Freshman U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., is looking to eliminate the federal Marriage Tax Penalty with the “Make Marriage Great Again Act.”
Steube introduced the bill, which amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the Marriage Tax Penalty, earlier this month and weighed in on his proposal on Monday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis could soon sign legislation that creates a statewide registry for pimps and johns in an effort to crack down on human trafficking. But Florida officials are not stopping there.
With their eyes on the Super Bowl and WrestleMania, both of which the state will host in 2020, officials are looking for new ways to ensure victims are not trafficked for sex or labor.
Alleging a conspiracy that has increased drug prices, Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Monday that Florida has joined states across the country in a massive anti-trust lawsuit against generic drug manufacturers.
Florida is one of 43 states and Puerto Rico taking part in the lawsuit filed in federal district court in Connecticut against numerous generic-drug companies and executives. The lawsuit, which comes after a multi-year investigation spearheaded by the Connecticut attorney general’s office, contends that the companies colluded to raise drug prices.
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is championing a second proposal to end gaps in Medicare coverage and cut down on late-enrollment penalties.
At the end of last week, the U.S. House passed a $19 billion supplemental disaster relief package with funds to help Puerto Rico, Florida and other parts of the country hit by hurricanes and other disasters in recent years.
The bill passed 257-150 on a mostly party lines vote though more than 30 Republicans joined the Democrats in passing the bill. President Donald Trump has stressed his opposition to the proposal, insisting it will hurt “our states, farmers and border security” and maintaining that relief efforts to Puerto Rico have been mismanaged.
First, the power goes out. And later, the bill comes due.
As Florida suffered through hurricanes Hermine, Matthew, Irma and Michael during the past three years, millions of people were left in the dark. Each time, utilities had to mobilize crews to get the electricity back on and to rebuild expensive power systems and equipment.
Utilities have long been able to recoup storm-restoration costs from customers. Typically, it has been done by tacking on a few extra bucks to customers’ monthly bills until the utilities are made whole.
Florida's top financial regulator was placed on administrative leave Friday, after one of his staff filed a detailed sexual harassment complaint against him.
Ronald Rubin had been on the job as commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) for less than three months, having been appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the full Cabinet Feb. 26.
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis released the following statement directing an immediate investigation:
In his first veto, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday rejected a bill that would have blocked local governments from banning plastic straws.
DeSantis, siding with environmental groups and local governments, vetoed the measure (HB 771) just hours after formally receiving it from the Legislature. The bill initially focused on recycling issues but later was expanded to include a five-year moratorium on bans or regulations of plastic straws.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its latest look at orange production on Friday, lowering the forecast at the state and national levels.
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) lowered the forecast of total oranges 3 percent and the Florida all orange forecast 5 percent from last month.
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., one of the top Republicans on the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee, has brought back a proposal to expand dental care to veterans.
Last week, Bilirakis reintroduced the “Veterans Early Treatment for Chronic Ailment Resurgence through Examinations (VET CARE) Act” which would expand dental care for veterans and create a four year pilot program. Currently, only fully disabled veterans or those with service related injuries get dental benefits through the VA.
Bilirakis weighed in on his proposal on Friday.
