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The governor and state cabinet are honoring a fallen soldier tonight.

Staff Sergeant Robert Miller was killed in a firefight in Afghanistan in 2008. He fought so bravely he was awarded the Congressional Metal of Honor postmortem. Governor Rick Scott announced today, Sergeant Miller’s name will also be added to the wall of honor in the state capitol. Miller’s sacrifice saved the lives of a dozen US troops.

“Rob was relentless against the terrorists and suppressed the enemy forces with grenades and gunfire. He engaged the enemy so much that he attracted most the gunfire and made the ultimate sacrifice for his team,” said Scott.

Miller’s parents were on hand for the announcement. They were given a folded Florida flag and were able to view their son’s plague before it was hung on the capitol wall.

More than 35-thousand people have signed a petition calling for Florida to secede from the union. And tonight the White House is promising to respond to their concerns. As Whitney Ray tells us, calls for secession are increasing following the re-election of President Barack Obama.

David from Arcadia, Bryant from Panama City and Adam from Apopka all want the same thing. For Florida to become its own country, free of federal rule.

The names are just a few of the more the 35-thousand on this petition on the White House website. It asks the Obama Administration to allow Florida to peacefully withdraw from the union and create its own government.

People from almost every state have started petitions to secede from the union. Most of the petitions were started after the Re-Election of President Barack Obama.

Steve Schale is a Democratic strategist. He says the petitioners are representing a small segment of the population.

“People that want to leave the country make up a distinct minority of the country. That being said they have a right to have their voice heard,” said Schale.

Concerns over the federal debt, drone use, the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act and TSA searches are fueling the calls for succession.

Anticipating backlash to the president’s reelection, Florida’s new House Speaker, a Republican, had this message for his colleagues in the legislature.

“We have a president and for those who wish him to fail, or for that matter wish our congress to fail, only wish for American to fail and that is unacceptable,” said Weatherford at his swearing in ceremony.

The White House promises to respond to any petition with 25-thousand signatures, but historically the only road to secession is civil war.

The White House promises to post a response to the petition on its website. A petition for Texas to secede currently has the most signatures with more than 100-thousand. There is also a petition on the site to strip the citizenship of everyone who signs a secession petition with 22-hundred signatures.

Here’s an update on a story we have been following. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is taking a step backwards in its effort to modernize the states license plates. The Department had advertised for vendors and their responses were due this past week. But five groups protested the bidding process, and today the Department withdrew its bid. Here’s their explanation from a news release:

“We listened to what everyone had to say, considered questions that vendors posed and received information from our tax collector partners. Based on the input, we have decided to withdraw the Invitation to Negotiate,” said DHSMV Executive Director Julie Jones. “We now have additional information to clarify and narrow the requirements of the ITN and in the near future will replace it with a new procurement.”

There’s more good economic news tonight. Besides the national unemployment rate dropping to 7.7 percent, Florida’s job market is showing signs of strength. The state is set to pay off a three billion dollar loan from the federal government to pay unemployment claims and as Whitney Ray tells us, that means business taxes will drop.

Nearing the finish line; for three years Florida’s businesses have been paying back a massive loan borrowed from the federal government to pay unemployment claims.

“By May, 2013, we will have repaid the outstanding balance,” said James Miller, a spokesman with the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Miller says the improving economy is allowing the state to make huge payments on the loan.

“More people receiving paychecks instead of benefits, reduces the cost to the state and therefore we don’t have to pay as much in claims each month. It allows us to pay back the amount much quicker,” said Miller.

So how bad did it get? Since August of 2009, the state has borrowed 3.3 billion dollars to pay claims and in the process accumulated 100 million dollars in interest.

To pay the money back, the minimum unemployment tax rose from eight dollars an employee in 2010 to 121 dollars today, hitting businesses trying to pull out of the Great Recession.

But now with the state slated to pay the loan back by May of next year, the unemployment tax will start inching back down and businesses will get a 40 dollar break per employee.

The news is being received well at the Wharf Express, a seafood restaurant less than a mile from the state capitol.

“Every tax affects us; a lot of people don’t realize that. My biggest thing is we’re in a down economy, a lot of people don’t realize that interest you just spoke of, the business owners are paying a good percentage of that,” said Joey Costanzo, Wharf Express owner.

