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Haiti Relief Scams

January 14th, 2010 by flanews

As people open their hearts and their wallets to help Haitians caught in the debris and rubble, some are trying to make a profit off the tragedy. Scammers claiming to represent victims are online collecting money. Capitol Correspondent Whitney Ray tells us, what you need to look for before giving.

Clee Guerrier is trying to track down loved ones caught in the debris and chaos of the Haiti earthquake.

“I’m still in shock for the most part and right now my main concern is how are my parents dealing with it,” said Clee.

Clee is asking everyone to give what they can, in hopes that some of the aid will find its way to his family.

“What’s needed is money. Cash,” said Clee.

Technology has changed the way people give in times of great need. Donations can be collected through email, text message or social networking sites. But with new ways to donate comes new ways to rip people off. Email scams have already surfaced. Sales of internet domain names with the word Haiti in them have skyrocketed.

State Representative Yolly Roberson has family in Haiti. She’s outraged that some would try to make money off the suffering of her people.

“This is not a joking matter and if anyone would be unconscionable enough to take advantage of this situation for their own purposes, all I can say is its unfortunate,” said Roberson.

The Attorney General’s Office is asking people to find out if charities asking for money are registered with the state and to report any suspicious activity.

People can report scams to the Attorney General’s office by calling 1-866-9NO-SCAM or by visiting www.myfloridalegal.com. The AG’s office says never give cash because it’s hard to track it, be wary of solicitors, and give to proven organizations, like the American Red Cross (www.americanredcross.com).

Other reputable charities include www.volunteerflorida.com, and www.yele.org. People want to check on family members in Haiti can call1-888-407-4747

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Big Budget Hole

January 14th, 2010 by flanews

State economists say next year’s budget shortfall will reach 3 billion dollar, but the recent freeze could add another half a billion dollars to their prediction.

Early estimates show crop loss reaching into the hundreds of millions of dollars. The lost crops could force thousands to file for unemployment. 700-thousand people statewide work in agriculture. It’s Florida’s second largest industry behind tourism. Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson says the damage will ultimately impact schools, roads, and prisons.

“Depending on how bad this really gets toward the end of this narrow window we are going to be looking at, it’s going to have a big economic impact on the state and on the tax collection the state brings in to pay for schools and health care and corrections and all sorts of things,” said Bronson.

Lawmakers are also considering laying off state workers to make ends meet.

Posted in Legislature, State Budget, State News | No Comments »

Man Who Shot Down Rate Cases Could Lose Job

January 13th, 2010 by Mike Vasilinda

The Public Service Commission spent the day frinding through hundreds of issues in the Florida Power and Light’s rate case, voting to cut the company’s rate of return, and giving the company just 75 million of the ONE BILLION it had been seeking. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the man in charge of fighting the rate hikes for customers could lose his job… because he’s doing too good of a job.

As the Public Service Commission went through one issue after another in FPL’s billion dollar rate hike request, JR Kelly sat silently in the audience.

Kelly heads the Office of Public Counsel. Monday, he persuaded the PSC to turn down a rake hike for Progress Energy. Recently he got the PSC to reconsider a hike it had given to Tampa Electric. Now his job is on the line. State lawmakers who hire and fire the Public Counsel are re-advertising his job.

“I love this position and I think I’ve done a very good job in working for rate payers,” Kelly said.  “I hope to continue and I am very, very committed to remaining public counsel.”

Kelly has saved electric customers millions. State Senator Mike Fasano won’t say his successes have put his job in jeopardy…but

“Perception is everything,” Fasano said.

Fasano is one of the few coming to Kelly’s defense.

“I believe he needs to stay,” Fasano said.  “I don’t think there should be any other choices out there. There should be no solicitation of anyone else applying for the job.”

By the time the election cycle is over, FPL representatives here are expected to give the Republican party over 5 million dollars and the Democrats about half that much.

And if Kelly doesn’t keep his job, it would be a clear signal to whomever replaces him that protecting consumers doesn’t lead to job security.

Posted in Business, State News | No Comments »

Sinkhole Coverage

January 13th, 2010 by flanews

A recent string of sinkholes in Central Florida has thousands of Floridians worried about their homes. Many Floridians dropped their sinkhole coverage in 2008 when state legislation removed mandatory coverage for all. As Whitney Ray tells us, people without extra coverage are still protected if their home falls into the ground.

