It may seem like years until the next election…actually it’s a bit more than a year and a half, but already there’s great anticipation of the 2014 race for Florida governor. Steven Rodriguez reports new polling numbers suggest Governor Rick Scott whose successful campaign was built on the mantra, “Jobs, jobs, jobs” may find his own job in jeopardy unless the numbers start falling his way.
The Florida Senate has allocated a billion dollar increase for education funding and the chamber’s education committee has now presented an outline for how that money will be spent. Lynn Hatter reports the Senate is restoring cuts to universities and plans to fund pay raises for teachers. But other parts of the proposal has some lawmakers raising questions.
A House panel has cleared a bill that seeks to get non-violent offenders from re-offending and going back to prison. But, as Sascha Cordner reports, while most provisions had much approval, the discussion later devolved into a matter between public vs. private operation of the inmate re-entry facilities.
Florida’s seaports are undergoing major renovations to get ready for the soon-to-be-complete widening of the Panama Canal and the influx of shipping that’s expected to bring. Jessica Palombo reports, a group of port advocates were in Tallahassee on Wednesday to thank lawmakers and Governor Scott for proposed ports funding in this year’s budget.
Regulating the nutrient levels in Florida waterways may be coming back into state hands. Since 2009 Florida and the federal government have been fighting over water quality standards and who should set them. Now Thomas-Andrew Gustafson reports Florida lawmakers have a bill that could mean a final deal that would get the feds out of the water quality regulating business in Florida.
A measure that would tighten up the rules for reselling certain kinds tickets is makings its way through the House, but Regan McCarthy reports, some are raising concerns the measure would make it more difficult to do things like earning a little extra cash from those unused season ticket you’re holding.