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More than a hundred employees from Miami Cigarette-maker Dosal rallied at the state capitol today. The workers protested a plan to force Dosal to pay the same taxes levied against bigger cigarette companies in the 1997 tobacco settlement. Dosal CEO Yolanda Nader said adding the tax could force her company to shut down.

“They are here. They are worried about their jobs. Some of these people have been with this company for 20, 25 years. They are very concerned. Where are they going to go. Never mind in a normal economy, what about today’s economy. That’s why we though it was important to take our message to the legislature,” said Nader.

Bud Chiles, son of former Governor Lawton Chiles, who championed the tobacco settlement says Dosal should pay. Chiles says Dosal has thrived since the big tobacco was forced to pay more.

“They were left out of the settlement. They were able to increase their market share from two percent to 20 percent. They’re selling cigarettes for a $1.75 when a normal pack is $3.50 and a lot of youths are smoking their cigarettes, so they can afford to pay another 45 cents a pack and that will defer some of the health care cost they are creating,” said Chiles.

The increase would cost Dosal smokers an extra 45 cents a pack. The increase could come on top of a dollar increase that passed the House last week.

The state senate signed off on what could end up as the most expensive claims bill the state has ever paid. Eleven years ago Eric Brody’s car was hit by an off duty Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy. Brody suffered brain damage. A judge said Brody was owed to 30 million dollars for his suffering. The Senate has been quick to act on the bill, but the House is stalling. House Sponsor Rachel Bergin says the family has waited long enough.

“This has been an eleven year battle and the family has a million and a half in personal liens against them and their home for medical bills. And it’s important now because the insurance company has yet to really come to the table with an actual amount of money that they are willing to pay. After the bill was filed they finally sat down and began negotiating with the family. They’re still using it in the arguments now that they are still in negotiation with the family and that’s not really taking place,” said Bergin.

There is still a week left for the House to take up their version of the claims bill. Representative Bergin is banking on the Senate version making it to her chamber.

Legislation labeled “Draconian” by voting rights groups is being watered down, but is still alive at the state Capitol. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the only reason the measure is becoming less punitive is because thousands of Floridians spoke out.

An elections bill that passed a legislative council after public debate was stopped, is being watered down after public outcry. But it’s still moving forward.

“It still would mean that voters might not qualify for elections, might be purged from rolls,” Brad Ashwell from the Florida Public Intrest Research group said. “It would still inhibit the ability of citizens in grass roots groups to use the ballot initiative process.

The bill changed after voters spoke out.

Governor  Charlie Crist got more than 150 letters and emails. Lawmakers were likewise inundated.

What made the letters so powerful is that they were not form letters, but were individually written.

“Public pressure really worked, because this bill has received so much attention, nationally from the New York Times even,” Sen. Dave Aaronberg (D-Green Acres) said. “Yet it’s still out there, it’s still alive.”

Council char Dave Murzin says he still wants to regulate paid petition gatherers, but the rest of the bill is still up in the air.

“Well there’s a lot of ideas that were being discussed over the last couple of years,” Murzin (R-Pensacola said. “There’s a need to fix things.”

During the final week of the legislative session, there are fears that the worst parts of the legislation will be revived, giving the public little chance to be heard.

“We always must guard against people like the folks who did this because they keep popping up, we have to keep knocking them down to protect Americans’ rights,” Rep. Franklin Sands (D-Weston) said.

Even with the watered down version of the bill, activists say it does more harm than good.

“I’m very optimistic and I’m very patient. The longer it takes, the better. We keep  Rachel’s memory and spirit alive and that’s what this is all about. We will make it a safer and more effective informant system so that this doesn’t happen to anymore parents or children.”

Now, this is not quite the same bill that you started with, not quite as strong as it was, are you still hopefull that it will make a difference?

“I know it will make a difference. We have a foundation to build on. We have a team out in place for next year to get our amendments added. I’m totally optimistic.”