The owner employs seven employees which means his taxes will drop by 200 bucks next year, a little relief as the economy slowly recovers. The improving economy isn’t the only thing propelling the state in to the black. A new law has also made it more difficult for people to qualify for unemployment payments saving the state money.

A budget transparency website you, the taxpayer, paid five million dollars to develop may never see the light of day. The website, transparency 2.0, was built and made available to some state government insiders, but now it’s caught in a funding battle. The site gathers public information about state spending and contracts, but if the public can’t review it, government watchdogs like Dan Krassner says, it serves no purpose.

“This site may never see the light of day, so the public who wants to follow our money and make sure there’s not waste, wants to hold our government accountable, may never see a website paid for with five million dollars of our money,” said Krassner.

Senate President Don Gaetz, says the website isn’t being made public for financial reasons. The private company running the site charges a million dollar annual maintenance fee, plus extra to make the site available to everyone. Gaetz says he’s reviewing the company’s contract.

Despite a pledge not to raise tuition, two Florida universities are seeking the authority to do just that. UF and FSU want lawmakers to pass a bill allowing them to raise tuition as much as they’d like. But as Whitney Ray tells us, the schools’ presidents say if they get the authority now, they won’t use it for at least a year.

A promise from Florida’s public universities not to raise tuition next year is being received well by students.

“It’s a bold move and I hope that we can achieve it,” said Logan Opsahl, a Junior at FSU.

The promise comes with the caveat that lawmakers increase university funding by 118 million dollars.

“We as a public university system kind of live and die by what the lawmakers do and hopefully they can get sort of a reality check and understand that they are a product of a public education system,” said Opsahl.

The announcement comes as FSU and UF continue to pursue a bill that would allow the two schools to raise tuition above the 15 percent annual cap.

The plan would set FSU and UF apart as Florida’s top research institutions. Besides tuition authority the schools would also be held to higher standards and have loftier goals. Both school presidents say if the bill passes next year they’ll set standards, but won’t raise tuition.

“We need those metrics. We need to help universities be successful. All of us are saying even with that set up lets not increase tuition,” said FSU President Dr. Eric Barron.

State lawmakers call it a tough sell, vowing NOT to raise tuition while asking for unbridled tuition authority.

“I think it would be very difficult to do that because the whole basis of those universities moving forward with the plan is a significant increase in tuition. Now if they can do that it’s wonderful, but I think it’s a tough, tough haul for them,” said State Senator Bill Monford.

Lawmakers passed a bill last year that would have given the schools control over their own tuition rates, but Governor Rick Scott vetoed it. Governor Scott is also opposing all tuition increases this year, but state lawmakers aren’t ready to take the option off the table

No tuition increases. That’s the promise coming from the presidents of Florida’s public universities tonight. As Whitney Ray tells us, to keep the rate flat the schools are asking lawmakers for 118 million dollars.

In a united front, presidents from Florida’s 12 public universities are proposing a plan to fund education without increasing costs to students.

At the state capitol Wednesday, the presidents announced they’ll freeze tuition if lawmakers will pump an extra 118 million dollars into education.

“With an investment provided for our students we promise not to seek one penny as a tuition increase this year,” said Judy Bense, UWF President.

The announcement is a reversal from a 2008 pledge to raise tuition 15 percent a year until Florida reaches the national average. The presidents see an opportunity in a new legislature and renewed focus on education.

“There’s no question that we are the fifth lowest state in terms of tuition in the country, but fundamentally the governor and students are saying we don’t want to see it go up any more,” said UNF President John Delaney.

Governor Rick Scott has taken a hard-line stance against tuition hikes, comparing them to tax increases and vowing to stop them.

“The governor is very opposed to increasing tuition and we understand and we also are concerned about the students,” said USF President Judy Genshaft.

Cortez Whatley is the student body president at the University of Central Florida. He says four straight years of tuition hikes are taking a toll on his classmates.

“The traditional student is much different that it was in the past. Students are working two or three jobs, paying for their own schooling and they’re really suffering for that,” said Whatley.

With a proposal on the table, next comes the negotiation with state lawmakers over where to find the extra cash.

We spoke to the chairwoman of the House Education Committee after the announcement. She said it’s still too early to tell if the legislature can find the 118 million dollars the presidents are requesting.

A coach at FAMU says he is an innocent victim, caught in the school’s crackdown on hazing.

