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Citizen’s Property Insurance customers say the state insurer is using bad math to jack up its rates. A class action lawsuit was filed against the insurer of last resort today. Joe Freitas is one of the plaintiffs. Freitas bought a house in September for 109-thousand dollars. It was appraised for 117-thousand, but Citizens sold him a 237-thousand dollar policy.

“The whole year we budgeted and tried to do things the right way. Now it’s out the window. It’s not going to cause us to lose our home, but it’s certainly going to squeeze our budget and take us out of our comfort zone,” said Freitas.

The suit challenges the software program Citizens uses to figure replacement values. The program is called 360 value. The plaintiffs believe the software is flawed.

There is new opposition tonight to a legislative plan to privatize more than two dozen south Florida prisons. The Florida ACLU is criticizing the profit motive as several studies fail to document that private prisons are cheaper or more effective.

Studies of private prison costs and effectiveness are few and far between. One benchmark study by researcher Bill Bales at Florida State University examined a claim that privately held prisoners are less likely to reoffend.

“Private prisons don’t effect recidivism” says Bales.

The prison privatizing plan is now drawing opposition from the ACLU. Attorney David Shapiro argues private prisons put p[ublic safety at risk. “Private prisons have every incentive to maximize their profits but cutting corners even at the expense of decent conditions and public safety,” says Shapiro.

The plan to privatize prisons remains stalled in the state Senate. President Mike Haridopolus says 20 million dollar savings are at stake. “If it doesn’t pass this session, we’ll have to take it from other parts of the budget. says Haridopolus.”

Governor Rick Scott, who has been pushing the idea, isn’t conceding defeat…yet, but adds “I think it will be a mistake if we don’t get prison privatization done.”

But the prison system appears to have a plan B

As further evidence the prison privatization plan is stalled, the Department of Corrections is moving forward statutorily with a request for proposals to privatize two prisons.”

Chief critic Mike Fasano says if the state wants to save the seven percent required of private prisons…”Then tell the Department of Corrections to save seven percent,” says Fasano.

But when asked about cutting the state budget instead, Rick Scott says he was hoping for even more than a seven percent savings. There are no conclusive studies that private prisons are cheaper when inmates of similar backgrounds are compared. Amendments to require such a study are what halted the prison privatizing plan in the State Senate.

A Polk County Deputy Sheriff is the new state law enforcement officer of the year. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi made the presentation at a Tallahassee ceremony today. Deputy Michael Braswell and his partner stopped a bicyclist late one night, found drugs, and were escorting the man to their patrol car when he turned and started shooting. Bondi described the night:

“Deputy Braswell watched his partner stumble backwards and fall to the ground after being shot. Deputy Braswell, who was only five to seven feet away from an armed suspect and returned fire simultaneously while being shot by the suspect. Deputy Braswell was hit twice in the vest, once in the hand, once in the leg as he fell to the ground.
We asked the deputy what he was thinking at the time. Deputy Braswell responded:
“You would be amazed what goes through your mind. The most common. is you know, am I gonna survive? Am I going to be able to see my wife and children again? You know, what about my friends and family. Did I leave anything that was left unturned, you know, Did I have any open fights or disagreements with family members that I wouldn’t get that chance to say I’m sorry, or at least tell your mother that you love her one more time.”

A total of ten officers were honored for their work this past year.

Florida businesses could see several tax breaks from state lawmakers this year. Among them, a property tax on business items such as desks, chairs, or computers. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the current taxing system could be keeping some business owners from expanding.

On any given night, as many as fifty college students fill these cubicles, conducting polls or urging voters to get out and vote. The computers are old, but they work. Owner Linda Cherry says buying new computers would force her to pay a tangible personal property tax.

She told a Senate committee the tax was keeping her and others from expanding.

“We are wanting to move into more equipment, but there’s a consideration of the cost of it, the sales tax we pay on it, and the tangible tax that we pay year after year after year until it’s depreciated,” Cherry said.

Every business, big and small, in Florida must pay a yearly tax on their equipment.

