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State lawmakers are deadlocked over several key tax cutting ideas and have decided to take the weekend off and work behind the scenes. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, there are three key sticking points in the tax debate.

Hear it Here: Property Tax Limbo

Seniors will get a tax break on their home�s first 100 thousand dollars of value…or maybe more..how much is a bone of contention in the property tax negotiations. A second sticking point is whether to cap future increases on all property..not just homesteads. It is something House negotiators want.

�I�m of the opinion that you should never call anything �deal breaker� until you can�t make a deal. We�re working on all of these issues and trying to come up with a consensus,� Rep. Dean Cannon said.

For the second day in a row, lawmakers asked for divine guidance.

�When things look hopeless and it appears impossible to develop a plan…�

A third sticking point is a plan that would set homestead exemptions at 40 percent of the median value in a county…rather than setting a flat 50 thousand dollar exemption. But specific numbers on the differing plans weren�t available so the House canceled its daily session.

�Come back 3 p.m. Monday. We�ll see how it goes from there,� House Speaker Marco Rubio said.

Governor Charlie Crist called a morning news conference to talk about his latest ideas on property taxes. But when lawmakers called it quits for the weekend, he canceled.

The Governor did call reporters to his office to say he continues to be optimistic.

�I want to make sure we stay focused on how this affects Florida families,� Crist said. �And that they need this relief, they deserve to have it and the House and Senate will deliver it to them.�

Lawmakers have an October 29th deadline if they want to put a tax cut on the January 29th ballot.

After a week of trying tor reach agreement on a property tax cut, state lawmakers are taking the weekend off. A lot of ideas are under consideration. The main disagreements come over how much seniors could expect in a tax break, and whether every property owner should have future increases in value capped along the same lines as the 3 percent cap for Save Our Homes. House minority leader Dan Gelber says there are lot of good ideas. The problem, says Gelber, is finding one a large majority of Floridians can agree upon.

�We�ve got to get 60 percent of the public to agree,� Gelber said. �If we cut education substantially, well guess what, Teachers, parents and a lot of Floridians are going to be very upset about that. It�s not going to get 60 percent. If we do something to local government that might offend the citizens of that government, we may lose 60 percent right there.�

Lawmakers have until October 29th to reach agreement.

Florida Democrats will lose all of their delegates to the national convention� because the state primary is being held in January. The state GOP may lose half of their delegates because of the early primary. In response, a Democratic State Representative has filed legislation for the special session now underway to move the primary back to February. Rep. Elaine Schwartz of Hollywood says the move would benefit both parties.

�It seems like a healing thing,” Schwartz said. “There�s no reason that a date like the 29th is not set in stone. It could be the fifth also and it would be a healing move. Including the Republican party as well, they�re going to be punished for having it earlier.�

The idea has virtually no support from GOP leaders and the bill is not likely to get a hearing.

As the Congress considers what to do about the Presidents veto, a widely respected Florida pediatrician says getting more money for children�s health care is imperative. Dr. Louis Saint Petery says not providing care creates cyclical problems that send children into a downward spiral that can continue into adulthood.

�You�re going to have a lot of families whose income is such that they cannot afford health insurance,” St. Petery said. “And if they�re going to be able to buy health insurance, then they�re going to forgo certain things in their lives which may relate to nutrition and what have you.�

As many as 400 thousand Florida Children could be eligible for reduced health care if Florida matched federal dollars.

Community acquired MRSA, a highly contagious infection, is on the rise across Florida. Doctors have noticed a steep increase in the number of patients with the infections, although specific numbers are hard to come by since the disease is not required to be reported to state health officials. Dr.� John Mahoney, a Pathologist at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, says more patients are showing up at Tallahassee hospitals.

�Some of these patients are being admitted to the hospital because of the infection,” Mahoney said. “We probably now see between 60 and 75 cases a week. Not all of them are being admitted but some are for a variety of reasons, and some are being treated in the emergency room.�

The disease can be spread by inhaling, hand contact, or even from a whirlpool.