About a dozen sinkholes have formed in Central Florida. The phenomena are happening just two years after the state eliminated a mandate for sinkhole coverage, which insurers says is leaving many out of luck.

“Now you are seeing that exposure be realized by some of those folks who opted out of that coverage and really they indeed need it in those more hazardous areas,” said Jeff Grady with the Florida Association of Independent Agents

Homeowners with extra coverage can make claims on cracks in their driveways and foundation problems caused by the sinking ground.

But homeowners without sinkhole coverage have no need to panic because if there house does fall into the ground they can still file a claim. State Senator Mike Fasano led the charge to eliminate the mandate because many people couldn’t pay for it.

“Those who couldn’t afford that 300 percent increase, in fact dropped their coverage completely of homeowners insurance because they couldn’t afford it now they are able to get some sort of insurance. They are going to have to take a little more risk, but at least they have something than nothing like they had before,” said Fasano.

But for people who are now interested in more comprehensive coverage buying a sinkhole policy could become more expensive.

Posted in Housing, Insurance, State News | 3 Comments »

Crist Staying in Senate Race

January 12th, 2010 by Mike Vasilinda

Governor Charlie Crist says his straw poll loss to Marco Rubio in a Pinellas County Republican Party straw poll is meaningless. The 106 to 54 vote has no force being it, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the vote is unlikely to have much effect when Republicans vote in an August primary.

Charlie Crist took time to have his picture taken with veterans following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.  It is classic Crist, working a crowd. These veterans are likely voters in the August primary and they are not going to forget.

Prior to the meeting, Crist downplayed his 106 to 54 loss to Marco Rubio in his home county’s GOP executive committee.

“It’s such a small number compared to the electorate,” Crist said.

Political scientists agree. They say it would be a mistake to think Executive committee votes like this one mean Crist is in trouble.

“Remember who these folks are,” FSU political scientist Bob Crew said. “They are an unrepresentative sample of the voters. These are party activists.”

Still, there is perception.

In an effort to stem some of the criticism he’s been getting, Governor Charlie Crist sought advice from the only other man who has run for the Senate in recent years while still governor, and that’s Bob Graham.

And the persistent rumor that he would leave the Senate race for a safe re-election bid is nonsense he says.

“I’m being the best governor that I can and I’m laser-focused on it,” Crist said.

What about the idea of switching out of the senate race and continuing to be the best governor you can?

“No change,” he said.

And then there is money.  Political scientists say with millions more than his opponent, he’ll be tough to beat.

Governor Crist is yet to report how much money he raised in the last three months, but he is already leading challenger Marco Rubio by a 6 to 1 margin in cash.

Posted in Charlie Crist, Children, Elections, Health, State News | No Comments »

H1N1 Update

January 12th, 2010 by Mike Vasilinda

State officials continue to caution people to be vaccinated against swine and seasonal flu.  The number of cases has been tapering off, but officials caution there could be yet a third wave of infection through April. And for the first time in months, state health doctors are reporting good news.

“Last week, Florida reported no laboratory confirmed deaths from H1N1 flu,” Florida Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros said. “This is the very first time, in many months, that we have been able to report this very good news. While this is encouraging information, we must continue to fight against the flu and we ask all Floridians to consider getting their H1N seasonal flu vaccinations.

Vaccines supplies for both seasonal and swine flu are good and can be obtained at county heath offices.

Posted in Health, State News | No Comments »

Democrat Enters CFO Race

January 12th, 2010 by Mike Vasilinda

After months of looking for a candidate to run for the State Chief Financial Officer, Democrats have found their woman. Former state Representative Loranne Ausley is now the Democrat’s choice to run for CFO.  She leaves a race for the state Senate.

“I didn’t run for the Senate to be a senator,” Ausley said.  “I ran to serve the people of Florida. And when you take a step back and look at what the office of the CFO does, it impacts real people’s lives in very real lives. I feel like this is the right place for me, at the right time.”

The move has one of her former Senate opponents praising her.

“We certainly wish her well,” Senate District 6 candidate Bill Montford said. “Loranne is a good friend, she is a capable politician, she’s a good person. She would be an excellent CFO. Certainly we’re glad, I am, that she’s made that decision because it takes a lot of people off the spot. It’s hard to run against your friends. Curtis is a friend, Loranne is a friend. So it makes it much, much more pleasant. Not only for me, but for Curtis too. It just makes it an opportunity for Curtis and I to discuss the issues and move forward. We wish her well. She’ll do well. She’s a good campaigner. She has statewide name recognition. She’ll have a good support system. We wish her well.”

