After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

You probably can't imagine how much fun I've had at Sunshine State News over the last 10 years. I don't think anybody could.

By Nancy Smith

November 1, 2019 - 6:00am

Florida Continues to Flow Down History's River

By Kevin Derby

November 1, 2019 - 6:00am

Vacation Rental Giant on Winning Streak in Florida Courts

By JOHN HAUGHEY THE CENTER SQUARE

November 1, 2019 - 6:00am

Only You

By Henry Payne

November 1, 2019 - 6:00am

Politics

Message From the Ruins of Qusair

By Charles Krauthammer

Miami-Dade Agrees to $1.6 Billion Fix to Its Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure

By Sunshine State News

Say, What?

Gwen Graham: A Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean-Style Democrat If Ever the GOP Saw One

By Jeff Henderson

Same-Sex Marriage Debate Headed to 2016 GOP Primaries

By Jeff Henderson

GOP Defends Rick Scott's Veto of Immigrant Drivers Bill

By Jim Turner News Service of Florida

Marco Rubio Treads Lightly on Immigration Bill

By Jeff Henderson

Rick Scott Signs Anti-Infanticide Bill

By Eric Giunta

With Lautenberg Gone, WW II Vets Fade From Politics

By Michael Barone

You Think?

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By Kevin Derby

The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation released the seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers for January 2011 and found a slight decrease in the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate for January 2011 stood at 11.9 percent, down from 12 percent in December, meaning 1.1 million Floridians out of a pool of 9.28 million are unemployed.

Video: Don Gaetz on State Senate Health-Care Vote

By Kevin Derby

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Destin, released a video in which he touches on the passage of a measure in the state Senate on Wednesday, forwarding a proposed constitutional amendment to the 2012 ballot allowing Floridians to opt out of the federal health-care law backed by President Barack Obama.

Senate Passes Teacher Merit Pay Bill

By Kevin Derby

The Florida Senate passed a controversial bill Thursday that would tie teacher pay to performance and student learning. Senate Bill 736, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, would base 50 percent of a teacher's evaluation on student test scores, and those evaluations would determine teacher salaries, beginning in 2014. The bill would also phase out tenure for teachers, as each new teacher hired after July 1 would be offered a one-year contract.

Report: Dosal Tobacco Tax Bill is 'Dead on Arrival' in Florida House

Setting up a showdown with the Senate -- or killing it for good -- House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez Cantera and Rep. Erik Fresen say a bill to slap a tax on Dosal Tobacco Co. is "dead on arrival." The website Shark-Tank.net reported Thursday that Rep. John Tobias HB 1207 is going nowhere.

Rubio Blasts MIA Obama on Budget; Senate GOP Bloc Fractures

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio blasted President Barack Obama for being "absolutely absent" from the Senate debate over the budget. "He is nowhere to be found. He refuses to engage," Rubio told Miami radio station WIOD Thursday morning.

Mitt Romney Doubles Down on Florida Republicans in Congress

By Kevin Derby

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney doubled down his bets on Florida Republicans as Free and Strong America PAC, a leadership group with ties to the former and almost certainly future candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, supported incumbents in Congress. There are many important issues facing Congress and the nation, said Romney. By showing our support for Republican candidates who are fighting for conservative principles in Washington, we hope to influence the national debate on jobs, taxes, the economy and the budget.

NASA: 150 Twitter Followers To Be Invited to Last Shuttle Lift-Off

By Nancy Smith

NASA will give 150 of its Twitter followers an insider's look at the nation's space program and the opportunity to view a space shuttle launch in person. The fourth shuttle launch Tweetup, scheduled April 18-19, will be held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA explains:

Critics Say Senate's Early Scheduling of Immigration Legislation is a Nightmarish DREAM

Signs are growing that Senate Republican leaders already have gone squishy soft on immigration legislation. Just three days into the session, a bill that would give in-state tuition benefits to illegal aliens was scheduled for a Judiciary Committee hearing on March 14. This clone of the failed federal DREAM Act is sponsored by Sen. Gary Siplin. Its House mate, HB 55, is being carried by Reps. Dwight Bullard and Hazelle Rogers. All are Democrats. Meantime, an E-Verify bill by Republican Sen. Alan Hays has yet to receive a Senate committee date.

Rich Nugent Introduces Congressional Pension Reform

By Kevin Derby

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent filed his first piece of legislation on Wednesday, a measure allowing members of Congress to opt out of their pension system. When I was filing all of the employment paperwork prior to being sworn in as a congressman, I was shocked to learn that I was not permitted to decline the congressional pension, said Nugent. I was able to decline federally funded health insurance, but not the pension.Apparently, under current law, I am required to take it whether I like it or not.

Post Traumatic Stress Disordered Veterans Would Get Break From SB 138

By Nancy Smith

Senate Bill 138, a measure that would give a break to veterans convicted of crimes that stem from their military combat, breezed through the Criminal Justice Committee Wednesday. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, the bill specifically names post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and psychological problems as reasons for granting a hearing on the underlying health issue before sentencing. It would also provide that veterans convicted because of these causes may be placed in treatment programs rather than be sentenced to probation or community service.

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After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

Florida Continues to Flow Down History's River

Vacation Rental Giant on Winning Streak in Florida Courts

Only You

Politics

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