The yearly tax bill on this computer: just about 34 dollars.

The tax makes up just over seven percent of all property taxes collected in Florida. The first 25 thousand in valuation is exempt. Lawmakers want to double that to 50 thousand…but also want the authority to do away with the tax all together.

“You’re taxed on your desk, your chair, your computer, your copy machine,” Sen. Nancy Detert (R-Venice) said. “And you’re not taxed once, you’re taxed every single year.”

Voters do have to approve any changes. Cities, counties and schools may all be potential opponents to the change, especially if there is no replacement source of cash.

If the measure passes both the House and Senate, it will appear on the November ballot. Making it into the constitution requires a sixty percent approval level from voters.

Vice President Joe Biden is in Florida today to discuss plans to lower the cost of college. The average Florida student graduates with 20-thousand dollars in student loan debt and as Whitney Ray tells us, another tuition hike is being discusses in Tallahassee.

Surrounded by a small group of FSU students Vice President Joe Biden pitched a plan to lower the cost of college.

“Barack, Michelle, Jill and I know we would not be in the position we are in today if it were not for our ability to borrow money,” said Biden.

The Obama administration’s plan includes awarding more Pell grants, doubling the number of work-study jobs and freezing student loan rates scheduled to double by year’s end. Meanwhile tuition is in Florida is increasing 15 percent a year.

“The question is not whether or not we can afford these initiatives, the question is how can we do anything other than push these initiatives?”

The average student in Florida graduates college with 20-thousand dollars in student loan debt and the cost is increasing. Lawrence Dunn, a senior from Orlando barrowed 20-thousand dollars for school. He asked Biden if government involvement in tuition and loans are to blame for the skyrocketing cost.

“If we went the way, your view of the free market view route, what we would have done is we would not have increased Pell grants for example and there would be nine million fewer students in college,” said Biden.

Dunn wasn’t satisfied with the answer.

“It creates this perpetual problem where tuition keeps going up so we give more subsidies and tuition goes back up and we give more subsidies, it’s unsustainable,” said Dunn.

The Obama Administration’s is pitching a policy to incentives schools that lower college costs. It comes as student loan debt nears the one trillion dollar mark. Biden’s visit comes as state lawmakers are trying to raise the price of tuition against the governor’s wishes. Biden’s also staying in Tallahassee tonight to host two fundraisers for the president’s reelection campaign.

Arguable the biggest issue of the legislative session is moving quickly through the process. The state senate passed redistricting maps last month. Now the house has approved its own versions. House Redistricting Chairman Will Weatherford says the new maps keep more cities and counties in tact that the old maps that cut hundreds of cities and counties into strange shapes.

“This map we just produced has only 75 city splits, so there is a reduction of almost 70 percent in city splits. County splits we only had 30 county splits which is a tremendous improvement over the last map,” said Weatherford.

Democrats say the maps are still drawn to guarantee the legislature is controlled by Republicans. The maps are expected to be challenged in court.

The parents of a Florida teen killed in a texting while driving accident are asking lawmakers to ban the dangerous practice. Two years in a row a legislative ban on texting has failed late in session. As Whitney Ray tells us, the legislation is up again this year and once again its future is uncertain.

“This has been around my neck three years. It will never come off. In my heart every day,” said Anges Augello.

In a heart-shaped locket, Anges carries a picture of her teenage daughter Allie. Allie was killed in a head on collision in 2008, by a driver texting from behind the wheel.

“To lose a child over a text message, over a phone over someone who is so careless. How do you sleep at night, ever,” said Anges.

Allie’s parents are sharing their story with lawmakers, hoping their loss will bring new life to a bill to ban texting while driving.

“It’s something that you never want to experience in your life, to find out your child was killed, especially by something that could have been totally avoided,” said Steve.

Two years in a row a legislative ban on texting while driving died late in session. This year it passed three Senate committees, but hasn’t even received a hearing in the House.

House members supporting the ban say a few members in leadership are keeping the bill from being heard.

