Internet Café Ban Moving in House
March 21st, 2013 by flanewsThe Florida House is taking quick action on a bill to ban internet cafes. The language in the bill was drafted last Thursday, amended in Committee Friday… and today, as Whitney Ray tells us, is ready to be voted on by the entire chamber.
The bill is expected to be voted on tomorrow morning by the entire Florida House. The all eyes will be on the senate to see how they handle the bill.
The rush is on, to outlaw internet cafes in the wake of a massive police investigation.
Thursday afternoon The Florida House speed through a bill to clarify state law… and close all internet cafes.
The bill brought with it controversy… Democrats question why the chamber was rushing to action.
“This was hurried to the floor, last week we voted on it in committee. It went through one committee, that’s all,” said Rep. Jim Waldman.
While the question flew and the amendments were adopted… Former Representative Scott Plakon watched quietly.
Last session, Plakon sponsored a bill to ban internet cafes. It was approved by the House…. But the Senate never took it up.
“As I’ve said all along they’re crawling through what we think are loopholes in the law, and a lot of us have believed they have been illegal right from the get go and we see the law enforcement start to act so I’m just glad this day is coming,” said Plakon.
As Plakon watched from the balcony…. In the well question flew about how the bill would affect school raffles, arcades and jobs.
There more than a thousand internet cafes statewide, employing an estimated 10-thousand Floridians.
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