♪
>> HI I'M THERESA MARSENBURG
WITH A LOOK AT STATE
GOVERNMENT HEADLINES.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS PRESENTED
THE FIRST BILL FROM THE SPECIAL
SESSION TO THE GOVERNOR WHICH
MEANS HE HAS UNTIL JUNE 22 TO
ACT ON A SERIES OF TAX CUTS
PASSED TODAY BY THE HOUSE AND
SENATE.
REBECCA BAER HAS MORE ON THE
BILL THAT THEY CALLED THE BEST
PACKAGE THEY HAVE SEEN IN FIVE
YEARS EVEN THOUGH HE VOTED
AGAINST IT.
>> VOTING 34-2 ON MONDAY
SENATORS SENT A BILL CONTAINING
$400 MILLION IN TAX CUTS TO THE
HOUSE.
AMONG OTHER THINGS THE MEASURE
WOULD REDUCE TAXES ON CELL PHONE
AND CABLE BILLS AND ELIMINATE
THE SALES TAX ON COLLEGE
TEXTBOOKS.
IT WOULD ALSO CREATE A 10 DAY
SALES TAX HOLIDAY ON SCHOOL
SUPPLIES.
>> THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST TAX
PACKAGE I HAVE EVER SEEN.
>> SENATOR JEFF CLEMENS WAS
AMONG THOSE WHO PRAISED THE BILL
HOWEVER HE SAID HE COULDN'T
SUPPORT IT BECAUSE HEALTH CARE
AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WERE
MORE IMPORTANT.
>> WE ARE NOT EXPANDING MEDICAID
TO 850,000 PEOPLE IN THE STATE
OF FLORIDA.
IN MY ESTIMATION AND I KNOW
THERE'S DISAGREEMENT IN THIS
CHAMBER,
WE ARE NOT FULLY FUNDING
AMENDMENT 1 IN THE WAY THAT MY
CONSTITUENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE
IT FUNDED AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR
ME TO GO BACK ONTO FOLKS AND LET
THEM KNOW WE PASSED A
400 MILLION PLUS DOLLARS IN TAX
BREAKS NO MATTER HOW GOOD THEY
ARE WHEN WE ARE NOT FUNDING
THOSE PRIORITIES.
>> ANOTHER PROVISION THAT
PROVIDES TAX BREAKS FOR BOAT
REPAIRS ALSO DREW DEBATE.
IT LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF SALES
TAX COLLECTED TO $60,000.
SOME MEMBERS SAID THAT EQUATES
TO AT MINIMUM OF
$1 MILLION.
>> I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT
IS FOR THE WEALTHY AND THE VERY
WEALTHY AND DOES NOTHING FOR THE
LITTLE GUY.
>> THIS PROVISION IN SENATOR
HUKILL'S BILL WHICH I HAD
REQUESTED AND I HAD ASKED FOR IS
NOT ABOUT SAVING MILLIONAIRES
MONEY.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING JOBS FOR
PEOPLE WHO AREN'T MILLIONAIRES.
IT'S ABOUT BUILDING UP AN
INDUSTRY HERE IN FLORIDA TO DO
THAT KIND OF WORK AND TAKE AWAY
THE COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE
THAT THOSE INDUSTRIES HAVE.
>> AFTER PASSING THE SENATE THE
FULL HOUSE HAD ITS FIRST LOOK OF
A BILL THAT DIFFERED SLIGHTLY
FROM THE TAX PACKAGE HOUSE
MEMBERS PASS.
THAT BILL INCLUDED A SMALL
BUSINESS SATURDAY SALES TAX
HOLIDAY AND REDUCTION IN TAXES
ON THE RENT PAID BY BUSINESSES.
THEY WERE CONCESSIONS SOME
MEMBERS WEREN'T HAPPY TO MAKE.
>> WE ALL KNOW THAT SMALL
BUSINESS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A
MAJORITY OF THE GDP AND EMPLOYS
MOST OF THE FOLKS AND I KNOW.
THIS CHAMBER BELIEVES STRONGLY
IN SMALL-BUSINESS AND HAS
SUPPORTED AND SHOWN THAT.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THEY DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
SMALL BUSINESS LIKE WE DO.