“Bottom line here, there’s obstructionists who won’t let the bills out of the drawer,” said Representative Irv Slosberg.

Police officers and doctors were on hand to lend their support for a texting ban. They say too many teens have been killed and too many families have suffered.
The bill makes texting a secondary offense. That means police couldn’t pull you over for texting, but if you were pulled over for something else, you could then be ticketed for texting. The fine for a first time offender would be 30 bucks. Get caught twice in five years and the fine doubles. People who cause a wreck because they are texting would have six points added to their driving record.

The effort to bring three mega resort casinos to South Florida is dead for the 2012 legislative session. The house bill was pulled from committee just minutes before a scheduled vote. And now, as Mike Vasilinda tells us, House leaders say they won’t allow the gambling bill to be heard on the House floor.

More than a million dollars has been spent lobbying for increased gambling. An Asian casino corporation spent 300 million on a site in Miami, but it is all for not.

A packed house committee was poised to vote no before the bill’s sponsor withdrew the measure killing it for this year. Opponents are joyous.

“We are pleased that hopefully this issue is dead for this session and the legislature can returned to being focused on some of the really important issues,” said David Hart, with the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

“This was a huge move this morning and it effectively kills the bill,” said Bill Bunkley, with the Florida Baptist Convention.

TV ads have pushed job creation as the best reason to support casinos. Supporters say Florida is missing an opportunity.

“The companies that have all shown support see Florida as a state that has many amenities that we would want to invest in,” said Jessica Hoppe, with Genting World Resorts Miami.

In the legislative process, there is almost always a way to resurrect the dead, but the house rules chairman is saying no tricks to bring gambling back will be allowed.

Uncertain in the casino bill’s death is what happens to efforts to regulate Internet cafes. Every one involved expects the issue to be back next year. The power brokers on each side of the issue are expected to dump millions more in to political campaigns and TV ads.

The casino bill is dead, but the question about what to do about internet cafes remains.

The casino bill would have regulated them, but Representative Scott Plakon says that’s a mistake. Plakon has a letter from the attorney of the Seminole Tribe that says if the state accepts internet cafés the tribe will stop paying for exclusive rights to slots.

“Now we have the tribe itself saying if you pass a regulation bill on store front casinos they don’t have to pay us and that 233 million dollars is being used for education and many other purposes,” said Plakon.

The tribe entered into a compact with the state in 2010 for exclusive rights to slot machines and other Vegas-Style Games. In exchange the state is receiving 230 million dollars a year. Plakon says to keep the compact in tact, lawmakers to support his bill to outlaw internet casinos.

Efforts to stop welfare abuse are underway in congress and the state legislature.

Food stamps and most cash assistance are placed on government issued debit cards. Reports of some recipients using the cards at strip clubs and casinos are beginning to surface. Representative Scott Plakon says when he heard how some recipients are using their benefits he decided to take action.

“They are being used in Las Vegas and Hawaii, and they are being used in strip clubs, liquor stores and other place. So Senator Storms and I put the bill together and we hope it moves forward,” said Plakon.

Plakon’s bill would also ban food stamps from being used to by junk food, but that provision will likely be removed in a compromise to move the bill through the legislative process.

Nurses and teachers say they’re being pitted against each other in a tug-o-war battle for state cash. Lawmakers are trying to balance the budget with two billion fewer dollars. They plan to cut two billion dollars from heath care and increase education spending by a billion. As Whitney Ray tells us, nurses and teachers joined forces today in Tallahassee to announce they will not compete in a budget tug-o-war.

They grasped the rope tightly; teachers on one side, nurses on the other. The tug-o-war publicity stunt is symbolic of how education and health care workers say they’re being treated by state budget writers.

“We are not going to make this a fight between public education and public health care dollars to save our children’s education or to save their health care,” said SEIU Local 1991 President Martha Baker.

If there is a war, then teachers are winning. The governor and House budget proposals increase education funding by a billion dollars. Health care is facing a two billion dollar reduction.

