Senate Ups Budget to $1.8 Billion for Hurricane Michael Recovery

By

Sunshine State News

March 22, 2019 - 9:00am

The Florida Senate Committee on Appropriations Thursday released components of the proposed budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, which bring the total state investment in Hurricane Michael Recovery to $1.8 billion.

 

Backroom Briefing: E-Verify Plan a Heavy Lift

By

Jim Turner News Service of Florida

March 22, 2019 - 9:00am

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign vow to require Florida businesses to use federal “E-Verify” checks on the immigration status of new hires remains a tougher lift than his call for a sanctuary-city ban, which is speeding through the Legislature.

 

But he’s not giving up, even as he blames a lack of unanimity among Republican lawmakers for slowing the red-meat proposal that has been opposed by large farmers and tourism and construction interests.

 

While saying this week he’d like the proposal to advance this year, he noted he has “four years.”

Francis Rooney Ramps Up His Effort to Protect Free Speech on College Campuses

By

Kevin Derby

March 23, 2019 - 9:00am

While he has broken with conservatives on issues ranging from voting with Democrats against President Donald Trump’s executive action to build a wall on the southern border to supporting a carbon tax, U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., is trying to protect speech on college campuses. 

 

Earlier this month, Rooney introduced the “Free Right to Expression in Education (FREE) Act.” 

 

Vern Buchanan Showcases Proposal Defending Domestic Produce From Mexican Imports

By

Kevin Derby

March 21, 2019 - 12:00pm

This week, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., continued to push against Mexico produce imports as the congressman insisted farmers in the Sunshine State were being undermined due to “unfair trade practices" and “unfair subsidies and illegal seasonal dumping.”

 

Buchanan held an event with the Florida Farm Bureau on Tuesday and he took aim at Mexico’s policies. 

 

“Today’s visit showed that Florida growers continue to be harmed by Mexico’s unfair trade practices,” said Buchanan. 

 

Senate Ties Tourism Funding to Sunscreen

By

Jim Turner News Service of Florida

March 21, 2019 - 9:00am

Florida Senate leaders are putting up money to keep the state’s tourism arm alive, despite an effort by the state House to scrap the agency.

 

But the Senate's $50 million for Visit Florida comes with a hitch: The agency would be barred from promoting communities that have banned certain sunscreens.

 

The True Cost of Educating a K-12 Public School Student: TaxWatch Releases an Update

By

Sunshine State News

March 21, 2019 - 9:00am

A new report by taxpayer research institute 40-year-old Florida TaxWatch provides an update of the true average cost of educating a K-12 public school student in Florida. The government watchdog released a similar independent study in March 2017 that considered all categories of expenditures necessary for the operation of public schools.

Florida Senate Wants to Top DeSantis' Spending on Environment, Water Quality

By

Jim Turner News Service of Florida

March 20, 2019 - 3:30pm

The Florida Senate is topping Gov. Ron DeSantis’ request for environmental funding, despite early concerns about a tight budget and the need to react to Hurricane Michael.

 

The Senate Agriculture, Environment and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday released an initial $5.9 billion budget proposal that includes $656 million for Everglades restoration and water-quality efforts such as trying to reduce future outbreaks of toxic algae and red tide.

 

Francis Rooney, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell Want to Crack Down on Oxybenzone, Octinoxate Near National Marine Sanctuary System Coral Reefs

By

Kevin Derby

March 20, 2019 - 1:30pm

This week, two members of the Florida delegation unveiled a proposal to have the U.S. Commerce Department “issue regulations prohibiting the use of sunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate in a National Marine Sanctuary in which coral is present, and for other purposes.”

 

House Cuts Tourism, Economic Development Money

By

Jim Turner News Service of Florida

March 20, 2019 - 9:00am

The tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida would only be funded for three months, while Enterprise Florida wouldn’t get any state money as part of a budget proposal released Tuesday by a House panel for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

 

Also left out of the House proposal was continuation of an $85-million-a-year economic-development effort, known as the Job Growth Grant Fund, that was created in a compromise between the House and former Gov. Rick Scott.

 

Already Under Fire from NRCC, Stephanie Murphy Launches Bid for Third Term

By

Kevin Derby

March 20, 2019 - 9:00am

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., the chairwoman of the Blue Dog Coalition, announced on Tuesday that she plans to run for a third term in 2020. 

 

Murphy released a web video in which she announced she was running again. 

 

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