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Gardiner Claims Senate Presidency Won; Thrasher Not Done Campaigning

Brandon Larrabee News Service of Florida

February 22, 2012 - 6:00pm

Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner declared victory in the tumultuous race for the Senate presidency in 2014, even as one of his main rivals insisted it is far too early to call anything.

"There's been a lot of speculation, and I am confirming that I have secured enough signatures of the sitting members and the returning members for the Senate presidency in '14," said Gardiner, R-Orlando, after a Senate session that stretched late into Thursday evening.

Gardiner, who has long been the front-runner for the position, proclaimed himself "humbled" by the results.

Alexander Advancing USF-Poly as Florida's 12th Public University

Jim Turner

February 22, 2012 - 6:00pm

Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, moved closer Thursday to creating an educational legacy for himself in Central Florida.

But even after success in the Senate, he still has far to go.

He will first have to convince his House counterparts to create a 12th public university in the state by making the University of South Florida-Polytechnic an independent campus after supporters of the proposal said they couldnt make long-range economic forecasts on its cost.

Reps. Precourt, Stargel Back Pam Bondi over Birth-Control Edict

Submitted by Anonymous on February 23, 2012 - 8:12pm

State Reps. Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, and Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, issued the following statement backing Attorney General Pam Bondi in the challenge against the White House regulation to require religious-affiliated organizations, such as hospitals, schools and other community outreach programs to purchase employee health insurance that covers birth control and abortion-inducing drugs:

Comments are now closed.

Pam Bondi Joins Challenge to Obama’s Birth-Control Mandate

Submitted by Anonymous on February 23, 2012 - 7:43pm

Attorney General Pam Bondi released the following statement to announce her office has joined a challenge against the White House regulation to require religious-affiliated organizations such as hospitals, schools and other community outreach programs to purchase employee health insurance that covers birth control and abortion-inducing drugs:

Comments are now closed.

House Committee OKs Cutting Trauma Center Limits

Jim Saunders News Service of Florida

February 22, 2012 - 6:00pm

Amid an industry fight about new trauma centers in Clay, Pasco and Manatee counties, a House committee Thursday approved a bill that would eliminate limits on the number of trauma centers in the state.

The bill, HB 1419, would overhaul a process the Department of Health uses in reviewing proposed trauma centers and appears likely to make it easier to move forward with trauma projects.

Did 'The Great Society' Ruin Society?

Pat Buchanan

February 23, 2012 - 6:00pm

"I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs a repair, I'll fix it."

Marco Rubio Spent Youth in Mormon Faith, Office Confirms

Submitted by Anonymous on February 23, 2012 - 6:17pm

There's a fascinating piece on the website buzzfeed.com today recounting how Florida's Sen. Marco Rubio spent several years in his youth as an active participant in the Mormon church after being baptized into the faith with several members of his family while they were living in Las Vegas.

The article is based on reports from Rubio's relatives who still live in Nevada -- one of them a state senator -- and a confirmation from a Rubio spokesman. The family returned to Catholicism shortly before leaving Nevada and returning to Miami.

Comments are now closed.

Senate Backs Early Independence for USF-Polytechnic in Lakeland

Submitted by Anonymous on February 23, 2012 - 5:59pm

The Florida Senate agreed on Thursday, 35-4, to designate $39 million in the next fiscal year to the independence movement of the University of South Florida-Polytechnic in Lakeland.

Comments are now closed.

House Passes Housing Warranty Bill to Thwart 'Judicial Activism'

Submitted by Anonymous on February 23, 2012 - 5:06pm

The Florida House approved a measure Thursday that aids the state's housing industry by maintaining the current law on implied warranty.

House Bill 1013, sponsored by Rep. Frank Artiles, R-Miami, addresses an appellate decision that would expand the application of implied warranty for the first time in 40 years.

Pending review at the state Supreme Court, the 5th District Court of Appeals decision is the first in the country to extend the doctrine of implied warranty to offsite improvements.

Comments are now closed.

Florida's Pro-Business Image Improving 'Dramatically,' Scott Tells Mayors Group

Jim Turner

February 22, 2012 - 6:00pm

Gov. Rick Scott told mayors and community business leaders Thursday that the perception of Florida as being pro-business has improved "dramatically" in the past 12 months.

We have a lot of things going, Enterprise Florida is swamped right now. I know it isnt happening fast enough, Scott said during a luncheon at the Governors Club in Tallahassee.

Scott focused on his pro-jobs, reduced-regulations agenda as he headlined the "Mayors Mean Business" initiative sponsored by the Florida League of Mayors.

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