Cutting two billion dollars from Medicaid would only save the state 400 million dollars; because most of Florida’s health care money comes from federal matching grants. Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich says the cut doesn’t make fiscal sense.

“You are dealing with 1.4 billion of federal revenue that we would not draw down for use in health care,” said Rich.

Rich says neither teachers nor nurses need to keep tugging on the rope for more money. She has a plan to raise state revenues, by ending corporate tax loopholes.

“We are not talking about tax increases. We are talking about making everybody pay their fair share of taxes that are already on the books,” said Rich.

With that in mind the two sides dropped the rope and joined forces to support the Fair Economy Act. So now they’ll be tugging it out with Republican lawmakers who see eliminating the loopholes as a tax increase. To avoid paying state taxes, some multi-state businesses with locations in Florida shift their profits to states with tax exemptions specific to their businesses. It’s completely legal. The Fair Economy Act would make it illegal.

Nurses from across the state were in Tallahassee today asking lawmakers to leave Medicaid funding in tact. Lawmakers are considering cutting 400 million state dollars from Medicaid, which would in turn eliminate 1.4 billion matching federal dollars the state receives for the entitlement program. Suzanne Conrad, a nurse practitioner at Shands in Gainesville says if funding is cut her patients won’t be able to get the drugs they need for organ transplants.

“There’s Medically Needy patients that desperately need services and I know almost every year it’s mentioned that this program could be cut,” said Conrad.

Twenty nurses worked the halls today. Earlier this week 40 nurses were at the capitol. They hope to keep a presence in Tallahassee until the end of session to remind lawmakers of their cause.

About a hundred community and state college students were at the state capitol today to ask lawmakers to overturn the new elections law. The students say the reduction in early voting days from 14 to eight hits them particularly hard, because many of them work and go to school fulltime and need more voting options. Sarah Pemberton, the president of the Florida College System Student Government says the reduction also affects minority voters who often go to the polls after church on Sundays.

“Historically they have gone straight from church to their polling station. They take care of their spiritual duty, then they take care of their civic duty. We know that as a community and now we have eliminated that last Sunday of early voting,” said Pemberton.

The students are asking lawmakers to restore early voting to 14 days. Supporters of the changes say even though the number of days were reduced the hours were kept the same. They’re also praising the new elections law for the speedy returns in Tuesday night’s primary

By a vote of 31 to 8 state Senators approved legislation to allow prayer at school events. The bill soared through the legislative process with bipartisan support, but as Whitney Ray tells us, the members who opposed the bill say if it becomes law court challenges will follow.

Lawmakers prayed Wednesday, before taking up bills on the Senate Floor.

On the agenda; school prayer. State Senator Gary Siplin has legislation to allow students to organize prayer at school events like football games and graduation.

“On their own volition, voluntarily, without any type of input from any type of adults, issue or say inspirational message,” said Siplin.

The bill forbids parents or teachers from participating in or even suggesting a prayer. The bill is receiving bipartisan support.

But there are a few senators who oppose the bill. They say it violates the constitutional separation between church and state. State Senator Arthenia Joyner says if the bill becomes law, court challenges will follow.

“It’s unconstitutional. It allows students from elementary to 12th grade to come up with an inspirational message,” said Joyner.

Students already pray in school individually, supporters say before every test. But organized pray at school assemblies forces nonbelievers to listen and opponents say that violates their rights. The focus now shifts to the House were the bill has been stuck in an education subcommittee since October.

The families and survivors of Sunday’s deadly crash on Intestate 75 are now suffering another tragedy, a financial one.

A fund has been set up for people who want to give to the victims to help them bury their family members and pay medical bills. Governor Rick Scott took a moment today to plug the fund.

“One family lost every member of the family, but a 15 year old daughter so your heart goes out to everybody involved,” said Scott.

To donate visit www.floridasfoundation.org and click the give button. A ten dollar donation can also be made by texting FLFund to 20222. Sundays wreck was caused by a mixture of fog and smoke. So far 11 people have lost their lives.