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Governor Charlie Crist continues to tout his plan to make insurance reasonable for the state’s millions of uninsured. Tuesday Crist’s plan passed the Senate unanimously. Crist wants to provide insurance to Floridians ages 19 to 64, at cost as low as 150 dollars a month. The governor said his plan is about people not politics.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican a Democrat or an Independent when the people give you the great honor of saying I want you to represent me, than what you told them in the course of a campaign is that you were going to go to Tallahassee and fight for them, then you damn sure better do it. Or you won’t be back here,” said Crist.

Crist plan faces its biggest test in the House, where some lawmakers want to change the health insurance plan.

A few of Florida’s bravest were at the Capitol today to support a plan to help men and women returning from Iraq. Governor Charlie Crist joined ranking members of the Army, Navy and Marines to support the Florida Veterans First initiative. The Veteran will over guidance to soldier returning from Iraq. It’s made up of members of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, and Workforce Florida. Executive Director of Veterans’ Affairs Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. says young veterans have a lot on their plates.

“They have needs such as education, retraining, they have to get mortgages, and so the need is very different. And so were working with the agency of work innovation to make that happen,” said Collins.

The group set up a website to help veterans find state funded services. The address is www.FloridaVetsFirst.com.

3 months ago today, Amber Denise Lee was kidnaped raped and murdered in Charlotte County on Florida’s Southwest coast.  Several people called 911 to report a woman screaming in a car, but dispatchers ignored the urgency. On today’s anniversary, state lawmakers moved one step closer to requiring training for 911 operators.

A Senate committee room was packed, and hushed as Denise Amber Lee’s father told lawmakers about an apparent series of keystone cop like occurrences that meant the difference between life and death for his daughter.

“And if you listen to the 911 call, you can hear them screaming at each other, laughing in th background, and shouting,” Lee’s father, Richard Goff said. “And I don’t think that’s very appropriate. But as of that day, the deputy was sitting, waiting in that car while the suspect drove right by him. If he had had that call answered correctly and dispatched correctly, she’d be alive with us today.”

But the hearing pointed to bigger problem and it came from  the Association of 911 Operators.

“We have one of the highest turnover rates of anyone in the country,” Lobyist Richard Pinsky said.

Despite questions about the voluntary nature of the certification, costs, and turnover, the Senate Committee vote was unanimous. Outside Amber Lee’s father and husband showed no joy.

“It really doesn’t matter what day it is, it’s still tough because my daughter, our daughter is not with us today to be here,” Goff said. “We’re here because of her death and it’s tragic and it doesn’t matter what day it is, it doesn’t make it any better.”

The family says it will be at the Capitol every opportunity to see the legislation through, hoping a lot of good comes from their tragedy.

Despite one of the biggest budget shortfalls in state history, Governor Charlie Crist wants to lower taxes. Crist says a gas tax holiday would help Florida families, but as Whitney Ray tells us, a gas tax holiday in 2004 may have hurt more than it helped.

Gas prices are so high Whitney Hodges is hanging up her car keys.

“I’d rather catch the bus than put gas in my vehicle because it’s higher,” said Hodges.
The price of a gallon of gas at a Tallahassee station is about $3.40. More than 30 cents of the cost is state tax. Governor Charlie Crist wants to reduce the state’s cut, for a little while.

“I think reducing gas taxes is a good thing to do and if we can do it we should certainly try,” said Crist.

Crist doesn’t have a sponsor, doesn’t know when the break would happen, or how much of a break there could be. Still drivers like the idea.

“It helps a little bit in the long run and every little bit helps,” Bo Bemis said while he filled up his tank.

In 2004 a similar plan was implemented, but it may have done more harm than good. People took advantage of the tax break and stocked up on gas, disrupting supply and demand. Some gas stations cheated and didn’t lower prices as much as they should have. Despite those pit falls, the biggest issue this year may be the failing budget.

“It’s tougher in a year like this. I understand that. I appreciate that. What’s tougher on Tallahassee is tougher on Florida Families,” said Crist.

In 2004 gas prices were lowered 8 cents a gallon. Families saved about two buck a tank and the state lost 60 million dollars. Tuesday Presidential Candidate Senator John McCain called for a summer long ban on federal gas taxes.