>> BUT IT WAS ANOTHER CHANGE THE
SENATE MADE TO EXTEND THE
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY
THAT PERSUADED SOME MEMBERS TO
SUPPORT THE BILL.
>> I THINK THE 10 DAYS WILL
REALLY GIVE OUR PARENTS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE SHOPPING
THAT'S NECESSARY AND TO GET THE
TAX RELIEF.
>> ALTERNATELY NEARLY EVERY
MEMBER VOTED FOR THE BILL BUT
THE IDEA THAT THE ITEMS WERE
MOVED FROM THEIR PROPOSAL WILL
BE TAKEN UP NEXT YEAR.
>> I THINK FOR THE MOST PART THE
SENATE LOOKS FAVORABLY ON THE
TAXES THE HOUSE WANTED TO CUT
AND AS WE GO INTO NEXT YEAR WE
CAN DO EVEN MORE.
>> THE MEASURE WILL NOW BE
PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNOR WHO
HAS PROPOSED $673 MILLION IN TAX
CUTS FOR HIS CONSIDERATION.
FOR THE FLORIDA CHANNEL I AM
REBECCA BAER.
>> WEEKEND BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS
DEAL WITH MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
AGREEMENTS IN THE AREAS OF
TRANSPORTATION ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM AS WELL
AS AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL
RESOURCES.
ON SATURDAY MORNING SENATOR TOM
LEE AND CORCORAN PRESENTED
ECONOMIC SETTLEMENT FUNDING FOR
ENTERPRISE FLORIDA AT $35
MILLION.
HOWEVER THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
REQUEST WAS $85MILLION TO HELP
BUSINESSES TO RELOCATE OR EXPAND
HERE.
>> WHEN THE BUDGETS ARE DONE I
MEAN IT WILL GET TO A POINT WHEN
EVERYONE WILL FIND SOME DEGREE
OF SATISFACTION.
>> THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PACKAGE INCLUDES 1.5MILLION FOR
THE STATEWIDE BUSINESS BRANDING
EFFORTS THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE
10MILLION FOR ENTERTAINMENT
COMPANIES TO MAKE MOVIES IN
FLORIDA.
>> I THINK THERE ARE MEMBERS ON
BOTH SIDES WHO BELIEVE THOSE ARE
HELPFUL AND MEMBERS ON BOTH
SIDES THAT THINK IT DOESN'T DO
ANYTHING SO I THINK THOSE TYPES
OF ISSUES ARE BETTER HAVING
COMMITTEES AND LETTING THOSE
PERCOLATE THROUGH THE PROCESS
AND NOT SO MUCH IN THE BUDGET
SESSION.
>> BY SUNDAY EVENING BUDGET
COMMITTEES PRESENTED
ENVIRONMENTAL DETAILS.
THOSE INCLUDE 81.8MILLION FOR
EVERGLADES RESTORATION,
49MILLION FOR SPRINGS
RESTORATION AND 55MILLION FOR
LAND ACQUISITION.
IN THE FALL VOTERS PASSED AN
AMENDMENT THAT CALLED ON THE
STATE TO SPEND ONE-THIRD OF THE
AMOUNT COLLECTED FROM REAL
ESTATE TRANSACTIONS FOR LAND AND
WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
THE HOUSE WANTED TO PURCHASE
MORE LAND BY BONDING BUT AGREED
WITH THE SENATE NOT TO PAY FOR
PROJECTS IN THAT MANNER.
>> ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE
CRITICAL FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL
COMMUNITY AND WE DO HAVE A
BACKLOG OF EXISTING PROJECTS AND
PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
WORK THROUGH THE SYSTEM AS I
SAID WITHOUT BONDING, WITHOUT
PULLING FORWARD A LARGE SUM OF
MONEY TO DROP INTO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS AND LAND
ACQUISITIONS.
WE WERE LIMITED TO WHAT WE COULD
DO.
I HAVE TRIED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
IN THE ABSENCE OF BONDING TO
TAKE A TWO-YEAR VIEW OF THIS.
WE WILL BE BACK HERE SHORTLY AND
PERHAPS WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO LEVERAGE THE AMENDMENT ONE
LAND ACQUISITION TRUST FUND
MONEY BETTER IN THE COMING
YEARS.