New developments in the case of a 14-year-old boy who died at the now-closed Bay County Boot Camp last year.� On Friday, a jury found the 7 guards and nurse at the boot camp not guilty in the boy�s death.� Shortly after, student protestors shut down a main intersection near the state Capitol.� As Chris Casquejo tells us, the students are getting what they demanded, a meeting with a federal civil rights officer.

Hear it here: Boot Camp Protest Update

Students from Florida A&M, Florida State and Tallahassee Community College shut down this main intersection near the Capitol on Friday.� The students were unhappy about the �not guilty� verdict at the boot camp trial.� Police convinced them to leave, but not without them asking for something in return.

�We give them one week for the United States Attorney to meet with us,� said Phillip Agnew, who helped organize the protest.

Students were scheduled to meet with a representative from the U.S. Civil Rights Commission Wednesday afternoon.� Florida�s attorney general is also reviewing the case.� Protestors reflected on why the Anderson verdict hit so close to home.

�Next time it could be me.� Next time it could be my brother, my cousin.� It could be someone I know, said James Bland, a FAMU student.� “So until justice is served for Martin Lee Anderson, I don�t feel safe.�

The NAACP plans to rally here at the federal courthouse next Tuesday.� College students say they�ll also be here, making their voices heard once again.� The students are not afraid.

�If we get arrested, we get arrested,” said Bee Desinore, a FAMU student.� “Dr. Martin Luther King didn�t care about, I might die for this cause.� Malcolm X didn�t care about, I might die for this cause.� You just have to sacrifice and do it if you believe in it.�

Some lawmakers support the protestors, while remembering the civil rights movement of the 60s.

�Many changes took place because of what took place on college campuses,� said Sen. Larcenia Bullard.

Students say what they hear at their afternoon meeting will determine their next move.

The state paid Martin Anderson�s parents $5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit before the criminal trial.

As lawmakers wrestle with getting a property tax cut package passed during this special session, taxpayer watchdog group Florida TaxWatch is weighing in with its own suggestions.� The organization�s president, Dominic Calabro, says the burden of high property taxes is not just falling on owners of homestead properties.

�It�s fallen on second homeowners.� It�s fallen on snowbirds.� It�s fallen on our visitors.� It�s fallen on our renters,” Calabro said.� “Most notably, it�s fallen on businesses, businesses which are the economic engine of Florida.� This is beginning to put Florida at a competitive disadvantage with our other states and communities.�

Lawmakers have until the end of the month to get a property tax amendment placed on the ballot January.����

Tax experts at the Capitol have been crunching numbers all day, trying to determine how one change or another to property taxes will affect schools and local governments. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, The House and Senate are working on vastly different plans, and hope for a quick resolution is fading into next week.

Hear it here: Numbers Crunching Delays Tax Votes

The Legislative Day began with a bang…and an unusual prayer from Rep. Maria Sachs of Delray Beach.

�Oh Dear Lord, it�s hard to be a legislator.�

Hard because Wednesday was the day lawmakers had hoped to finish their tax cutting. Instead, they are arguing over whether to give seniors a bigger tax break than everyone else…and if so, how much more it should be. They disagree on whether property taxes should be capped at 3 to 7 percent, and whether the sales tax should be raised to lower school taxes.� House Speaker Marco Rubio says there is only one deadline.

�Our only deadline, in terms of getting something on the ballot, is October 28. I�m not saying that�s when we�re going to keep you here until. I mean, this is a process and it�ll work its way through and we�ll get to where we need to be.� says the Speaker.