Two others besides Montford remain in the race, including for state Representative Curtis Richardson.

Posted in Elections, Politics, State News | No Comments »

Locker Room Safety

January 12th, 2010 by Mike Vasilinda

After a Tampa middle schooler was raped in a locker room last year, state Senator Ronda Storms is grilling the Dept. of Education over a lack of statewide policy on supervising locker room conduct. Storms has been pushing the DOE to provide her with information from all 67 school districts. She says if necessary, coaches need to move their desks into locker rooms to make sure kids are safe.

“So we need to make sure that instances like that are not happening, of course,” Storms said. “But we also need to make sure that kids aren’t doing things like sexting each other, like taking pictures of each other. If you don’t have any adult supervision in there, kids could be taking pictures of each other undressing and putting it on the internet. We have an obligation to make sure that our children are protected.”

Storms is unhappy Education officials have not been responsive to her requests for information.

Posted in Children, Education, Legislature, State News | No Comments »

Collecting What’s Owed

January 12th, 2010 by flanews

Florida is losing an estimated two billion dollars every year because some online stores don’t collect state sales tax. Legislation has been filed to make it easier for sellers to know what to tax and for buyers to know what they owe. As Whitney Ray tells us, the problem is most online shoppers don’t even know they owe it.

Amanda Grout spends hundreds of dollars online buying books and clothes. She pays the vendor, but doesn’t pay the state on purchases made from stores without a location in Florida.

“I’m not going to go out of my way to go fill out all these forms mail them in to pay more money. The only way I would do it is if they set it up on EBay or the website and forced me to do it,” said Amanda.

Right now online shoppers have to visit the Department of Revenues website, download a tax form, list the items purchased, do the math, and mail in a check. State lawmakers want to make paying the tax easier.

“This is not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do,” said Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, the House sponsor of the legislation.

Bipartisan legislation is being introduced to align Florida’s tax code with the tax codes of 44 other states. By redefining taxable items experts say it would be easier for online shops to know what to collect.

“We believe Florida will begin to collect several million dollars, maybe 10’s of millions, 20, possible 30 million dollars on an annual basis and rising,” said Dominic Calabro, the President of Florida TaxWatch.

Paying the tax would still be voluntary, although getting a plan in place could persuade Congress to adopt legislation forcing online stores to collect.

The online sales tax is owned four times a year. The due day coincides with the end of each fiscal quarter. The link to the DR15MO form is http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/forms/2009/dr15mo.pdf

Posted in State Budget, State News, Taxes | No Comments »

Florida Improves Its Smoking Grade

January 12th, 2010 by flanews

Florida is getting better marks from the American Lung Association for its efforts to curb smoking. The association released its annual report card today, grading states in four areas including air quality and funding for smoking cessation programs. Florida received two ‘F’s, a ‘C,’ and a ‘B’. Brenda Olsen, the CEO of the association’s Florida branch, says the state moved up a letter grade in the tax category by increasing the tobacco tax by a dollar last year.

“That brings us up to a C in the cigarette excise tax. Right now we are at the national average and we have already seen a reduction in consumption in cigarettes as a result of that tax,” said Olsen.

Olsen says the state could raise its grade by increasing efforts and funding to help state workers quiet smoking.

Posted in State News, Taxes | No Comments »

Progress Rate Hike

January 11th, 2010 by flanews

1.7 million Floridians may soon be paying more for electricity. The Florida Public Service Commission will vote on a 48 million dollar rate increase for Progress Energy later today. The company says the increase is needed to keep up with the growing demand. As Whitney Ray tells us, the demand has never been greater.

Roslyn Linnen is trying to stay warm on a budget. She keeps her thermostat at 68 degrees in the day and at night.

“I turn it off and put a lot of blankets on and wear a flannel and my robe,” said Roslyn.

Roslyn joined a dozen other AARP members at the Florida Public Service Commission Monday to protest Progress Energy’s rate hike request. Progress Energy says it needs more money to keep up with the needs of the growing population.

The cold weather is increasing the demand for electricity. Last week the demand was so high that Progress Energy set a new record for usage.

The company reported isolated outages. Power was intentionally cut at 14 schools to save energy. Progress Energy says without more money to update equipment, outages could become more common and the company may also have to resort to more power saving measures like rolling brownouts.