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The parents of a murdered teenager are a step closer to being awarded 1.7 million dollars. In 2004, 14 year old Jaime Gough was reportedly killed by a classmate at a Miami-Dade middle school. Wednesday the state Senate approved a claims bill for the Gough family. The victim’s father George Gough said while he’s happy with the vote, it’s not an easy process.

“My son is not here anymore. Going through all this hurts, it hurts. I just have to hold my head up for my son,” said George Gough.

The House has yet to take up the bill.

The youngest person to every fly around the world also happens to be a Floridian. Barrington Irving was honored in the state Senate Wednesday. Irving is 23. Last March he flew 26,000 miles around the world. Irving had some heart stopping moments due to dangerous weather conditions and said it’s a miracle he survived the trip.

“God, honestly, God brought me through it because there are some points I should have been dead with some of the stuff I’d been through,” said Irving.

Irving shattered the record for youngest pilot to circle the globe. The previous record holder was 37 years old.

Floridians with developmental disabilities are afraid budget cuts will leave them without the help they need. Today at the Capitol people who work with the developmentally disabled spoke out against the budget cuts. Both the House and Senate’s budget proposals reduce funding for Intermediate Care Facilities. The care centers provide assistance for people with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and autism. Jim Weeks with Sunrise Community, a care facility In Miami, said if the cuts happen then the centers would have to be shut down.

“If we lose these facilities the individuals who are being served will have absolutely no where to go and the state will absolutely end up spending more money on them then they could possible save under this program,” said Weeks

House Democrats want to get rid of some sales tax exemptions to save funding for programs that help the developmentally disabled.

The U-S Supreme court ruled that states can resume executions. IT found that lethal injections are not cruel and unusual. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the ruling opens the door, after 16 months, for the state to resume executions.

The Supreme Court ruling allowing executions to go forward came as Florida was celebrating Victims Rights Week. Attorney General Bill McCollum called for the audience to applaud the ruling.

“I would suspect over the next weeks and months, we will see a number of executions in Florida,” McCollum said.

Patricia Tuthill was at the victims ceremony. Her 23 year old daughter was raped then murdered in another state. The killer got life..but Tuthill is okay with the decision.

“Because I think his days in maximum security prison are going to  be very long, for me the death penalty might have been an easier way for him,” Tuthill said.

Florida hasn’t had a lethal injection since December of ‘06 when it botched the Angel Diaz execution.

Governor Charlie Crist has ordered his lawyers to review those eligible for a death warrant.

“Five or less probably,” Crist said. “That doesn’t mean I’ll sign five. I mean I would consider signing an additional one.”

The ACLU says while allowing executions to go forward, the ruling also invites more challenges.

“There’s going to be another mistake,” Larry Spalding with the ACLU said. “And when it happens, the case is going to go back to the United states Supreme Court.

Florida has 388 inmates on Death Row

Florida has the third highest uninsured rate in the Nation. Governor Charlie Crist is pushing a plan to offer bare bones insurance coverage for about a hundred and 50 bucks a month. As Whitney Ray tells us the plan would offer people coverage they can afford, but maybe not the coverage they need.

Laurie Staples knows how to work the system to get the insurance coverage her family needs. She has two jobs, but at times the extra income excludes her from Medicaid.

“As soon as you get the letter that you’re going to be denied insurance you quit one job for a while,” said Staples

Laurie’s 12 year old daughter, Caitlyn is autistic. A year ago her insurance quit paying for Caitlyn’s therapy.

“There’s no way that I could afford insurance for my daughter in the private sector,” Staples said.

Governor Charlie Crist has a plan to allow people like Laurie to stop working the system to get coverage.

“The act would break down some of the bureaucratic barriers that currently exist, make it simpler for health insurance companies to help our fellow Floridians,” said Crist

Crist says his plan could provide coverage for about 150 bucks a month. Crist’s plan works like an insurance buffet where people can pick and choose the coverage they want. But people buying into the plan couldn’t afford to over load their plates. The plan offers bare bones coverage. Rich Rasmussen with the Florida Hospital Association said every little bit helps.

“If we can get at this issue of providing more coverage to 3.5 million Floridians who have nothing, then we’ve achieved something,” Rasmussen said.

Crist’s plan promises coverage without raising taxes. The Governor’s plan is sailing through the Senate and is starting to pick up steam in the House. Crist said he hopes the plan makes it to his desk before the end of this year’s legislative session in May.