If any version of the bill should pass, voting rights activits will seek a veto from the governor.

Legislation to let confidential informants know they have other options is nearing passage in the state House. Dubbed “Rachel’s Law” after 23 year old Rachel Hoffman died during a drug deal gone bad while cooperating with Tallahassee Police, the legislation requires statewide guidelines on recruiting and training confidential informants. The legislation is a far cry from its original version. The first draft would have required informants be told they could talk to an attorney. Rachel’s mother, Margie Weiss, is still hopeful the legislation will save lives.

“I’m very optimistic and I’m very patient, Weiss said. “The longer it takes, the better. We keep Rachel’s memory and spirit alive and that’s what this is all about. We will make it a safer and more effective informant system so that this doesn’t happen to anymore parents or children.”

Now, this is not quite the same bill that you started with, not quite as strong as it was, are you still hopeful that it will make a difference?

“I know it will make a difference. We have a foundation to build on,” she said. “We have a team out in place for next year to get our amendments added. I’m totally optimistic.”

Final passage in the House is expected on Monday.

Several bills the state legislature has voted down for more than a decade could be passed this session. The economic downturn has some lawmakers selling their morals for more state revenue. As Whitney Ray tells us, the governor is even getting in on the action and asking the Seminole Tribe for a billion dollar cash advance to expand gambling.

Legislation to raise the tobacco tax, make buckling up a primary offense, and expand gambling have all been nixed by state lawmakers for more than a decade.

“The Seminole Tribe has been trying to negotiate a compact since January, 1991,” said Max Osceola with Seminole Indian tribe.

A deal with the tribe could pump as much as much 6-hundrend million dollars into the state’s checking account. The seatbelt bill would also bring in millions.

“It’s hard to leave 35.5 million dollars on the table,” said the bill sponsor Rich Gloriosos.

The Senate unanimously passed a dollar tobacco tax. Senator Dave Aronberg said a crisis is a horrible thing to waste.

“A crisis brings on a lot of problems, but it also brings on a lot of opportunity. You can solve problems that have been around for years,” said Aronberg.

Environmentalists opposing an offshore oil drilling bill, say people are gaming the system.

“Everybody recognizes the best way to move their agenda is to wrap it in the cloak of the economy,” said Julie Wraithmell a spokesperson with Audubon of Florida.

Legislation that would allow more red light monitoring cameras at intersections is gaining more support. Flipflopping lawmakers are using the economy as a copout.

Senator Jim King has helped kill the red light bill four straight years. Now he’s trading cash for the cameras.

“I find myself between the dog and the fire-hydrant. We need the money,” said King.

Where the search for money ends, and what the state looks like after the dash for cash is over largely depends on a few lawmakers meeting behind close doors.

While lawmakers are turning to tobacco, gambling, and increased traffic fines to generate more state revenue, a tax break for people buying airplanes and yachts still remains on the table.

Law enforcement officers say cutting their budget will jeopardize public safety.

The Florida Police Benevolent Association is lobbying against more budget cuts. More than a hundred police, corrections, and probation officers have been laid off over the last two years. PBA President John Riviera said if police officers lose any more money, many will be left to fend for themselves.

“You all need to learn how to defend yourselves because your government may not be able to do it for you. Police officers are not the policymakers. We only follow orders and we do the best we can with what we have,” said Riviera.

The House and Senate have yet to lay out a joint budget plan. PBA officials say as many as 70 FDLE and 500 corrections jobs are on the line.

Optimism is waning as lawmakers lose hope they’ll end the legislative session on time.

Budget negotiations between the House and Senate are moving at a snail’s pace. A compromised budget has to be agreed upon 72 hours before the legislature can take a vote. At this point the horse trading is taking place behind closed doors. State Senator Dave Aronberg said he’s losing hope session will end on time with every passing hour.

