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Democrats in the state Capitol have fallen short of the needed votes to force a special session on gun control.  As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the poll was conducted under an obscure state law that  allows a super majority of the legislature to call itself into  session when no one else will do it.

Democrats forced the poll after the deadly Pulse night club shooting. They were seeking a ban on gun sales to those on the no fly list or people under FBI scrutiny.  Incoming Hose Democratic Leader Janey Cruz (D-Tampa) said the fight wasn’t about the Second Amendment.

This is not about law abiding Floridians. This is about terrorists” said Cruz at least weeks news conference in Orlando.

The outcome was not a surprise to the state’s gun lobby.

“I think most of the people who have been watching what’s going on, mainly, legislators. Legislators know rushing to judgement is not a good thing” said Marion Hammer.

Basically, lawmakers voted along party lines. Just two Democrats said no to the special session, while one Republican thought it was a good idea.

The NRA called the poll of lawmakers premature.

“Calling a special session to fix a problem the they have not accurately identified, because there’s no completed investigation at this time. All the facts aren’t in” says Hammer.

Democrats failed in a similar effort to force a special session on the state’s stand your ground law back in 2013.

Votes were still being collected until today’s noon deadline, but the effort was doomed over the weekend when enough No votes had been submitted to defeat the effort to call a session. A final vote tally is expected by the end of the day.

The state’s Economic development agency, Enterprise Florida, clamored for cash this year from the legislature, but were mostly denied. As Matt Galka tells us, while Florida’s Governor lobbied hard for the extra cash, the agency’s executives saw their salaries continue to climb.

Governor Rick Scott fought hard for $250 million dollars of economic incentive cash for Enterprise Florida – a public – private partnership used for economic development.

“We’ve got to continue putting money into Enterprise Florida,” said Scott back in February.

The legislature didn’t agree. The agency got $23 and a half million from the budget that took effect July 1^st.  But while Enterprise Florida said they needed more cash…the agency’s executives saw their salaries going up.

Executive salaries went from nearly $800,500 to $1.4 million over the past six years according to USA Today.

Ben Wilcox with Integrity Florida has consistently questioned whether Floridians were getting a good return on investment.

“Enterprise Florida is funded 90% by Florida taxpayers, they seem to think that they get to play by a different set of rules than other taxpayer funded entities,” he said.

Enterprise Florida’s board voted last week to lay off 12 people and eliminate another 12 positions in a cost cutting measure.

The agency says they need to cut $6 million dollars. The Governor told the board last week it’s because the legislature didn’t properly fund them. Critics in the legislature compared the funding to corporate welfare.

“We see a lot of promises of jobs that are being created but a lot of times those jobs never materialize,” said Wilcox.

Enterprise Florida will also be closing four international offices in an effort to save money.

We reached out to Enterprise Florida Tuesday for comment but they have not yet returned our messages

Today is the first day of a new state budget, and Florida will spend just over 82 billion dollars this year. That’s up by three billion over last year and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, comes to four thousand and four dollars for every man woman and child living here.

82 billion is a lot of money and the cash goes fast. In the minute and three-quarters Shannon Sullivan waited at a tallahassee stop light, the state spent nearly 300 thousand dollars.

“I don’t know…that’s a lot of money” he told us.

Ten thousand of it went to protect children.

And In the two minutes and 15 seconds Denise Sage was in this bank, Florida spent just over 46 thousand dollars fixing and building roads.

“It’s better spent on maybe on some bike lanes and mass transit, but it’s not bad” said Sage.

Florida spent 26 thousand dollars in the ten seconds it took postal worker Jason Comfort to drop off mail at this office.

“Shocking” he told us.

“Almost a year’s salary isn’t it?”

“Yes Sir”

75 hundred went to schools.

Florida spent 117 thousand dollars the time it took Edward Johnson to use this ATM.

“That’s why we pay taxes through government to help people who need help.”

Q:”so, you’re glad to do that?”

“I’m glad to do my part, yes sir.”

And the state will is going to send just over six million a day keeping people in prison, but many think that number could be lower.

The organization Smart Justice’s Barney Bishop believes the prison population could be cut by a third if minimum mandatory sentences were eased and inmates got drug counseling behind bars.

“And that will save hundreds of millions of dollars going forward” says Bishop.

And there is good news for property owners. Lawmakers used 420 million dollars to offset  higher property taxes for schools.

The state payroll will remain on of the most frugal in the nation. 113 thousand jobs are authorized in the budget, but the state has consistently ranked 50th in per capita cost for running government.

July 1^st means new laws going into effect, and as Matt Galka tells us, Floridians have 159 new things to worry about.

It’s time to follow some new rules, but they’re not all bad.  Lawmakers passed nearly 300 bills this year, and more than half of them go on the books Friday.

One of the more controversial bills debated this year – the pastor protection act – takes effect.  Clergy will have the state’s backing if they refuse to marry gay couples.

“We’re pastors, we’re not politicians and we’re not lawyers and we cannot afford to fight legal fights,” said Miami pastor Abraham Rivera when the bill was being debated in February.

You’ll also now be able to better manage your digital life after you pass away under a law that lets you assign a guardian for you cloud assets.

“People are doing banking online, they’re doing all kinds of financial transactions online, how would anyone even know if you had those transactions if you couldn’t gain access?” said bill sponsor Sen. Dorothy Hukill (R-Port Orange).

But the only most likely to impact you right away – the tax cut package. Including a three day back to school sales tax holiday in August.

“Back to school sales tax holiday is important not just for consumers but also for businesses as well. Businesses see an increase in sales during this three day period, and consumers obviously get to save a nice chunk of money as well on the stuff they’re going to buy anyways going back to school, now they get to save 6, 7 percent,” said James Miller with the Florida Retail Federation.

A controversial new abortion law was set to take effect but was blocked by a federal judge just hours before midnight. The bill blocks Planned Parenthood from receiving state funds.

“These laws specifically target abortion providers and we do more to prevent the need for abortion than any group in the country, what’s really at risk here is the healthcare of women in the state of Florida,” said Barba Zdravecky, a CEO with the organization.

Part of the law requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals was not blocked by the judge.

Of the 272 laws lawmakers passed overall this year and sent to the Governor, only three were vetoed, the rest were signed.