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City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor to Serve on HART Board

HART CEO Benjamin Limmer announced, "I am honored to welcome Mayor Castor to our Board of Directors. Mayor Castor's presence and leadership will shape the opportunity HART has to provide innovative and sustainable transportation solutions for decades to come.  Mayor Castor will be an asset to the HART Board of Directors and to the organization as a whole."
 

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Judge for Transit-Tax Lawsuit Admits 'A Lot of Pressure'

May 6, 2019 - 8:30am
Judge Rex Barbas

Acknowledging he feels pressure in deliberating and ruling on a lawsuit challenging the validity of the Hillsborough County sales tax for transit, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Rex Barbas nevertheless promised anything but a quick resolution to the issue.

Both sides participated in a marathon hearing Friday, with more arguments scheduled for Friday, May 31.

”This case has a lot of pressure,” Barbas remarked during public testimony. The judge also opined that the case will be appealed regardless of his ruling.

It's Done! 2019 Legislature Affects 10 Big Issues

May 4, 2019 - 5:00pm
Early afternoon Saturday: Senate President Bill Galvano thanks a weary Legislature

Florida lawmakers finished the 2019 legislative session Saturday by passing a budget for the upcoming year.

During the two-month session, lawmakers considered hundreds of bills and made $91.1 billion in spending decisions. It also was the first session for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and began the two-year terms of Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, and House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes.

Here are 10 big issues from the 2019 session:

PoliTICKS

What's Going on the Week of May 5

May 6, 2019 - 8:30am
Florida Capitol

Bay County was Trump country during the 2016 presidential election.

The Northwest Florida county gave 71 percent of its vote to Republican Donald Trump --- a margin of more than 40,000 votes over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Now, as Trump gears up for his 2020 re-election campaign, he will come to Bay County on Wednesday night for an early rally in the politically pivotal state.

Republicans have long relied on conservative Panhandle voters as a critical bloc in statewide races. But the dynamic could be a little different when Trump appears in Panama City Beach.

State Workers to See Insurance Changes

May 4, 2019 - 7:30am
Paul Renner

Changes could be coming to the state employees’ health insurance program under a bill passed Friday by lawmakers.

Some changes --- including the use of a drug formulary --- could take effect next year if the bill is signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Other changes won’t take effect until 2023.

To Thwart Fraud, GOP Legislature Makes Petition Gathering Harder

May 4, 2019 - 7:30am
Solar group gathers petitions in 2015

A measure intended to make it harder for citizens’ initiatives to reach the ballot is heading to Gov. Ron DeSantis, after proposed petition-gathering rules were tacked onto a bill in the waning hours of the last full day of the legislative session.

The House added the petition-gathering restrictions to a bill focused on local sales taxes (HB 5) and sent it to the Senate on Friday evening. The Senate then approved it, though a separate bill that included petition-gathering restrictions failed to make it through the Senate committee process during the session.

Everglades Forever Act's Anniversary: More than $2 Billion Invested in 25 Years

May 3, 2019 - 7:30pm
The Florida Everglades

Friday marked the 25th anniversary of a groundbreaking environmental law known as the Everglades Forever Act, one of the most significant in the history of the nation, let alone the state of Florida. The act has governed the restoration of water quality in Florida's Everglades since Lawton Chiles was governor in 1994.

DeSantis Signs Firefighter Cancer Benefits Bill

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed CS/CS/SB 426 Firefighters Friday, granting certain benefits to a firefighter upon receiving a diagnosis of cancer.  (See photo below.)
 

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Revamped Tax-Break Package Handed Back to the House

May 3, 2019 - 2:45pm

The Senate has amended and kicked back to the House a tentative $90 million tax-cut package in Florida’s proposed $91.1 billion fiscal year 2020 state budget for an 11th-hour endorsement before the legislative session draws to a conclusion Friday night.

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