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Governor Charlie Crist is warming up to eliminating a sales tax exemption.

State lawmakers have been reviewing 50 of the state’s sales tax exemptions in an effort to avoid deep budget cuts. Crist, who has opposed new taxes since he took office in 2007, says there is a current exemption he would consider. Right now car trade-ins aren’t taxed. Crist said eliminating that exemption could bring the state millions of dollars.

“There are a lot of exemptions out there and I would encourage the legislature to continue to review those exemptions and one of them that Jerry mentioned to me yesterday that may hold some promise is when people trade in a car apparently there’s an exemption for that. and I don’t know if that’s justified and it could mean a half a million dollars,” said Crist.

Crist says the money could be used to keep education spending cuts off the table.

The state’s highest ranking Democrat may be preparing to run for Governor.

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has been fundraising and beefing up her staff. She has also increased her visibility this session speaking up in support for legislation to protect seniors from annuity fraud and challenging questionable government spending. Sink hasn’t said yes, but she isn’t saying no to a possible 2010 run at the Governor’s Office.

“I am focused on the job that people sent me to Tallahassee to do which is to look out for the citizen’s interest. We’ll deal with other political issues later,” said Sink.

Sink may be waiting to see if Governor Charlie Crist decided to run for US Senate. When asked if taking Crist out of the race would change her mind, Sink says a lot of people are waiting to see what Crist does before they make any political moves.

As school districts across the state brace for cuts, a new study by FSU suggests
that some of the programs on the cutting block are the most effective in keeping students motivated and engaged and in school.  As Mike Vasilinda tells us music educators and performing arts teachers are fighting for their livelihood.

To be or not to be…an actor, a musician, or an artist. The decision could change how a student performs throughout their life. A new study  by an FSU professor finds strong correlation between a student’s participation in the arts and how well they do on the FCAT, SAT and whether they drop out.  Music educators say there has never been such comprehensive evidence.

“The more arts they had, the better they did,” James Perry with the Music Educators Association said. “And there was a significant difference between the kids with four years of arts and students with no arts.”

High school principal Rocky Hanna says band students are among the best and brightest, but he also sees big differences when special ed students pick up a musical instrument.

“Music and arts help those kids develop and it stimulates their mind for growth,” Hanna said.

With budget cuts looming, performing arts educators are worried that their going to be the first people on the chopping block.

Educators hope lawmakers will look at the study and decide not to cut the arts deeper than any other programs.

Senate Educations Appropriations Chairman Steve Wise says he’s gotten the message.

“When we get through, I think the education budget is going to be, I think they’re going to be a lot happier than what they thought was going to happen,” Wise said.

But whether music and other programs can weather the budget storm remains deeply in doubt.

The study found enhanced academic performance when the arts were involved across all ethnic, racial and economic levels of society.

At least one local government, Alaucha County, is unhappy with comments made by Governor Charlie Crist, and they’ve written a letter to the Governor. In it, they ask him to stop vilifying local governments. “The most troubling aspect of your comments as they apply to our county is the fact that while you are blasting local governments, the ONLY rate of our citizen’s tax bill in the last three years to increase is the local required effort as dictated by the representatives in Tallahassee”, says the letter from the County Commission. You can read the entire letter here: Alaucha Letter.

The price you pay for a home phone could go up as much as 20 percent a year under legislation moving in Tallahassee. Lawmakers want to lift regulations for landline companies, but as Whitney Ray tells us, the bill would have to get past the governor who is standing against all rate hikes.

46-year old John Oliver relies on his disability check and a movie theater job to pay his rent, buy his groceries, and purchase home phone service. Legislation moving in Tallahassee could allow his phone company to increase rates 20 percent.

“If it goes up that much, then I couldn’t afford it,” said Oliver.

But phone companies say they can’t afford to continue operate under the current restrictions. The rise of the cell phone is making it harder for landline companies to compete. Bill Sponsor Will Weatherford says state restrictions on landline companies are outdated.

“We have to bring technology and regulation up to the 21st century,” said Weatherford.

If regulations are lifted, the cost of basic service would remain the same but other features like call waiting and caller ID could be go up 20 percent a year. Governor Charlie Crist said now is not the time to raise rates.

“This is a time when Floridians are tightening their belts and struggling to make ends meet so a bill that would allow those kinds of rate increases I wouldn’t be inclined to sign,” said Crist.

AARP of Florida is also taking a stand against the bill. The advocacy group says the increase could price some of their members out of phone service.

Floridians with developmental disabilities are asking lawmakers to continue funding programs that help them live independently.

