

Religious leaders, human rights advocates and Democrats took turns railing against the death penalty Thursday.

“The death penalty is a barbaric act and we need to abolish it,” said Juvais Harrington with the NAACP.

Many have fought the battle for decades but what’s different now is legislation to end capital punishment was promised a hearing.

“There is no proof that the death penalty deters crime,” said Bill Sponsor Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel-Vasilinda.

The next obstacle for supporters is getting the bill past Representative Matt Gaetz.

Reporter: Do you ever see a day when we don’t need the death penalty?
Gaetz: No. I think the death penalty is important for public safety.

Gaetz allowed the bill to be heard in his committee despite his opposition. Supporters of the legislation say he may have other motives.

Reporter: By hearing the bill to eliminate the death penalty, the death penalty will be sped up?

Gaetz: My view is before we get to the business of reforming the death penalty, it’s a threshold question as to whether or not Florida should have a death penalty at all.

Florida executes two inmates a year and 400 people are currently on death row.

“If we are not going to get rid of it, let’s at least fix it so we don’t have this blight on our justice system where we have people hanging around 25 or 30 years without any end in sight,” said Gaetz.

Regardless of the outcome, opponents of the death penalty say the fact the bill is being heard is evidence they’re gaining ground. The bill was heavily defeated this afternoon, but Gaetz says he’s open to hearing more ideas on how to reform the current system.

A Floridian has been picked to head a nationwide education policy council.

Dr. Ed Moore is the current president of Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. He’s a member of the Florida Higher Education Coordinating Council. This week he was selected to Chair the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities State Executives. Moore says chairing the board will allow him to share Florida’s policies with other states and bring fresh ideas to Tallahassee.

“What happens here and what we do here in Florida is respected around the country and sometimes they want to copy us and sometime they do some things we want to copy here,” said Moore.

The board meets in Washington, which means Moore will be splitting time between DC and Tallahassee.

The NAACP and Florida Democrats are joining forces to reform the way Florida deals with minors who committee crimes.

The groups held a joint news conference today at the state capitol. They say too many teens are being locked up and in some cases the kids are being jailed in adult prisons. A teen who goes by JP spoke out at the conference. He was jailed in Polk County and says he was beaten by inmates and pepper sprayed by guards.

“They had came and blindsided me and I got hit in the face. Seven of them came from behind me. I got slammed. Beat up real bad. After that I got pepper sprayed,” said JP.

Democrats are calling for lighter penalties for teens who committee misdemeanors.

State lawmakers may once again look to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program to save money. As Whitney Ray tells us, an influential tax group is asking lawmakers to make the scholarship harder to get to save the state 55 million dollars.

FSU Junior Wesley Mellone is on track to graduate debt free.

“With my parents funding my rent only and I’ll pay for my food, I’m able to graduate without any loans,” said Wesley.

He credits the Bright Future’s Scholarship program for his financial fortune.

“Bright Futures and a combination of other scholarships pay my tuition completely,” said Wesley.

Every year Wesley has been at FSU Bright Futures has been scaled back. The program peeked in 2008 when the state awarded 429 million dollars worth of scholarships. Today the cost to the state has fallen to 316 million.

And state lawmakers may look to Bright Futures once again to balance the budget. Florida TaxWatch is recommending another 55 million dollar cut to the program.

TaxWatch released its annual cost savings recommendations. High on the list is limiting Bright Future to the top 10 percent of graduates from each school.

“It will help us achieve diversity within the state university system. It’ll help achieve predictability with the cost going forward because based on how many students we have in twelfth grade we know a certain percentage will be eligible for Bright Futures,” said Rob Weissert with Florida TaxWatch.

The recommendation is drawing the ire of House Democrats, long time opponents of any cuts to the popular scholarship program.

“If we continue to cut back the funds they don’t have the moneys to pay for the courses to go to school,”

Despite the recent run on the program, this year there’s a budget surplus which means the scholarship money may remain untouched. TaxWatch is recommending several options to scale back Bright Futures. Limiting the scholarship to the top 10 percent of students in a school could save the state 55 million. Limiting the reward to the top 25 percent would save the state seven million.

Attorney General Pam Bondi honored Florida law enforcement officers today at the state capitol.

Two were selected to be co-Law Enforcement Officers of the year. St Petersburg Police Department Sergeant Karl Lounge and Officer Douglas Weaver were involved in a deadly shoot-out that cost two officers their lives.

“They made the ultimate sacrifice. It was a team effort and unfortunately they can’t be here to see the appreciation. I hope they are somewhere appreciating it,” said Weaver.

Seven other officers were also nominated for the yearly award.

Online shoppers brace yourselves. The state is one step closer to collecting sales taxes on all online purchases. As Whitney Ray tells us, the internet sales tax bill passed its first committee stop today on a 10 to one vote.

Shopping online in Florida has its perks; no lines, no gas used getting to the store and no state sales tax.

For twelve years state lawmakers have tried to collect taxes on online purchases but ever attempt has been heavily defeated. A new bill is bringing hope to the cause.

“It’s maybe time to look at total tax reform,” said Detert.

State Senator Nancy Detert ushered the new online sales tax bill through its first committee stop Tuesday. Detert says it’s not a new tax because the money is already owed. It’s just up to the buyer to self report.

“The consumer is supposed to tax themselves and some actually do and those are the people who are going to die and go right to heaven for submitting a sales tax that nobody checked on,” said Detert.

To get the support needed to pass online tax reform, the bill will have to be revenue neutral, which means for ever dollar an online tax generates, another tax dollar will have to be nixed.

Governor Rick Scott has a few suggestions about where to cut taxes. Just hours after the bill was voted on, Scott celebrated Manufacturing Days at the state capitol.

“Most other states don’t have a tax on manufacturing equipment. So if we want to compete we’ve got to level the playing field,” said Scott.

Before the bill passed its first committee it was amended to include a sales tax exemption on manufacturing equipment, which is expected to cost more than 140 million dollars.

One problem with making the bill revenue neutral is no one knows how much money the online sales tax would generate. Current estimates are between five million and 500 million dollars.