Legislative leaders reap budget bonaza
TALLAHASSEE When asked about a $14 million line item for a college building in his home district that started out at $300,000, Senate President Don Gaetz, responded “I would expect it doesn’t hurt...
View ArticleScott due to approve budget
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Rick Scott must act on the new $74.5 billion state budget by midnight next Friday. In reviewing the 421-page budget bill (SB 1500), Scott will be exercising a power that even the...
View ArticleGaetz, Weatherford ask for furlough exemption for Florida military technicians
TALLAHASSEE Florida legislative leaders are calling upon Washington, D.C., to exempt Florida’s federal military technicians from the sequester furlough that will begin next month. House Speaker Will...
View ArticleSenate to review Citizens deal
TALLAHASSEE Both sides of the Florida Legislature will spend time this fall reviewing a controversial deal approved by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Senate President Don Gaetz,...
View ArticleOpen government a session winner
TALLAHASSEE The 2013 Florida Legislature officially closed out this week when Gov. Rick Scott acted on the last bills to reach his desk. One of the winners of the session was Florida’s open-government...
View ArticleGaetz sees opening for Medicaid plan
TALLAHASSEE The federal government’s decision to delay until 2015 the requirement that large businesses provide health insurance for workers has stalled any momentum for calling a special session to...
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Senate President Gaetz sees Medicaid opportunity
TALLAHASSEE — The federal government's decision to delay until 2015 the requirement that large businesses provide health insurance for workers has stalled any momentum for calling a special session to...
View ArticleRed light camera study set
TALLAHASSEE Red-light cameras remain controversial, even as changes to the laws governing them take effect. Proponents say they save lives by increasing safety standards at major intersections...
View ArticleSenate president says a special session is not likely
TALLAHASSEE While protestors continued to occupy the first floor of the Capitol today, Senate President Don Gaetz said he does not see any reason to call a special session to address some of the issues...
View ArticleLawmakers to address residency
TALLAHASSEE Following reports that some state lawmakers don’t live in their legislative districts, Senate and House leaders are developing a rule to clarify and require lawmakers to live in the...
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In suit over car repairs, a move to bill the public
By MICHAEL VAN SICKLER, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau TALLAHASSEE Taxpayers may help foot the bill for a bitter legal battle between a consortium of the nation's largest auto manufacturers and...
View ArticleSchool budget tied to property values
TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Rick Scott wants to cut taxes and increase public school funding to a record level this year. Yet Scott’s historic K-12 level for per-student funding is built on a $452 million...
View ArticleSession gridlock continues, Scott uses the 'V' word
TALLAHASSEE The House-Senate gridlock over a new state budget intensified Wednesday, with Gov. Rick Scott calling state senators into his office and threatening to veto their bills and budget projects...
View ArticleHospitals to get $400 million in state funds
Florida lawmakers began negotiating a new state budget on Saturday, agreeing to give hospitals $400 million in state funding. Hospital funding was a major part of the regular session standoff between...
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Rubio, once the learner, now outshines Bush
Marco Rubio was barely out of college when Jeb Bush first ran for governor of Florida. The year Bush finally won the state’s highest office, Rubio was elected to the much lower profile job of West...
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