Dozens of people living with disabilities walked the capitol halls today. They wore buttons reminding lawmakers that their votes help put them in office. Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp is urging lawmakers to leave funding for developmental disability programs alone.

“The current budget includes 1.1 billion dollars to preserve access to critical programs to protect and assist more than 39,000 of Florida’s most vulnerable citizens. It expands community dental services particularly in rural areas for persons with disabilities,” said Kottkamp.

While the governor’s budget holds programs that help the developmentally challenged harmless, the state legislature still hasn’t drafted its budget plan.

Florida’s Capitol was surrounded by Humvees, soldiers and war aircraft, as the state celebrated National Guard Day.

Governor Charlie Crist honored the state’s 12-thousand national guardsmen by singing a Military Community Covenant. Crist said the strong military presence in Florida provides some stability for the state’s economy.

“The military has an enormous economic impact on our state as well. We understand that these are challenging economic times, but they would be that much more challenging without the great military we have throughout the Sunshine State,” said Crist.

Defense related spending accounts for 55 billion dollars a year in Florida, which is about seven and a half percent of the state’s domestic output. Crist also praised the National Guard for preparation and clean up efforts during Tropical Storm Fay.

Legislation creating more renewable energy and lessening Florida’s reliance on natural gas and oil is being ignored by lawmakers.

The bill creates incentives for people to install solar panels on their homes and businesses. Environmentalists and renewable energy workers rallied at the capitol today, asking lawmakers to put the legislation to a vote. Spokesman for the environmental Defense Fund Jerry Karnas said the legislation deserves a chance.

“We understand that these are big issues, they’re complex issues and we may not win at the end of the day, but we want to be given the opportunity to at least state our case to get a bill moving and to allow the debate to proceed,” said Karnes.

Governor Charlie Crist is backing the legislation but his stamp of approval isn’t carrying as much weight as it did a year ago when bills the governor back were easily moved through the legislative process.

By the end of the day at least five Floridians will die from the illegal use of over the counter drugs.

A bipartisan bill in Tallahassee would limit access to prescription drugs that are commonly abused. The legislation would require pharmacies to purchase fingerprint and eye scanning machines to track people who buy powerful painkillers, like Vicadin and Oxycontin. Former US Drug Enforcement Officer Michael McManus said prescription painkillers are quickly becoming the drug of choice among teens.

“Cocaine, heroine, meth, marijuana, absolutely a problem, but the biggest problem we’re facing today is the prescription medicine and the fact that our youth are beginning to experiment with drugs at a younger age, and these forming parties are an example of what is taking place,“ said McManus.

The scanning equipment would cost drug retailers about 500 dollars to purchase and install. The legislation suggests federal grants would pick up some of the costs.

Florida businesses are asking you to shop locally. They’re even providing some incentives.

The Governor joined the Florida Chambers or Commerce, the Florida Retail Federation and Florida TaxWatch to launch a statewide savings campaign. Starting today Floridians can go online and print a Backyard Card. The Florida Backyard Card allows shoppers to save an average of 10 percent at Florida owned stores, hotels, and restaurants. Rich McAllister, President of the Florida Retail Federation, said if shoppers spend their money in Florida the state can rebound from the economic downturn faster than expected.

“We’re not asking them to run up debt or spend more money than budgeted. All we’re asking for is for everyone to consider where they spend their
money, not necessarily how much, but where they spend their money can make their own jobs safer,” said McAllister.

For a list of participation businesses and to download a savings card go to www.floridabackyardcard.com

A battle over cleaner cars is heating up. The Federal government is taking the first baby steps to regulate green house gas emissions, and legislation here in Florida cleared a key Senate committee today. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us car makers seem to have the upper hand.

Passing the tough new tailpipe emission standards is a top priority of environmentalists.
The goal is 35 miles per gallon by 2013 and 40 miles per gallon by 2020.

“Florida will be on the way to setting its own standards for greenhouse gas emissions from cars. It’s what we need to do,” Eric Draper with Florida Audubon said.

But despite the optimism, environmentalists know they have problems. Car makers have some of the best lobbyists in the business working against the change. We took this picture at a strategy session before a battle in a committee meeting they knew they would loose. They don’t expect to lose the war.

“Cars have improved. Emissions from cars have improved since 1970 by 99 percent,” Wade Hopping with the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers said.

By all accounts, the big car companies are going to be able to keep this bill from going any further, unless Governor Charlie Crist steps in.

The question is how much political capital the Governor is willing to use on what appears to be a hopeless cause.