Baseball Coach Willie Brown is on paid leave after a player he cut from the team accused him of hazing and sexual harassment. Brown says his accuser was given the same treatment as the other players and he was only dismissed from the team for poor performance on the field. Twenty FAMU baseball players signed statements saying Coach Brown did no wrong. We’re hearing exclusively tonight from the coach. We asked him pointblank if the allegations are true.

Brown: No, No. It’s not in my character. I’ve got too many people in the community. I’ve got too many people who’ve helped me get where I am. It’s not in my character.

Reporter: Did he get treated any differently than anybody else on the baseball team?

Brown: No, if anything he got better treatment.

FAMU is investigating the player’s claims. The investigation is likely to carry into January. Brown says he just wants his job back and his name cleared.

There’s pressure tonight for state leaders to continue the fight against the Affordable Care Act. Despite a Supreme Court ruling and the re-election of President Barack Obama Tea Party groups are asking state lawmakers to keep opposing the new health care law. As Whitney Ray tells us, the push comes as decisions about how Florida will implement the law need to be made.

There not going down without a fight. Members of Florida Tea Parties are asking state lawmakers to continue the fight against the Affordable Care Act. The outspoken crowd, attended the first meeting of a state senate committee formed to implement the new health care laws.

“The American Constitution which you just swore an oath to uphold and defend has been contorted, hijacked and reduced,” said John Knapp.

“Alexander Hamilton tells us in Federalist Paper 78, no legislative act contrary to the constitution can be valid,” said KrisAnne Hall, a constitutional Lawyer.

“We ask you to say no to the federal mandate and move to deal with our health care and health insurance issues under the authority of the state and not under federal dictate,” said James Hall a pastor.

It may seem the petitioners are fighting a losing battle. This summer the US Supreme Court upheld the law and last month President Barack Obama was reelected. But the state does have some say over how the law is implemented.

The first choice for lawmakers is whether or not to set up a state health care exchange. The feds have set a December 14th deadline.

“One thing I’ve learned about federal deadlines is they get extended,” said State Senator Joe Negron.

Negron chairs the committee on the Affordable Care Act. Negron is one of the most libertarian members of the legislature. He’s glad the Tea Party is voicing concerns.

“I think it’s very helpful when citizens come forward to share their point of view with us, so I was pleased they were there,” said Negron.

Over their objections, most of the law will go into effect without state approval. The biggest decision the Tea Party could influence is whether or not to expand Florida’s Medicaid roles.

And that expansion could cost the state 330 million dollars next year. The federal government is offering to help pay for most of the expansion through 2024, but lawmakers worry about how the state would keep Medicaid funded after that.

Florida’s jobs czar is resigning amid scrutiny over his choice to accept unemployment compensation.

Department of Economic Opportunity Secretary Hunting Deutsch accepted the unemployment payments after he was lost his bank job several years ago, and before taking his post at DEO. Recent reports claim Deutsch was vacationing in Europe at the same time he was collecting state benefits. Senate President Don Gaetz says Deutsch’s decision to resign was the right one, and the governor needs to do a better job vetting his replacement.

“The vetting process in that situation is not subject to senate confirmation, so I would hope that the governor would be very careful and Secretary Swoope would be very careful about a replacement,” said Gaetz.

DEO was created by Governor Rick Scott in late 2011 to push his jobs agenda. This is the second secretary of the department to step down since its creation.

An attempt by an elite group of legislators to privatize health care in Florida prisons has failed. Today a Florida circuit judge ruled in favor of unions challenging the privation plans. AFSME Executive Director Alma Gonzalez says the group of lawmakers trying to privatize health care was abusing their power.

“They have forgotten how important the rule of law is and that in fact we have a constitution and that you cannot backdoor deals. To make sure things are done in the sunshine,” said Gonzalez.

The lawmakers said privatizing health care could save the state 50 million dollars a year, but now it looks like the issue will have to go in front of the full legislature if it’s going to become law.

The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee was told today that Five Florida counties, St. Lucie, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami Dade, and Lee, under performed in the November General election. Only St. Lucie failed to turn in its vote totals on time. State Senators began what will be a months long look at what went wrong November sixth.

Voters were still in line Wednesday morning in Miami Dade. Some votes in St. Lucie country were late being counted and submitted and did not count. Long lines and other problems plagued voters in Palm Beach, Broward and Lee counties.

