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The fate of two constitutional amendments dealing with education will be decided by the state Supreme Court this week. One repeals a century old ban on state money going to religious institutions, the other re-institutes vouchers. As Mike Vasilinda tells us the voucher amendment is cloaked in what opponents are calling misleading language.

If Amendment 9 stays on the ballot, Voters in November will see some feel good language about requiring 65 percent of money given to schools be spent in the classroom. Even opponents realize it sounds good.

“That’s like saying, ‘do you really believe you should stop kicking your dog?’ Well of course you should stop kicking your dog,” Bill Montford with the School Superintendents Association. “I don’t even have a dog, but if I had one, I should not kick him.”

The ballot summary says the amendment also “Revises legal precedent prohibiting public funding of private school alternatives.”

The Supreme Court ruled two years ago that vouchers were unconstitutional. This amendment would change that.

Tying the two measures together has been described as crafty…or worse.

“It is a sneaky way to do it. It’s not telling the truth to the public of Florida,” Wayne Blanton with the Florida School Boards Association said. “Sixty-five percent, most of my districts are already over sixty-five percent. And they attach the vouchers to it without ever mentioning the word vouchers.”

Supporters say linking the two together just made sense since they both deal with public education.

“Hopefully more will be spent on teachers,” Former Tax and Budget Commission member Greg Turberville said. “Secondly, it guarantees other options like charter schools or virtual schools for future years, that they can’t be challenged in a court.”

Opponents are asking the Supreme Court to take the Amendment off the ballot because they say it is misleading.

A second education amendment being heard Wednesday would lift the ban on state money going to religious organizations. Opponents say it could end up requiring the state to fund private religious schools, but supporters say it only gives the state more options.

At 9 am tomorrow, the Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments on why it should or shouldn’t allow a controversial tax swap back on the ballot. Amendment 5 would eliminate a large portion of the taxes you pay for schools. The language suggests school budgets won’t suffer and the money will be made up from other tax sources. A circuit court judge took the amendment off the ballot because it only promises to hold schools harmless for a year, even though the summary doesn’t say that to voters.  Today, two groups of retirees today came out against the amendment. 87 year old Ben Colmery says it will hurt seniors the most.

“Every one of us developed a long-term plan to ensure we’d have enough money throughout our retirement,” Colmery said. “We want people to understand that major, new, unexpected costs from a state sales tax and/or service tax jeopardizes these financial plans.”

Governor Charlie Crist was to be a major speaker at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota this week, but the governor is still here in Florida. The reason: three tropical storms potentially taking aim on the state. Crist says he may address the convention via satellite, but that is still up in the air.

“We’ve got a lot coming at us and I think it’s important to be here,” Crist said. “You know, I understand why people are up there and I appreciate that. Electing the next president is an important mission, but protecting Florida is mission number one for me.”

Crist has already sent video messages to Florida’s delegation, telling them why he isn’t there and how they can monitor the threat to the state.

Governor Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency for tropical storm and likely hurricane Hanna. The order allows the state to make preparations and assist other states if the storm causes damage elsewhere. Christ issued the order this morning after the Nation Hurricane Center indicated the storm was picking up speed and intensifying.

“This morning I have issued an executive order, declaring a state of emergency due to the threat of Hanna to the state of Florida. This order will ensure that timely precautions are taken to protect communities and the general welfare of our state, as well as to initiate measures to provide assistance to other states in need.”
says Crist.

Hanna is expected to be a minimal hurricane off the coast of Jacksonville on Friday.

The order can be seen here: hanna-emergency-order

Imagine getting 100 miles per gallon. That’s what this hybrid Toyota Prius, retrofitted with an electric plug and heavy duty battery is promising. The car will travel about 40 miles in city traffic for about 80 cents worth of electricity. The cost: 4 dollars a week, which is about the cost of a gallon of gas. The car is the proud creation of Tallahassee owner Fran Sullivan-Fahs.

“Instead of being dependant upon parts of the world that aren’t very friendly to us, we now depend upon electrons that are produced here in our country, so our source of power comes from our own country.” says Sullivan-Fahs.

The car was at a facility powered in part by solar energy, which means it could actually be free to drive.

Florida officials are distributing thousands of decks of playing cards. Each card contains the picture of a victim and the facts surrounding a homicide or missing person. This is the third edition of the statewide cold case cards. Previous editions have solved at least two major crimes. This year, the Queen of Spades features Donna Martin, who disappeared 10 years ago. Her sister, Debra Dannels, says it is comforting to know officials are still looking for her sisters killer. ‘

“You begin to think everybody has forgotten, it’s so wonderful to know they don’t forget. Even if they can’t work the case every day or every week or every month… they are working the cases. They care, they still care they want all the cases solved.” says Dannels.

Florida is the first state to develop a statewide set cold case cards. The are paid for using Federal grant money.