“As much as we can muster, “ Crist said. “I think it’s awfully important. We want to do as much as we can to help keep Florida’s environment clean. It helps the economy. It helps tourism and were committed to it.”

Car makers say they are not opposed to cleaner cars, just Florida’s specific regulations that could be different from other states. They are also telling lawmakers that people can’t afford the one to three thousand dollars in additional cost. And so far, Lawmakers are listening.

A powerful state Senator today unveiled his chamber’s plans for gambling on Seminole Indian reservations.

The plan would also appease south Florida parimutuels establishments by giving them black jack and other Class 3 card games. Dog tracks and high alai frontons across the state would be allowed to have video lottery terminals. In return for giving up the explicit right to card games, the Seminole tribe would get roullete, craps, and other high stakes games. Governor Charlie Crist says from what he’s seen, he likes the plan.

“I’m open to any ideas that will help us get the compact,” Crist said. “As y’all know, that’s almost 300 million dollars more that we could use for education for Florida’s children. We need money and the compact is there. And if we don’t enter the compact, it may happen anyway because the federal government would allow it to occur. So I’m generally supportive of what I’ve seen so far. I haven’t been able to review it in detail yet.”

The plan to raise an estimated 1 billion dollars for cash strapped legislators but so far the house has shown no warmth to expanding gambling.

The state’s unemployed will start seeing an increase in their benefits as early as today. The increase is part of the federal economic stimulus package. As Whitney Ray tells us, it will pump an extra 345 million dollars into the state’s economy.

Valencia Williams is an out of work mother. She receives 275 dollars a week to feed her children. The money doesn’t go far.

“I have two small ones, so there’s a lot of cut backs in a lot of areas, you just got to adjust to it… a lot of prayers,” said Valencia.

Small prayers are being answered as half a million Floridians collecting unemployment benefits will now receive an extra 25 bucks a week. That’s 100 more dollars a month for Valencia to spend on…

“More food or a bill I didn’t get too to go pay on that bill I haven’t been able to pay because I’ve been out of work,” said Valencia.

The increase is part of the economic stimulus package. It will pump an estimated 345 million dollars into the state’s economy.

People on the state’s unemployment roll will now receive two checks; one for the original amount and a second check with the increase.

John Barbour has been looking for a job since November. He doesn’t care how the money gets to him, as long as it comes in time to help pay for school.

“I’ll go ahead and get myself some more understanding in computers,” said Barour.

The state began mailing the checks out Friday. Some people with direct deposit have already received the money. People receiving benefits don’t have to do anything extra to collect the extra 25 bucks. The checks are backdated to February, so people who were on the unemployment rolls should receive at least a hundred dollars in back payments.

The founder of Florida’s Prepaid Tuition Fund is asking students to “Raise Hell,” over a proposed tuition hike.

81-year old Stanley Tate is running full page ads in newspapers across the state. The ads are titled “Raise Hell, Not Tuitions”. Tate says a legislative proposal to allow state colleges to raise tuition 15 percent a year will make prepaid tuition plans too expensive. Tate said once families hear his side of the story, he believes they will stand up against the legislature.

“I think that the people of the state of Florida who I am trying to represent are primarily low and the low moderate income people. I think when they recognize the fact that they won’t be able to afford a college education, they’re voices will be heard and I think the elected people will hopefully listen to those voices,” said Tate.

State Senator Frederica Wilson is applauding Tate’s efforts

“Good for him. He needs to stand up. And we need to stand up right along side of him because all of us have prepaid scholarships for our children and grandchildren and its time now for the state to raise revenue in other ways other than trying to raise it on the backs of children and especially our future. It’s ridiculous,” said Wilson.

Florida has some of the lowest tuition costs in the nation. Supporters of the bill say allowing schools to raise rates 15 percent a year will bring Florida’s tuition near the national average by 2012.

The state is still waiting on word from Washington about whether or not Florida will get two billion dollars for education.

The money is part of the economic stimulus plan, but it’s being held back as punishment for deep spending cuts to education. State spending on schools has fallen four billion dollars over the past two years. US Senator Bill Nelson met with House Democrats today in Tallahassee. Nelson said the state should know by the end of the week if it’s getting the education money.

“Under the law that we’ve passed, we put that safety valve, which is that the U.S Secretary of Education can waive that requirement. Now, is he going to waive it just straight out? I don’t know. Is he going to put some kind of conditions on it? I don’t know. But we ought to have that coming this week,” said Nelson.

If Florida gets the money, it will be used to renovate schools, update technology, and prevent teacher layoffs.