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New Trump Rules Expand Health Insurance Options

June 22, 2019 - 7:45am
Donald Trump

Three new finalized rules proposed by President Donald Trump to reshape health care in the U.S. could result in nearly two million more people with health insurance, produce nearly $50 billion of net economic benefit annually, and expand healthcare options for small business employers and employees, according to the administration.

The most recent finalized rule announced by the administration expands employer-funded healthcare arrangements (Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or HRAs), which the administration estimates will help about 800,000 businesses and millions of workers.

DeSantis: Florida's Private-Sector Job Growth 'Remains Strong, Exceeds National Growth Rate'

June 22, 2019 - 7:45am
Construction produced 28,000 new jobs in May

With the signing of the 2020 budget Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis' announcement about Florida’s continued strengthening economy might have been overlooked.

The governor said businesses are still expanding to Florida, just as they have for the last eight years,  creating a strong private-sector job growth rate. The governor puts this success the good news down to low taxes, reasonable regulations and a top-rated university system.

He said economic indicators for the month of May include these:

DeSantis' Record First Budget Still Leaves Florida $5.4 Billion in Reserves

June 21, 2019 - 6:45pm
Following the budget-signing, the governor offers a post-mortem

Gov. Ron DeSantis used his line-item veto power to slash more than $131 million in proposed spending Friday as he signed a record $90.98 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Calling the package “fiscally responsible,” the freshman governor praised lawmakers for exceeding his request for spending on environmental projects and for a boost in per-student funding in public schools.

What's Going on the Week of June 23

June 24, 2019 - 7:00am
Debate site: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County

First came Republican President Donald Trump. Now, get ready for the Democrats who want to drive him out of the White House.

Twenty Democratic presidential candidates will take part in televised debates Wednesday and Thursday in Miami as they try to score points with primary voters.

It remains to be seen how much of an impression the candidates will make during the crowded debates --- 10 candidates will be on the stage each night --- but their statements, utterances and mannerisms will be parsed to try to figure out if any win or lose.

Weekly Roundup: Waiting Game Ends

June 22, 2019 - 8:00am

Gov. Ron DeSantis played the waiting game, at least as far as Capitol insiders were concerned, as speculation percolated throughout the week about when the Republican chief of state would uncap his red pen for the first time and veto items tucked into the new state budget.

The waiting might have been the hardest part for some, but the 90-minute notice given to Tallahassee reporters to cover Friday afternoon’s budget press conference may have been even more painful.

City of Riviera Beach Paid Hackers a $600,000 Ransom

June 21, 2019 - 7:15am
Courtesy of Quantum Hacking Lab

Three weeks ago the City of Riviera Beach agreed to pay hackers a $600,000 ransom to free the records they had encrypted when they took over the city's computer system. The incident is just coming to light outside the county, "probably because it's still part of a federal investigation," a city employee told Sunshine State News.

State to Further Examine the Grounds of Dozier Reform School

June 21, 2019 - 7:45am
Only a portion of the scores of bodies unearthed were given marked graves at Dozier

Forensic experts will return next month to the site of a notorious state reform school --- where the remains of more than 50 people were unearthed in 2015 --- to find out what lies in 27 additional sites.

Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee said Thursday that once they can determine what the below-ground “anomalies” are at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, officials will then begin to establish “appropriate next steps,” which could include further digging.

Backroom Briefing: Fried's Smiling Face Sticks Around

June 21, 2019 - 7:30am
Nikki Fried sticker on a Florida gas pump

Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s smiling face won’t immediately disappear from most gas pumps, even as Republicans seek to prohibit such displays.

With Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspectors conducting sweeps statewide for illegal “skimmer” devices intended to steal credit card information, many pumps will have the bright yellow, green and blue stickers well beyond July 1, the start of the upcoming fiscal year.

Nine Proposals with an Increasingly Slim Chance to Be on the 2020 Florida Ballot

June 21, 2019 - 7:15am
(photo of petition protesters) Credit: AP/SSN archives

Three more potential constitutional amendments could soon clear the first obstacle for qualifying for the November 2020 ballot, but new petition-gathering rules adopted by state legislators and signed into law by Gov. Ron Desantis will make it less likely they’ll get much further.

State law requires petition drives to collect 76,632 signatures from verified Florida voters to trigger a Supreme Court review. If justices sign off on a proposal’s language, supporters must then submit 766,200 signatures by Feb. 1, 2020, to get on November’s ballot.

Ron DeSantis in Better Shape With Florida Voters than Marco Rubio, Rick Scott

June 20, 2019 - 12:00pm
Ron DeSantis

Gov. Ron DeSantis is in better shape with Florida voters than either of the state’s two U.S. senators, a new poll shows. 

Quinnipiac University released a poll on Thursday morning showing that DeSantis has the approval of 55 percent of voters while 22 percent disapprove of him and 23 percent are not sure. 

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