“I think there is a 60 percent chance we’ll still be here past May 1st, and every hour I’m going to raise it by one percent. So pretty soon it’s going to be a 120 percent chance,” said Aronberg.

In order to meet the May first deadline, a budget deal would have to be completed by next Tuesday to be passed by Friday.

One out of every five middle school kids and twice as many high school students in Florida admit to having smoked at least one cigarette.

The Florida Hospital Association says raising the tobacco tax would cut down on teen smoking. FHA officials were at the state capitol Thursday asking the House to support a one dollar tobacco tax. The tax would raise an estimated 800 million dollars a year. FHA President Bruce Rueben said it will also save the state health care dollars.

“Florida spends about 6.2 billion dollars on smoking related illness. That’s close to 600 dollars for per family in Florida. If we can reduce the rate of smoking, we can reduce those costs overall and help mitigate the challenges Florida seems to deal with every year in terms of funding these human services,” said Rueben.

The Tobacco tax passed the Senate on a unanimous vote. The House has been allergic to the tax all session, but the House Speaker says he’ll consider the idea.

In a rare show of strength, 10 of the 11 State University Presidents were at the state capitol today pitching for more money. Across the state,  as Mike Vasilinda tells us, college will be harder to get into and many programs won’t be available under current funding plans.

Universities will lose 500 million in the House budget, but just half that much in the Senate plan. But either way, the news is not good.

“It takes generations to build universities but they can be destroyed in a very short period of time,” Mitch Maidique, Florida International University president said. “This is Armageddon for the state university system.”

Dozens of programs at every school are on the chopping block.

“Summer school in 2010 is just out of the question,” FAMU president Dr. James Ammons said.

And if you are a community college student, good luck transferring.

“We have to let go over 300 full-time faculty members, we just can’t teach the number of students we’re teaching now, so more students are going to be denied admission,” University of Central Florida president John Hitt said.

At a meeting with the Governor, the Presidents were urged to be patient and not to say bad things about lawmakers just yet.

Senate Education Chairman Don Gaetz is trying to convince House negotiators his plan does less damage. So far the answer has been no.

“So I think it’s going to take some discussion, it’s going to take some hard bargaining. And there are people of good faith and good will on both sides,” Gaetz said.

Even major business groups like the Florida Chamber are writing to the House Speaker, saying you can’t make the kind of cuts you’re talking about.

Students who do get into a Florida college will pay more next year under legislation moving through both chambers. But even a 15% hike will not stop faculty from leaving
and programs from being cut.

Nurses, police officers, and teachers are asking state lawmakers for more money. Stimulus dollars have kept the budget cuts lower than expected, but as Whitney Ray tells us, few state funded programs will avoid the budget ax.

Hundreds of signed petitions were hand carried to the House Speaker’s Office by concerned students and parents.

“We are here because we think there are ways to raise money if they would just listen to us,” said Gunner Paulson, Alachua County parent.

At the same time, more than a hundred nurses combed the halls of the state capitol asking lawmakers to save health care funding.

“You’re not going to get the same results from less nurses, less doctors, less facilities,” said nurse Lisa Bush.

The nurses and police officers say the budget decisions made in the House and the Senate could cost people their lives. Seventy Florida Department of Law Enforcement positions are on the line, 500 hundred correctional offices could be cut.

“The community is suffering. The community is in danger. I said it before and I’ll say it now, it is a great time to be a criminal,” said John Riviera, the president of the Florida Police Benevolent Association.

Road construction Jobs are also at stake as lawmakers consider draining a transportation trust fund.

“If they go through and divert over 400 million that is going to prevent us form going and getting back in line to get more stimulus dollars,” said Doug Callaway with Floridians for Better Transportation.

The Governor and Legislative leaders say it will all work out in the end, but with a three billion dollar budget hole to fill, everyone will leave the table unhappy. State Universities are facing one of the biggest blows from the budget ax. Higher education is facing a state spending cut of more than 300 million dollars.