>> WHEN ASKED IF THE
CONSERVATION ALLOCATION WOULD
PRESENT A LAWSUIT FROM THOSE WHO
SAY IT'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY
SENATOR LEE SAYS HE'S CONFIDENT
THERE WILL BE LITIGATION.
MEETINGS WERE EXPECTED MONDAY
EVENING TO COMPLETE REMAINING
BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, IN
PARTICULAR THE EDUCATION BUDGET.
WHILE THE HOUSE AND SENATE LAST
WEEK TENTATIVELY AGREED ON A
STUDENT SPENDING INCREASE AS OF
MONDAY AFTERNOON THERE WERE
UNRESOLVED ISSUES.
BOTH THE SENATE PRESIDENT HOUSE
SPEAKER SAY THEY ARE CONFIDENT
THAT THE BUDGET NEGOTIATORS WILL
FINISH BY TUESDAY.
>> WE ARE NOT DONE YET.
IT WILL BE A LONG DAY BUT MY
HOPE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD HAVE
A BUDGET ON EVERYBODY'S DESK
TOMORROW AND VOTE ON THE BUDGET
ON FRIDAY AND THEN HEAD HOME.
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST WE INTEND
TO CANCEL SESSION ON WEDNESDAY
SO WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE
FROM HERE IS NO SESSION
WEDNESDAY.
WE WILL COME BACK ON THURSDAY.
WE WILL DEBATE ON THE BUDGET
BILL ON THURSDAY AND VOTE ON THE
BUDGET SOME TIME ON FRIDAY.
HAVING SAID THAT UNTIL WE
KNOW-- WE WON'T KNOW WHAT TIME
THAT IS UNTIL THE BUDGET BILL IS
PUT ON THE DESK.
THAT SHOULD TAKE PLACE SOMETIME
LATER TOMORROW.
>> LAWMAKERS ARE REQUIRED TO
REVIEW THE BUDGET FOR THREE DAYS
BEFORE THEY CAN TAKE A VOTE BUT
WHEN THAT VOTE TAKES PLACE HOUSE
MINORITY LEADER MARK PAFFORD
SAID HE WILL LIKELY VOTE NO
ARGUING LAWMAKERS OFFER TAX CUTS
OVER HELPING VULNERABLE
FLORIDIANS.
>> WE TALK ABOUT WAIT LISTS.
THOSE WAIT LISTS ARE GOING TO BE
GONE ANYTIME SOON.
THOSE WAIT LISTS ARE GOING TO BE
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SENIORS AND
FRAIL PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES OR UNIQUE ABILITIES
I SHOULD SAY.
YOU KNOW I MEAN THAT IS
SOMETHING WE DEAL WITH EVERY
YEAR AND WE KNOCK A FEW PEOPLE
OFF A 50,000 PERSON LIST.
>> YOU CAN CONTINUE TO WATCH
BUDGET CONFERENCES RIGHT HERE ON
THE FLORIDA CHANNEL YOUR ONLY
SOURCE FOR UNEDITED COVERAGE OF
THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WITH OUR
SIGNATURE GAVEL-TO-GAVEL
COVERAGE OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
SEVERAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS SAY
THEY HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT
WITH THE GOVERNOR AND CABINET IN
THEIR LAWSUIT CLAIMING THAT
STATE LEADERS VIOLATED THE
SUNSHINE LAW.
THE "MIAMI HERALD" AND OTHERS
ARGUED THAT FLORIDA SUNSHINE
LAWS WERE VIOLATED WHEN FDLE
COMMISSIONER GERALD BAILEY WAS
ASKED TO STEP DOWN IN DECEMBER.
SOME OF THE CHANGES OUTLINED IN
THE AGREEMENT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
INSTITUTED SUCH AS MANDATORY
SUNSHINE TRAINING FOR CABINET
AIDES.
ANOTHER TERM CALLS FOR THE
RELEASE OF PRIVATE E-MAIL
MESSAGES CONTAINING STATE
BUSINESS.
THE SETTLEMENT WHICH ALSO
INCLUDED ATTORNEY AIDES MUST BE
APPROVED AT ITS NEXT MEETING
JUNE23.
IN THE STATE'S LARGEST TEACHERS
UNION HAS DECIDED TO APPEAL A
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE'S RULING
INVOLVING THE STATE'S PRIVATE
SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM.
