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Senate Committee: Regulate, Instead of Ban, Internet Cafes

Submitted by Anonymous on January 19, 2012 - 2:14pm

Senate Regulated Industries favored Thursday, by an 8-1 vote, regulation rather than a prohibition of Internet cafes as a House committee supported earlier in the week.

These regulations were proposing make it really, really clear, said Sen. Miguel Diaz de La Portilla, R-Coral Gables. These games and these terminals are for amusement only.

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At Disney, Obama Stumps for Visas ... And Votes

Kenric Ward

January 18, 2012 - 6:00pm

Appearing at Florida's top tourist attraction on Thursday, President Obama ordered more U.S. visas issued more quickly to visitors from Brazil and China.

"We want to tell the world America is open for business," the president said at Disney World. "We want America to be the top tourist destination in the world."

Visa-processing backlogs in Brazil -- which sent the most international tourists to Florida last year -- were cited by the president as a stumbling block.

"We make it too hard for them," Obama said of tourists from Brazil, China and India.

House Allocations Challenge Senate to Complete Budget

Jim Turner

January 18, 2012 - 6:00pm

The House has upped its call to complete the budget, without the need for a mid-session spring break, in the regular 60-day session.

But the prodding isn't expected to change the pace of the Senate's budget deliberations.

House Speaker Dean Cannon on Thursday posted a budget allocation package for the next fiscal year that matches Gov. Rick Scotts call for at least $1 billion in additional funding for education while challenging the Senate to confront a tough budget within the scheduled timeline.

Bachmann Campaign: No Endorsement Yet

Submitted by Nancy Smith on January 19, 2012 - 12:49pm

"Bachmann for President" Communications Director Alice Stewart issued the following response to an endorsement-related statement distributed to South Carolina voters yesterday:

"The 'Bachmann for President' campaign has not issued an official statement regarding an endorsement of any current candidate in the GOP race ahead of the South Carolina primary. Any information found to the contrary is inaccurate."

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Scott Firm in Opposing Rise in Corporate Taxes

Jim Turner

January 18, 2012 - 6:00pm

Gov. Rick Scott repeated Thursday that he isnt interested in efforts by Democrats to end tax breaks for corporations that members of the minority party say cost the state $500 million a year in revenue.

Scott, speaking before the Florida Retail Federation at the Hotel Duval in Tallahassee, said the state needs to provide incentives to attract business.

Every dollar you take out of the private sector, thats hurting the economy, hurting business, Scott said.

Scott 'Hopes' Floridians Continue to Build Private-Sector Jobs

Submitted by Anonymous on January 19, 2012 - 12:12pm

Rick Scott declined to make a prediction about unemployment numbers for December, due Friday from the Department of Economic Opportunity.

With his next monthly "report card" looming, and despite receiving daily updates on the jobs placed by state workforce agencies, Scott would only say Thursday that he "hopes" Florida will continue its trend in having the unemployment percentage decrease while the number of private-sector jobs grows.

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Bobby Jindal Joins CPAC 2012 Featured Speaker List

Submitted by Nancy Smith on January 19, 2012 - 11:23am

The American Conservative Union announced Thursday that Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will be a featured speaker at CPAC 2012 the 39th annual Conservative Political Action Conference.

Americas largest gathering of conservative leaders and activists will be Thursday, Feb. 9, to Saturday, Feb. 11, in Washington, D.C. The newly re-elected Jindal had his second-term inauguration this week, following a landslide victory last fall where he swept nearly 70 percent of the Pelican State vote. This will be his first appearance at CPAC.

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Democrats Release 'Guiding Principles' for 2012 Session

Submitted by Anonymous on January 19, 2012 - 11:23am

The Democratic caucuses in the Florida House and Senate released a set of Guiding Principles for the minority party as it works through the 2012 legislative session.

It has become clear to Democrats in the Legislature that it is not enough to just speak out against bad ideas and policies, Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, stated in a release.

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry Drops Out of Race for GOP Nomination

Submitted by Anonymous on January 19, 2012 - 11:18am

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is conducting a news conference in South Carolina at this hour to announce he is suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination.

He endorsed former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, if with some reluctance.

"Newt is not perfect," Perry said, "but who among us is?"

Perry called his decision to suspend the campaign a "strategic retreat," possibly hinting at plans for a future bid.

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Senate Committee Backs Closing Loophole on Drug Repackaging

Submitted by Anonymous on January 19, 2012 - 10:50am

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee gave first backing for a Florida Chamber of Commerce- and Florida Insurance Council-backed bill to cap how much medical offices could charge when dispensing medication prescribed by an on-site physician.

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