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House Sets Stage to Conference with Senate

April 5, 2010 - 6:00pm

With both chambers of the Legislature passing their initial budgets last week, the House spent early Tuesday evening paving the way to meet with the Senate in conference to hammer out a final budget.

Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the House was following a procedural roadmap that would pave the way for conferencing with the Senate.

This will get us into a conference posture, he said.

That line was echoed several times as the House took up a number of bills from the Senate and quickly passed them with almost no debate.

McCollum Raises $1.4 million

Submitted by Kevin Derby on April 6, 2010 - 6:29pm

Attorney General Bill McCollum just announced that his gubernatorial campaign has reeled in $1.4 million during the first quarter of 2010. This is the same amount that he raised in the last quarter of 2009. This means that McCollum has now raised $4.7 million for his campaign.

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House OKs Sales Tax Holiday

Kevin Derby

April 5, 2010 - 6:00pm

Having passed the first version of its budget last week, the Florida House met on Tuesday to tackle economic issues, including creating a sales tax holiday just in time for back-to-school shopping and forming an organization to invest in Floridas ports.

The House created a three-day sales tax holiday running from Aug. 13 until Aug. 15. During that period, books, clothes, shoes and book bags under $50 and school supplies under $10 would be exempt from sales tax.

Crist Wrong on Affiliated Party Committees, Says Senate Majority Leader

Submitted by Kevin Derby on April 6, 2010 - 5:55pm

Crist has vetoed legislation allowing presiding House and Senate leaders to create fundraising committees for candidates, and Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, is calling him out.

The legislation would have created Affiliated Party Committtees, which allow the Senate president, House speaker and minority leaders to set up fundraising committees for candidates in their political parties. Critics have said the committees will resurrect "leadership funds," unregulated slush funds banned in the state for 20 years.

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Intersection for a Disaster

George Will

April 5, 2010 - 6:00pm

WASHINGTON -- The times truly are out of joint when the most important IPO -- initial public offering -- of 2010 could come from what was American capitalism's iconic corporation for most of its 102 years. Andrew Bary, writing in Barron's, says General Motors "may go public in the second half of this year, and its stock market value could top $50 billion, more than Ford's $40 billion."

Discount Prescription Drugs for All, Crist Announces

Alex Tiegen

April 5, 2010 - 6:00pm

Gov. Charlie Crist announced Tuesday that he wants to make reduced-cost drugs available to all Floridians.

In a press conference with Douglas Beach, secretary of the state Department for Elder Affairs, Crist said he was lifting the age and income limit for his Florida Discount Drug Card program.

To have a discount drug card available to every Floridian regardless of age is extraordinary, Crist said in a press conference.

Michael Steele: Pride or Prejudice?

Kathleen Parker

April 5, 2010 - 6:00pm

WASHINGTON -- When you're Michael Steele, there's no waking up and thinking: Ahhhh, at least the worst is over.

Whatever the week, Monday is the start of another very bad one. No exception to the trend, this week began dramatically.

Lawmakers to Be Honored for Housing Efforts

April 5, 2010 - 6:00pm

State Sen. Mike Bennett is a true champion. State Rep. Gary Aubuchon is a housing hero. And Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink? A defender of the common man.

That's according to the Sadowski Housing Coalition, a nonpartisan group of organizations dedicated to affordable housing. The coalition is pushing bills that would repeal a cap on a housing trust fund, which was established in 1992 and funnels money toward affordable housing.

Rubio steps up to the plate at Dodgertown

Submitted by Anonymous on April 6, 2010 - 4:40pm

Dodgertown, the former spring-training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is primed to see its biggest crowd in years.

Marco Rubio is coming to Vero Beach.

The Indian River County Tea Party has lined up the GOP gubernatorial candidate as keynote speaker for its Tax Day rally on April 16.

The free event runs from noon to 1 p.m. Plan on arriving early.

Last year's rally, held in front of the county administration building, drew more than 2,000 people. Organizers in the staunchly Republican county are expecting bigger attendance numbers in this election year.

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Seminole Deal a Go, Pari-Mutuels Miffed

Alex Tiegen

April 5, 2010 - 6:00pm

The Seminole Tribe of Florida approved the long-debated gambling compact with the state on Wednesday -- an agreement that could bring Florida at least $1 billion, but could eventually doom some dog and horse tracks.

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