“Sixty-two of the sixty-seven counties performed very well”. is what Secretary of State Ken Detzner told State Senators investigating the problems. He said voters are like customers and need to receive good service.

“If you are in the burger business and you don’t have enough cash registers or burger makers, and you don’t appropriate the money for that type of service” says Detzner.

The committee was told more early voting hours would have solved some of the problems. And the number of early voting sites varied widely from as low as one site per thirty thousand residents to a high of one site per 210 thousand people.

“There may not have been enough sites. Where they were located may not have been strategically the best locations, but we’re going to find out” Detzner told reporters afterward.

A long ballot and record absentee ballots also contributed to delays, which prompted Committee Chair Senator Jack Latvala to promise “There will be some legislation that will be out of this committee by the first part of session”. Fast food comparisons dominated the meeting and the point was made When the line gets too long, the franchisee needs to open another restaurant nearby or lose business.

It will be months before changes are proposed, but more early voting sites, more equipment, and better funding for elections are all items for consideration.

The committee chairman also suggested the Governor might want to consider removing some Elections Supervisors who did not perform on election day. Next week the Secretary of State will take a team of experts to each of the counties that had problems and report to the Governor in January.

This may be the last holiday shopping season that online retailers aren’t required to charge you state sales tax. As Whitney Ray tells us, a bill filed in Tallahassee would allow the state to begin collecting the six cent tax from online shops.

You may notice something missing when you make a purchase online. Zeros in the tax column. That’s because online retailers without locations in Florida don’t have to collect state sales tax. But that could soon change. State Senator Gwen Margolis filed a bill to force online retails to collect the tax.

“Our whole revenue source is sales tax in the state of Florida,” said Margolis.

We caught up with Senator Margolis by phone Monday.

“The State of Florida is losing jobs and money because people have been shopping online all year,” said Margolis.

The state’s cut is six cents on the dollar that means when online retailers don’t collect the tax they can offer their customers lower prices than their brick and mortar competitors. The disadvantage has caught the ire of the Florida Retail Federation.

“Let’s move on. Let’s quit competing unfairly based on a tax, that’s not what you do,” said Rick McAllister, President of the Florida Retail Federation.

This is the sixth year this bill has been filed here in Tallahassee, and sponsors believe its time has come. Support among lawmakers is growing, but concerns remain over weather or not collecting the money owed can be considered a tax increase.

Senate President Don Gaetz is against the bill, but says if it were to pass he’d like to see other taxes decreased to keep the collection revenue neutral.

“I certainly as one senator would insist on some kind of tax reduction for the very people whose taxes would be increased,” said Gaetz.

It’s unclear exactly how much money could be collected if the bill passes. Some economists put the annual figure in the 100 million to a billion dollar range. Even though some online stores don’t charge sales tax, the buyer still owes it, but last year just 7,000 online shoppers mailed a check to the Florida Department of Revenue.

A legal showdown is about to begin over whether six counties where voters have approved slot machines can actually install them. The Attorney general says no, but courts and the legislature may have a different opinion.

The legal showdown will come after voters in conservative Lee County in Southwest Florida voted overwhelmingly for Mitt Romney.But these voters cast ballots even more solidly for slot machines, approving them by almost a two to one margin. They weren’t alone.

On election day, voters in Brevard and Palm Beach counties also said yes to slots. That brings the total to six counties that have said yes to slots since January. Prior to the first vote last January, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi told the Department that supervises slots that it didn’t matter how people voted, they could not issue a license.

Attorney Marc Dunbar, who has an interest in a barrel racing track in Gadsden County, which approved slots in January, disagrees. “There are a couple of cases that will likely be filed in the next six to eight weeks that will push the issue a little bit now that the voters have overwhelmingly said they would like to have slot machines at their pari-mutual facilities,” says Dunbar.

As slots backers get ready to go to court, state lawmakers are about to begin a two year review of every gambling regulation in the state. The state does already has slots, indian casino’s, boats to nowhere, and internet cafe’s. Senate President Don Gaetz set up the committee looking at gambling because each form is regulated differently. “We have completely unregulated aspects of gaming like internet cafes then we have over regulated aspects of gaming like some of our dog tracks and horse tracks” says Gaetz.

Any changes put the deal with the Seminole Tribe in jeopardy, The deal the state cut with the Seminole Tribe expires in two years, and another full court press for destination casinos is expected over the next two years.