“If we don’t have adequate funding in the future we may not be able to provide our customers the same quality of service and so you could end up seeing some more of those issues,” said Progress Energy Spokesman Tim Leljedal.

Issues they say need to be prepared for now if their customers are going to have a brighter future. If the increase is approved it would go into effect in March. The average monthly increase per customer will be calculated on January 28th

Posted in State News, Weather | 2 Comments »

Sales Tax Holiday

January 11th, 2010 by flanews

Parents could get a small break this summer when shopping for back-to-school supplies.

Legislative leaders joined Governor Charlie Crist today to introduce a bill to bring reinstitute the back-to-school sales tax holiday. The tax break was killed two years ago because of economic troubles and a budget shortfall. Crist says bringing back the break will help boost sales around the state.

“The studies indicate that when you reduce the tax burden on people, you entice them to come in and to shop more. So, it’s going to help small businesses across the state as well as families across Florida as it reduces taxes at the same time,” said Crist.

If the tax holiday is passed then this summer parents will save on pen, pencils, paper and other back to school items like clothes.

Posted in State Budget, State News, Taxes | No Comments »

Safety Concerns Raised

January 11th, 2010 by flanews

State lawmakers want to know if the Department of Emergency Management is prepared to handle a terrorist attack. Earlier this month the head of the department stepped down under accusations of sexism and poor job performance. State Senator Dave Aronberg, the chairman of the Senate Military Affairs and Domestic Security Committee, sent a letter to the new interim director of the department asking if there was any reason to be alarmed.

“We’ve seen what happened with FEMA at the Federal level, with an emergency agency that wasn’t up to par. Floridians deserve better and we’re just going to make sure that this agency is ready to go forward in the year 2010. After the terrorist attempt over the skies of the United States, we know that people are still gunning for us and the emergency management agency in Florida needs to be on the ball and needs to be just as prepared today as it was under Craig Fugate,” said Aronberg.

The Department of Emergency Management is welcoming the concerns and is currently reviewing the ten questions in Aronberg’s letter and isn’t ready to respond.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

New Scratch-Off Game

January 8th, 2010 by flanews

Gamblers in Florida now have a new way to win. The Florida Lottery just released a new scratch off game for a chance at 200-thousand dollars a year for life. As Capitol Correspondent Whitney Ray tells us, the odds of winning are better than most, but the price of the ticket is steep.

The Lucky 200-thousand Dollars for Life scratch off ticket promises a hefty yearly salary to a fortunate few. Launched Tuesday, this Tallahassee store has already sold 50.

“They want to live that big money for life,” said Clerk Ed Medley.

The odds of winning the top prize are about one in three million. Smaller cash awards and free tickets are more common, with one in three cards producing a winner.

But the price tag on this new scratch off game is weeding out folks who normally play the lottery but can’t afford the 20 bucks.

Jhemar Williams likes the idea of a yearly payoff.

“200K a year, that’s great. Ten years I’d be rich,” said Jhemar.

But says hard times will keep him from buying.

“I would get them if I had the money to,” he added.

Jhemar’s not alone; a lot gamblers are cutting back. Overall lotto sales are down by three hundred million dollars. Still the Florida lottery has high hopes for its newest 20 dollar ticket.

“Our 20 dollar scratch-off games are actually our most successful believe it or not. They are our top sellers.”

One advantage of scratch off tickets is they produce instant winners. Thursday, a Sarasota woman became a millionaire, playing the Merry Millionaire scratch off game.

Posted in State News | 2 Comments »

Sea Turtles and 9/11

January 8th, 2010 by flanews

While Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio duke it out, the Democratic front runner for US Senate, Kendrick Meek, has been quietly gaining support.

Meek sat down with reporters in the capital press corps this morning. He says hard work has helped him overcome adversity throughout his life and now he plans to take that message to voters. Meek says he has not plans of conceding the heavily Republican Panhandle and even took a few shots at Governor Charlie Crist.

“There’s more to leadership than releasing sea turtles and showing up in front of fire stations on 9/11 and saying we love firefighters. We all love firefighters. We all appreciate sea turtles. I think the record will speak for itself and my message to Florida is that I’m going to work every day,” said Meek.

In an effort to prove his work ethic Meek is qualifying for the ballot the old fashioned way. Instead of buying his way onto the ballot, Meek is gathering signatures. He has to get 112-thousand.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

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