OK, the door to power and prominence is about to close on Florida's term-limited legislators. It's a blow to the ego, I get it. But what's with the nauseating, never-ending farewell speeches?
The Florida House is poised to approve a plan to shut down Internet cafe games that critics compare to slot machines, but two key senators said Wednesday that such a ban would die in the Senate.
"I don't think the House's ban is going to get anywhere after it leaves the House, that's for sure,'' said Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a Miami Republican who is sponsoring an alternative proposal to regulate Internet cafes.
The chances for the comprehensive but "realistic" energy package championed by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, a topic neglected by legislators for several years, may be running out of juice as the session winds down.
Agriculture Department spokesman Sterling Ivey said that while Putnam hasnt been twisting arms to get the Legislature to approve its first energy plan since 2007, hes been meeting with members all week on the energy bill.
And he's going to keep trying.
Nobody has ever accused me of being disrespectful of people of faith. Any faith. Im on the lunatic fringe of respect and tolerance for belief systems ranging from Anglicanism to Zoroastrianism.
Students would be allowed to run their own inspirational prayer session, regardless of the message, at school events under a Senate bill that was moved toward a third and final vote by the Florida House on Wednesday.
The bill, SB 98, would allow school districts to adopt resolutions that let students use inspirational messages, without backing or influence from the district or district employees, at school-sanctioned exercises or assemblies.
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I have long been puzzled by the enthusiasm with which many young liberal bloggers cheer on proposals to raise tax rates on high earners. I can understand why they might favor them, but not why they seem to invest so much psychic energy in the issue.
Sen. Marco Rubio and six Florida congressmen -- all Republicans -- earned top scores from the conservative Club for Growth for their votes on key issues last year.
Rubio's 97 percent score ranked him 10th in the Senate and garnered a "Defender of Economic Freedom Award." Other senators receiving the award were Pat Toomey, R-Pa.; Dan Coats, R-Ind.; Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.; Jon Kyl, R-Ariz; and Jim Inhofe, R-Okla.
Five senators boasted perfect scores in 2011: Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; Tom Coburn, R-Okla.; Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; and Mike Lee, R-Utah.
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR
March 1, 2012
Pull out the streamers and raise the pita Its an exciting day in the world of Sunshine State News: March 1, 2012, marks our second anniversary delivering Floridas political news and insight to all of our dedicated readers. Thanks to so many of you who have written, phoned and emailed to give us your feedback and tell us you like what were doing!
The Florida House of Representatives on Friday will introduce a resolution honoring the state's electrical lineworkers, designating Aug. 26 "Lineworker Appreciation Day," according to the Florida Municipal Electric Association.
The date was chosen in honor of Marc Moore, a 31-year-old lineman for Lakeland Electric who died in an electrical accident while working on Aug. 26, 2002.
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