JUDGE GEORGE REYNOLDS RULED LAST
MONTH THE FDA LACKED LEGAL
STANDING TO SUE THE STATE.
PLAINTIFFS INCLUDING GERALDINE
THOMPSON FILED AN APPEAL TODAY
BUT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ALLOWS
LOW-INCOME STUDENTS TO ATTEND
PRIVATE SCHOOLS THROUGH THE USE
OF FUNDS THAT COMPANIES DONATE
TO THE STATE.
IN RETURN THOSE COMPANIES
RECEIVE A DOLLAR PER DOLLAR
CREDIT ON TAXES OWED TO THE
STATE.
HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OTHER
ACTION ON THE HORIZON THIS WEEK
IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
♪
>> AT THE PARIS AIR SHOW TODAY
GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT AND LEADERS
FROM ENTERPRISE FLORIDA
ANNOUNCED THAT MORE THAN 300 NEW
JOBS WILL BE COMING HERE.
THE GOVERNOR CUT THE RIBBON,
OPENING THE FLORIDA PAVILION AT
THE AIR SHOW.
SOME OF THE NEW JOBS WILL COME
FROM AIRCRAFT COMPANIES THAT
WILL EXPAND OPERATIONS IN
BREVARD COUNTY ADDING 150 NEW
JOBS.
ALSO ON THE LIST LOCKHEED-MARTIN
EXPANDING AT CAPE CANAVERAL WITH
AT LEAST 100 NEW HIRES.
ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY PLANS FOR
SPACE FLORIDA THE STATE'S
AEROSPACE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AGENCY TO TAKE OVER THE NASA
SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY.
WITH IT SPACE FLORIDA HOPES TO
ATTRACT COMPANIES.
AN EARLIER VOTE BY THE STATES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS WAS POSTPONED
DUE TO STATE BUDGET UNCERTAINTY.
THIS MORNING IT WAS NOTED THAT
NOTHING IS FINALIZED BY THE
LEGISLATURE BUT BOARD MEMBERS
SAY THEY ARE RECEIVING POSITIVE
VIBES.
>> IT'S AN ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT
WILL FORM THE CENTERPIECE FOR
THE STATES COMMERCIAL HORIZONTAL
INFRASTRUCTURE OFFERINGS TO THE
MARKETPLACE.
>> SPACE FLORIDA ANTICIPATES
SPENDING 200,000 PER MONTH OVER
THE FIRST TWO YEARS TO OPERATE
AND DEVELOP THE COMMUNITY SITE.
THEY HOPE TO BREAK EVEN WITHIN
36 MONTHS OF STARTING COMMERCIAL
OPERATIONS.
GOVERNOR SCOTT SAY THE DEAL
GIVES FLORIDA AN ADVANTAGE OVER
OTHER STATES COMPETING FOR
AEROSPACE JOBS.
THE FORMAL HANDOVER FROM NASA TO
TO WILL OCCUR AT A SIGNING
CEREMONY ON JUNE 22.
A MAN IN SOUTH FLORIDA COULD
WIND UP IN PRISON IF HE'S FOUND
GUILTY OF KILLING A TINY RARE
DEER.
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE
OFFICERS ARRESTED GRANT WILSON
SATURDAY ON BIG PINE KEY.
THEY SAY HE USED A PELLET GUN TO
SHOOT AND KILL A DEER.
HE THEN HID THE CARCASS OUTSIDE
OF HIS PROPERTY.
THEY ARE THE SMALLEST SPECIES OF
WHITE TAILED DEER IN THE WORLD
WITH MALES REACHING ONLY ABOUT
30 INCHES IN HEIGHT.
THEY ARE LISTED AS AN ENDANGERED
SPECIES SO IT'S A FELONY TO KILL
ONE WITH PENALTIES THAT INCLUDE
UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON AND A
FINE OF UP TO $5000.
WITNESSES REPORTED THE SHOOTING
TO THE FWC AND OFFICERS SAY
WILSON HAS CONFESSED.
FOR MORE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
STATE GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK CHECK
YOUR LOCAL LISTING FOR THE NEXT
EDITION OF "CAPITOL UPDATE" AND
BE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. 406 00:13:23,102 ♪