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Weekly Roundup: All's Well That Ends ...

June 19, 2015 - 9:00pm

Finally, some might say mercifully, the special legislative session is done.

An outside chance remains that lawmakers might have to return to Tallahassee to address redistricting --- a challenge to congressional districts is pending in the Florida Supreme Court --- and there is a more-remote possibility that health care could bring people back to the Capitol.

But for now, lawmakers have completed their constitutional duty of passing an annual spending plan.

Don't mistake that for everybody being happy, though.

2015 Florida Legislature Finally Gets It Done, Adjourns With $79 Billion Budget

Allison Nielsen

June 19, 2015 - 8:00pm

With a $78.7 billion state budget approved -- and approved unanimously in both chambers -- two white handkerchiefs fell to the fourth floor of the Capitol Rotunda Friday evening, ending the marathon 2015 Legislature, including a three-week-long special session. It now rests with Gov. Rick Scott.

Senate Gives Floridians with Unique Abilities Big Boost

Sunshine State News

June 19, 2015 - 7:15pm

The Florida Senate, on the special session's last day, improved the lot of people with unique abilities when it passed SB 2500-A, an appropriations bill that increases funding for adults and children with disabilities by more than $230 million over base funding.

Hands Off Hamilton

Mona Charen

June 20, 2015 - 7:00am

They're coming for our money. OK, that's nothing new, but this time, the Obama administration is coming for our $10 bills -- the notes graced by the image of Alexander Hamilton. True to the identity politics of the Democratic Party, the Obama Treasury Department has announced that some worthy female will replace Hamilton on the currency.

We Talking about Florida Dems?

Henry Payne

June 20, 2015 - 2:00am

Rick Scott Will Take Victory Lap Across Florida for Tax Cuts

Submitted by Kevin Derby on June 19, 2015 - 11:59am

With the special legislative session ending, Gov. Rick Scott will be hitting cities across the Sunshine State to promote the more than $400 million in tax cuts passed this year.

Scott’s office announced on Friday that the governor will dash across Florida on Monday with scheduled visits to Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, St. Petersburg and West Palm Beach to showcase the tax cuts.

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State Unemployment Rate Inches Up to 5.7 Percent

Submitted by Kevin Derby on June 19, 2015 - 10:34am

While Gov. Rick Scott announced the creation of 16,200 private-sector jobs in May, the state unemployment rate inched up to 5.7 percent. In April, the rate stood at 5.6 percent.

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Vern Buchanan Pushes Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment

Submitted by Kevin Derby on June 19, 2015 - 10:25am

This week, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who sits on the House Budget Committee tried to rally support for the Constitutional Balanced Budget Amendment that he is supporting -- and he pointed to Florida as an example of a government that manages with a balanced budget.

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As King v. Burwell Looms, Florida GOP Congressmen Push Alternatives to Obamacare

Kevin Derby

June 19, 2015 - 10:15am

With the U.S. Supreme Court expected to rule next week on King v. Burwell, two Florida Republicans promoted alternatives to President Barack Obama’s federal health-care law this week.

King v. Burwell is a challenge to Obama’s law, specifically focused on whether health insurance tax credits can be run at both the federal and state levels. The plaintiffs insist only state exchanges can promote the tax credits.

Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson Team Up on Coast Guard Authorization

Kevin Derby

June 19, 2015 - 8:30am

From his perch as chairman of the U.S. Senate Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, brought out a bill focused on improving the Coast Guard on Thursday. Rubio was joined in his efforts by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

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