Lawmakers must have something done by the end of the month to make the January Ballot.� The GOP leadership must also get some votes from Democrats to make that January vote a reality.� Democratic Senator Dave Aronberg says that makes for good policy �They can�t roll the Democrats. They have to listen to the minority party and that�s good for democracy.�
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As lawmakers put the breaks on, Governor Charlie Crist says he�s called everyone of them in the last couple of days. Some calls have gone out at 5:30 in the morning.� �I said, you know what�s important to stay focused on is that this is a journey and whatever property tax relief we can put before the voters is good. And we�ll keep going.�

Yet Charlie Crist remains optimistic that lawmakers can�t go home without giving him what he wants….lower property tax bills. Lawmakers are also talking about ending some sales tax exemptions to offset a drop in property tax revenues for schools, but that debate will likely wait until the regular legislative session in the Spring.

There are 50,000 new community college students in Florida this year. The college presidents told governor Charlie Crist this morning that the colleges can�t face another year of increasing students without some cash from increased tuition. Lawmakers passed a tuition hike as part of a budget cutting package and it waiting for the governor�s signature. The governor told the presidents that if f he got a property tax cut from lawmakers soon, he would likely allow a 5 percent hike. � I don�t want to burden them(the people) anymore. So if we have good success this week or even into the next week with property tax relief that the people will have an opportunity to vote upon, that makes it easier for me, it mitigates it if you will in terms of not burdening Florida families more�

Tallahassee Community College President Bill Law says the extra cash from a small hike will be necessary next year. �It�s as big burden. And we can handle it once and then square our shoulders. If we were to try to face that again, I�m not sure that we could do it again. Everybody tightening their belts the first time allowed us to bring on all these students with essentially all new funds. You can only tighten it so far. So that�s what we were asking for. The tuition increase would let us start planning for next year.�

A 5% tuition hike would be about 55 dollars a semester for the average student.

Local fire and emergency units are at the Capitol lobbying to be saved from property tax cuts. Many of the states fire district rely almost exclusively on property taxes and spokesmen Ron Beasley of the Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue Squad says if lawmakers don�t exempt them from the cuts, residents could suffer.

�As a result of the last three percent cuts that we received, we�ve gotten extremely lean. We�ve cut out all the extra stuff. We had a new growth, essentially is what we�re talking about for extra stuff. And we don�t have a lot of room for extra cuts. We�ve got some amendments going with the two chambers that would exclude the Independent special districts and special districts who are almost 100 percent or are highly dependent on taxes from effects of most of these cuts.�

Beasley was asked what would happen if the efforts didn’t succeed?� �We�re going to have some serious impacts on our firefighters, on the level of service for the citizens, and the level of safety all around.� He says.

So far, lawmakers are concentrating on the big picture and have not addressed how or if the special districts should be spared.

The success of the University of South Florida Bulls football team was cheered by state lawmakers today. Senator Victor Crist of Tampa called them a Cinderella team.

�Today the Bulls are number 2 in the BCSF polls, number 1 in 5 out of 6 computer ratings. This is the fastest climb in the history of the rankings in this country. From unmarked to top 25, to top 10, to top 5, to number 1 in the state of Florida and number 2 in the nation

In the State house, there was a less formal presentation and a little more cheering.

�Rated number 2 in the nation and by the computers rating number 1 in the nation.�

The Bulls play Rutgers this week.

Lawmakers are at the Capitol to work on getting a property tax cut amendment on the January ballot.� Under one of the proposals, senior citizens whose gross income is less than $24,000 would not have to pay property taxes.� But as Chris Casquejo tells us, some lawmakers worry about the potential for fraud.

Hear it here: Seniors Could Lose Property Tax Break

Glenn Masimore is one of more than 400,000 senior citizens who would not pay property taxes under a proposal that lawmakers are considering.� He says the money he�d keep would not burn a hole in his pocket.

�I need a new truck I know that,” Masimore said.� “That�s what I would like to have, a new truck.� But I can�t afford it now.�

Governor Charlie Crist supports the idea of exempting low income seniors from paying property taxes.

�But for them, we probably wouldn�t be here today,” Gov. Crist said.� “They put it all on the line for us.� We owe them.�

Some lawmakers are concerned about the potential for abuse if low-income seniors don�t have to pay property taxes.� Senator Steve Geller gave this example.