Governor Charlie Crist announced a new Seminole gaming proposal this afternoon.

The plan would pump 600 million dollars into the state’s checking account in 2010. In 2011, the state would get 500 million dollars. The new compact is almost identical to the original plan, but the new plan allows the state to get most of the money up front. Crist says his deal will help keep education funded through the state’s economic downturn. The plan still needs legislative approval. Right now the House and the Senate are warring over their drastically different proposals.

Governor Charlie Crist is open to drilling for oil off the coast of Florida off shore drilling.

Crist changed his tune on oil exploration in Florida this summer after gas hit four dollars a gallon. Legislation giving the governor and state cabinet the authority to open up Florida’s coast passed a House council yesterday. Crist said the state should consider all forms of energy.

“I think the more diversified we can be in terms of the energy resources we have, the stronger it makes Florida and America and I think the experience of last summer tells you when gas goes beyond four dollars a gallon it tells you that people want options,” said Crist.

If legislation pass and the state cabinet approves drilling, oil companies would be allowed as close as three miles from the shore.

Florida still hasn’t submitted its application for a waiver to pull down 2 billion federal education dollars. According to written reports, the US Department of Education is waiting on the state to get the ball rolling. A reporter asked Governor Charlie Crist about the hold up.

“”The Department of Education says there’s no need for Florida to wait to submit its application for a waiver. Why are we waiting,” one reporter asked. “We send stuff to them all the time. Commissioners on it everyday,” Crist replied. “Commissioner says he’s already given you the signal to go ahead,” the reporter continued. “I don’t think so,”’ said Crist.

Crist is asking lawmakers to use the money in their budget plans. If Florida does qualify for the money its unlikely lawmakers will know before session ends May 1st, which means the state would have to call a special session to balance the budget.

State lawmakers are pushing the trustees of a Panhandle college to return a tainted six million dollar appropriation that became the grounds for two indictments.  As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the six million was disguised as a classroom complex when it was really destined to build an airplane hanger for a political crone.

Northwest Florida State College President Bob Richburg and former House speaker Ray Sansom were indicted last week for allegedly disguising six million dollars for an aircraft hanger for a friend as a class room project.

Now the prosecutor is calling for the six million to be returned.

“We looked at the appropriation and the way it was done, truthfully, if people want to do what’s right, that six million dollars ought to be returned to the people of the state of Florida,” state prosecutor Willie Meggs said. “ It’s their money.”

The Governor says the prosecutor is on track.

“I think he’s right,” Crist said. “It seems justified.”

A bid for the project clearly shows the intent is to build a hanger.

While lawmakers here fight over every nickel and dime, that six million dollars is enough money to let 100 teachers keep their job.

College trustees are holding an emergency meeting next Tuesday. Hometown Senator Don Gaetz says the six million is poisoning the air in Tallahassee.

“This is a toxic issue right now,” Gaetz said. “It’s an issue that keeps coming up whenever Northwest Florida issues come up. I think it would be the better part of valor to say, gosh, you know we’re not going to go forward with the project now.”

Construction on the hanger hasn’t started yet, but the college has spent 300 thousand dollars on design. That’s money tax payers may never see again.

The Grand Jurors also took aim at the state budgeting process, saying it needs to be more open. That is a message lawmakers are ignoring.

Despite reports that 21 polo ponies which died over the weekend were given vitamin shots prior to their match, the state says it still has no conclusive evidence on what killed the horses.  Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson says he should know something by the end of the week.

“There have been some recognition of a few physical issues,” Bronson said. “Nothing of substantial amount that would indicate why the horses would have died according to what I was told. However, the blood serology will take us until probably Friday or so, before all of that work is done. That’s a very slow, tedious process as it is in human investigation or animal investigation.”

Local and state investigations are underway. Even when the cause of death is known, officials may not be able to determine if the deaths were accidental or not.