Religious and political temperatures rose Wednesday on the eve of a Senate vote on "anti-Sharia" legislation.
Muslim groups, joined by an array of religious leaders, condemned the distribution of literature criticizing Islamic law. One of the pieces, a pamphlet titled "Shari'ah Law: Radical Islam's Threat to the U.S. Constitution, was circulated by Sen. Alan Hays, sponsor of Senate Bill 1360.
Several tea parties have received what they call "intimidating letters" from the Internal Revenue Service demanding detailed lists of contributors, as well as contact information of members and speakers.
The IRS says it's just business as usual.
The IRS letters were triggered by the groups seeking 501(c)4 tax-exempt status, and these tea and patriot organizations complain that the IRS responses smack of a political fishing expedition, if not an outright witch hunt.
County, municipal, school district and other local government officials could consult with counterparts about consolidating services during a fiscal emergency, under a bill, SB 368, approved by the House on Wednesday.
The bill would also allow Gov. Rick Scott to suspend elected officials unable to resolve fiscal emergencies.
The bill is headed to Scotts desk as the Senate unanimously votedat the start of the session.
Comments are now closed.
With Super Tuesday complete, the Republican presidential hopefuls turned their focus toward states looming on the calendar -- Kansas, Alabama and Mississippi -- and to trying to nudge each other out of the race.
While the Florida Education Association says it's standing up for "the children," its Tallahassee-based bureaucracy has been fattening up.
Employee compensation at the FEA rose 7 percent from 2009 to 2010 (the latest year for which figures were available). A total of $13,251,879 was spread among 81 FEA employees (down one position from the year before).
That averages out to $163,603 per union functionary -- more than four times the average salary of classroom teachers the FEA purports to represent.
Comments are now closed.
A corporate tax credit scholarship would be available for private school vouchers under a bill approved by the House on Wednesday.
The House bill, HB 859, which seemingly comes up annually, removes the requirement that a child spend at least one year in the public school system before being eligible for the scholarship.
State staff has estimated the bill, heavily opposed by Democrats, could have a $10.3 million savings next year for the program that gives corporations a dollar-for-dollar tax credit.
Comments are now closed.
RELATED: Budget process unaffected, lawmakers say.
The governors office wasted little time filing an appeal to Circuit Judge Jackie Fulfords ruling Tuesday that requires all state employees to contribute 3 percent of their pay toward the pension program.
All Florida governors will be allowed to name the majority of those who appoint judges upon taking office. But Gov. Rick Scott wouldnt be allowed to remove those appointed by former Gov. Charlie Crist until their current terms expire.
In a close vote Wednesday, the Senate advanced SB 1570, which alters the terms of the five appointments by the governor to the nine-member Judicial Nominating Commission from staggered terms to at the pleasure of the governor."
Comments are now closed.
After winning six out of 10 contests on Super Tuesday, Mitt Romneys team made the argument that only their candidate has a legitimate shot at winning the Republican presidential nomination -- and that his GOP opponents are only helping Democrat incumbent President Barack Obama.
Comments are now closed.
The Senate Budget Committee, which includes more than half the members of the Senate, approved a negotiated package Wednesday that would provide more than $120 million in tax credits to a wide range of businesses and consumers in Florida.
Committee Chairman J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said the package, HB 7087, was the product of negotiations between the House and Senate.
This represents the consensus between the House and the Senate on what the tax package would look like, Alexander said.
