Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, May 5
May 5, 2008
House Sergeant at Arms Earnest W. Sumner (left) and Senate Sergeant at Arms Donald Severance, drop their hankies in the fourth floor rotunda at the State Capitol in the traditional Sine Die ceremony that officially ended the 2008 Florida Legislative session in Tallahassee. [This photo was taken by Scott Keeler, from the St. Petersburg Times]
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Florida legislation that passed and that failed
What passed? What failed?
Pasco’s Sinkhole Legislation Fails
Pasco County’s state lawmakers did their best to bring home the bacon this year, but they were unable to push through legislation aimed at reducing sinkhole damage claims in the county.
Lawmakers OK health-care plan for uninsured
State legislators approved a plan to provide basic health insurance Friday for nearly 4 million Floridians who can’t afford coverage, calling it ‘a giant step’ toward protecting the poor and working poor.
On Friday, Florida’s annual 60-day lawmaking session ended with legislators approving a $66.2 billion state budget and a law that would provide more affordable health care for autistic children, as well as the declaration of an official equine and saltwater reptile.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist wrings success out of legislative session
With a sluggish economy’s stranglehold on state finances, there should have been few winners at the 2008 legislative session.
Budget met with grins, grimaces
As Gov. Charlie Crist praised the Legislature for its “great work” Friday night, his own human services secretary, Bob Butterworth, stood a few feet away and gave a very different critique of the 2008 session.
Stark Florida budget might be weapon
Schools and health and human-services programs may not be the only losers emerging from the 2008 Legislature.
Statement by CFO Sink on the Legislature’s Passage of Annuity Fraud Bill
Legislation Targets Agents Using Predatory Annuity Practices Against Seniors
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink today congratulated members of the Florida Legislature for passing legislation (SB 2082) that seeks to combat annuity fraud, including strengthening fines against agents who target Floridians using fraudulent annuities sales practices.
Familiar Foe Files To Challenge For Brown-Waite’s Seat
The race for the 5th Congressional District seat just got a lot more interesting.
New laws give condo directors more power
The bill gives more freedom to condo directors when preparing for storms and dealing with the aftermath
Laws that govern how much power condo association directors have were signed by Gov. Charlie Crist last week.
Analysis: Why — and how — the ball on Central Florida’s commuter-rail project was dropped
Central Florida’s commuter-rail project failed in the Florida Legislature because its backers didn’t heed a cardinal rule of politics: Know your enemy.
Even the Insured Feel Strain of Health Costs
The economic slowdown has swelled the ranks of people without health insurance.
State employees’ salaries to stall, staffing to fall
What kind of legislative session have state employees had?
His last moments in power ticking away, House Speaker Marco Rubio kneaded his forehead with his hands and turned his back to the rest of the chamber. It had happened again.
Under pressure from South Florida homeowners, House to act on mortgage crisis
Pressed by desperate homeowners in South Florida, members of Congress are promoting legislation to try to stem the tide of home Foreclosures and prevent further erosion of property values.
Judge: Corps of Engineers can be sued over Katrina flooding
The Army Corps of Engineers can be held liable for flood damage caused by a ‘hurricane highway,’ a navigation channel that is believed to have funneled Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge into the city, a federal judge ruled Friday.
La. governor Jindal says focus on state, not D.C.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal dodged a question Friday on whether he would ‘promise’ not to join Republican presidential candidate John McCain as his running mate this fall. ‘He’s not going to ask me to run,’ Jindal said.
Flood Bill Reauthorization Possible Next Week
In a breakthrough, the Senate leadership is clearing the decks for consideration of legislation intended to reform and reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as early as next week, according to an insurance industry source.
U.S. Insurers Face Uphill Battle to Alter Foreign Insurers’ Tax Break
A coalition of U.S. insurers is calling on lawmakers to close a tax loophole that helps foreign insurers, and although it has won the support of presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, it faces a harder task convincing others.
Derivatives Hurt Profit at Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway, Warren E. Buffett’s investment company, said on Friday that first-quarter profit tumbled 64 percent, hurt by $1.6 billion of pretax losses tied to derivatives contracts.
Workers’ Comp For Illegal Aliens Sparking Debate Among Lawmakers
Can illegal immigrants receive workers’ compensation benefits?
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