�Somebody under this bill, somebody in a $5 million house brings their mother into it, the mother being a low-income senior,” the Hallandale Beach Democrat said.� “Do you know much they�d pay in property taxes there?� Nothing!�

Democrats apparently cried loud enough.� A Senate committee voted to limit the property tax break for low-income seniors to the first $100,000 dollars in assessed value.� Whether that measure holds up, the full House and Senate will decide.

A three-fourths vote is required to put a property tax amendment on the January ballot.� Last month, a judge threw out a proposed amendment because it was too vaguely worded.

Governor Charlie Crist has a boxed Jewish scroll on the door frame leading into his Capitol office, and the ACLU is not happy.� With the help of Rabbi Schneur Oirechman, the director of Chabad-Lubavitch of the Panhandle, the governor put up the mezuzah.� It is a portion of sacred Jewish parchment contained inside a case.� The ACLU says it is wrong to put a religious symbol in such a high profile place, but the governor disagrees.

�We ought to do unto others, and be respectful of all beliefs,� the governor said.

Other state leaders have religious symbols in their own offices.� House Speaker Marco Rubio has a small wooden cross that was a gift from the governor.� Other state senators have copies of the Ten Commandments in their offices.

Florida�s Insurance Commissioner and Governor Charlie Crist say the state is not in good hands with Allstate.� Regulators have issued subpoenas to Allstate and its sister companies.� They want to find out if Allstate is breaking Florida�s insurance reform laws through price-fixing and collusion.� Regulators want documents from Allstate regarding their recent rate filings.� They also want Allstate to give details on the company�s dealings with rating agencies, other companies that do storm modeling, and trade associations.
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�There�s no question that these evaluations of what was going on with the trade associations, are going to be very telling,” said Kevin McCarty, the state Insurance Commissioner.� “We�re going to vet that very carefully to see what ties and what potential violations of law there are.� I�m not accusing anyone of doing anything, but we need to get to the bottom of this.� The trade associations are going to be the keystone to that investigation.�

�These companies have a responsibility, I understand, to their shareholders.” Gov. Crist said.� “But they also have responsibility to their customer.� They don�t have shareholders unless they have customers.� And they have lost sight of that.�

The hearings will take place January 15th and 16th at the state Capitol.

Supporters for the elderly and the schools squared off over property taxes in Tallahassee today. Schools could face massive losses if a property tax break is given to hundreds of thousands of senior citizens, so as Mike Vasilinda tells us, lawmakers are blinking.

Hear it here: Property Tax Debate Hits Speed Bump

Florida has 415 thousand senior citizens who could end of paying no property tax under the initial plans circulating in the Capitol. Democratic Senate Leader Steve Geller called the plan unworkable because it takes half a billion dollars from schools for each of the next four years. He says it also opens the door to fraud.
�Who are you going to get to stand up and say �Yes I�m here to speak in support of potential fraud and abuse�?�
asked Geller.
Geller�s complaints set off fireworks in this Senate Committee. � She�s 96 years old� said State Senator Rhonda Storms when describing a constituent. Storms accused Geller of scuttling a tax break for the 96 year old.
�Shove her aside on her tottering legs and say �sorry, you have to sit down, we�re not helping you because, see there might be somebody in Miami who might abuse this system.�� says Storms.

Schools are not the only one�s complaining. Most Police and Fire unions say if there are any more property tax cuts there will be one result: fewer people to respond to emergencies.

Meanwhile, Charlie Crist says he�s willing to listen as negotiations ebb and flow. “You know, we�re in a process that includes the activism of democracy and we�re seeing that in action.� says Crist.

And by the end of the day, low income seniors had lost their total homestead exemption in the Senate but were hanging on to a break for the first 1 hundred thousand dollars in value, while school lobbyists hunted for a way to avoid any cuts at all.

The House version of the plan has the full break for seniors and a three percent growth cap on all property in the state.