May 2, 2019 - 8:15am
Senate Cool to Tax Changes for Hospitals, Charter Schools
May 2, 2019 - 8:00am
The Florida Senate could eliminate controversial proposals about charter schools and hospitals from a tax package that was approved last week by the House.
Sen. Kelli Stargel, a Lakeland Republican who is overseeing tax negotiations for the Senate, said Wednesday the Senate’s goal is to keep the package “to the ideas of what a tax package has historically been.”
Would a Lottery-Addiction Warning Make Florida a Nanny State? Lawmakers Divided
May 2, 2019 - 8:00am
Booze and beer don’t carry similar cautions, but some Republican lawmakers want people playing the state lottery to be warned that the games may be addictive.
With the 2019 legislative session in its final days, the Senate is considering a proposal that would require all lottery tickets to include a warning, which also would be part of any advertisements for the state-sponsored games.
The bill would require the tickets and promotions to include the words: “Warning: Lottery games may be addictive,” or “Play responsibly,” under an amendment approved Wednesday by the Senate.
South Florida Looks East as Wet, Windy Low Pressure System Approaches
May 1, 2019 - 3:00pm
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is giving an area of low pressure currently producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the Bahamas and moving toward Florida a 20 percent chance of developing into the first tropical storm of the year.
It's likely to take at least five days for that to happen, according to the NHC. The forecast, first hurricane season outlook of the year, is coming a full month before June 1, when daily tropical storm advisories begin.
Veterans Falling In Behind Buchanan's Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act
May 2, 2019 - 8:00am
Veterans groups are rallying behind a proposal from a Florida congressman to study connections between veteran suicide and opioids.
At the start of the year, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., introduced the “Veterans Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act" which would have the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) “review the deaths of all veterans it treated who died by suicide or from a drug overdose in the last five years.”
The U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on the bill on Tuesday and a host of veterans groups went to bat for it.
Francis Rooney, Lloyd Smucker Work to Bring Accountability to Labor, Education Departments
May 1, 2019 - 1:00pm
U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., is once again working with U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Penn., to hold federal employees accountable on performance and misconduct.
Last month, Smucker brought out the “Department of Labor Accountability Act” with Rooney as the main cosponsor. For his part, Rooney introduced the “Department of Education Whistleblower Protection Act” with Smucker supporting it.
Transparent
May 1, 2019 - 9:15am
Frederica Wilson Continues Her Campaign Against Boko Haram
May 4, 2019 - 7:30am
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., is continuing her efforts to shine the spotlight on terrorist group Boko Haram and its actions.
At the 11th Hour, House and Senate Agree on a $90 Billion 2019 Budget
Submitted by Nancy Smith on May 1, 2019 - 2:50am
Reaching a $90 billion budget deal late Tuesday night, the House and Senate look likely to finish the 2019 Florida legislative session on its 60th and final scheduled day.
The state Constitution mandates the budget be published and made available to lawmakers 72 hours before a final vote by both chambers can occur.
Comments are now closed.
House, Senate Still Grappling with 'Sanctuary City' Differences
May 1, 2019 - 9:00am
House and Senate Republicans support passing a ban on so-called sanctuary city policies, but differences between the chambers are stalling final passage of one of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ top legislative priorities.
The House late Tuesday night was preparing to take up the issue, but Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, had made clear the House does not support a Senate version of the bill. The House was expected to substitute its version for the Senate bill. Such a decision, however, could potentially send the “whole thing up in flames,” said Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine.
Pages
Live streaming of WBOB Talk Radio, a Sunshine State News Radio Partner.