The HOPE task force, a panel of financial experts and cabinet members, is just days away from presenting recommendations to Governor Charlie Crist. Crist assembled the task force earlier this year to come up with solutions to the state’s foreclosure crisis. Tuesday the task force met to put the final touches on its recommendations. Many of the suggestions center on informing the public about predatory lenders. Travis Munnerlyn, a member of ACORN, a group helping Floridians fighting foreclosure said the recommendations don’t go far enough.

“Education is not the answer, that’s just something to say to pass the buck. I’d say education’s not the answer to it,” said Munnerlyn.

The task force will recommend lenders disclose any prepaid penalties attached to a loan. ACORN wants prepaid penalties eliminated.

The state Senate was full of little legislators Tuesday. Fifth grade students from Madison Academy toured the Capitol. They held a mock session in the Senate chamber. The tour was sponsored by the Florida League of City as part of its program to promote civic education. Students said it worked.

“The funniest part today was the mock session and getting to vote and place amendments and bills,” said 5th Grader Sarah Baltzell.

“The kids that do this program, they go back home and they take a different interest in the things that are going on in school and leadership roles. It’s really nice to see that happen,” said Myra Valentine, the Mayor of Madison.

The students also had a chance to meet lawmakers and visit with them in their offices.

State lawmakers served up Key Lime Pie to all comes at the Capitol today. The key Lime pie took its rightful place in the Capitol Rotunda. It was named a the official state pie a year ago. Sponsor Larcenia Bullard of Miami says the designation is more than just fun.

“It is not just symbolic, it is business,” Bullard said. “This is a business opportunity to those who have the resources to open key lime factories, Key lime stores. People are requesting Key lime pies.”

The Key Lime Pie joins other state symbols, such as the the state bird, the state flower, and event he state motto.

Environmentalists are upset with state lawmakers over a lack of Everglades restoration funding. Budget cuts are also slowing down a program to buy environmentally sensitive lands. Today, Lawmakers shot aback. State Senator Burt Saunders of Naples says state taxpayers money is going to fix the Everglades this year, even if it isn’t coming out of the state budget.

“We have 229 million dollars already appropriated for 2008-2009 for the water management district,” Saunders said. “So to say that we are cutting funding to Everglades restoration is incorrect.”

Lawmakers are still in the middle of budget negotiations, but the House has no money for the Everglades, which the Senate has about 100 million dollars.

After weeks of protest from county and city leaders a controversial plan to cap Government spending has failed. The Tax Payer Bill of Rights would have limited how much taxes could be raised, but as Whitney Ray tells us while the plan sounded good opponents say it would have ruined the economy.

A powerful commission has voted against a so called Taxpayer Bill of Rights, after opponents argued the plan would cut money for police, fire, roads and schools.

“It sounds very nice TABOR, the problem is what it really can do to our state,” said John Ratliff with SEIU Local 1991.

The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meets every 20 years. It’s made up of 25 appointed commissioners and has the authority to put tax issues on the November ballot. When opponents thought the vote would go against them, they attacked the commissioners. Opponents of the plan are furious commissioners, not elected lawmakers, have the final say.

“This isn’t about Florida; this is about the unelected millionaires. They don’t care about anybody, but about their money and it’s disgusting,” said Doug Martin, the communication director for AFSCME Florida Council 79.

Commissioner Mike Hogan sponsored the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

“Even the ones that are against it, they struggled with what they saw, how the government spent unrestrained,” said Hogan.

Ultimately he wasn’t able to convince enough commissioners to have his plan put on Novembers Ballot, which has local and even some state officials breathing easier. A similar plan was passed in Colorado in 1992. People there voted to postpone the plan after city and county officials complained about failing schools and deteriorating roads.

It was all boots and leather Monday around the Capitol. Hundreds of bikers rode right up to the Capitol courtyard to talk about issue facing them. Their lobbying has already paid off. Earlier this month a bill to allow authorities to confiscate speeders’ bikes lost a lot of its bite after bikers addressed several committees. Now bikers want stiffer penalties for drivers that hit motorcycles.

“We just want to be citizens like everybody else. We pay our taxes, we raise our families. There’s no right for you to run over us and kill us and then get an 82 dollar fine. And the difference between a car and a motorcycle on fines is just ridiculous. If a car hits someone and kills them, they get them for manslaughter. If they hit us, they charge them 82 dollars, pat them on their back, and send them on their way,” said Doc Reichenbach.

Bikers held a press conference and read a list of fellow bikers killed on Florida roads.