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House leaders were livid when retiring Supreme Court Justice James E. Perry was given an appointment to finish working on the cases in the pipeline when the year ended and his mandatory retirement kicked in. House Speaker Richard Corcoran threatened a lawsuit. But Governor Rick Scott quickly appointed a replacement for Perry and Chief Justice Jorge Labarga shortened Perry’s extension until the end of January.

“I basically terminated Perry’s help on January 31. So I figured that now that we know we got a justice, thirty days should be enough time to finish what you are working on and get those out” says the Chief Justice.

The Chief Justice says Perry worked without pay. He added the extended appointment is allowed in the Constitution and the last ten Chief Justices has issued similar orders extending Justices service until they are replaced.

The Florida Supreme Court has been called the less equal branch of Government by one former governor and it is facing the ire of lawmakers upset over its redistricting rulings and its declaration the workers comp statute was unconstitutional. Lawmakers have responded with two plans. One limits appellate judges to two six year terms. the other would allow a two thirds vote of the legislature to overrule court decisions. Chief Justice Jorge Labarga was asked about both ideas at a morning news conference, but chose not to answer.

“You know, I’m a judge and I call balls and strikes. And I try to call them the best I can. that’s what I was trained to do  and I’m not in a position to answer those kinds of questions and I’ll leave it at that” says the Chief Justice.

Lawmakers may also try to change the courts rules during the upcoming Constitutional revision process. Any changes would require voter approval to amendment the constitution.

The man behind the successful Constitutional Amendment for medical marijuana was in the state Capitol today, where John Morgan is sounding more and more like a candidate for Governor.

John Morgan says he spent ten million passing the medical marijuana amendment. It got 71 percent of the vote.  And a successful trial lawyer, his name is plastered on buses and buildings. Now, there is a draft John Morgan for Governor movement. John Clark even brought buttons to the Capital City tiger Bay luncheon.

“He is a good strong man that we need for Florida” says Clark

Morgan himself is undecided. He talked about the negative personal attacks in the marijuana campaign as an eyeopener of what could come.

“Does this fit my success to significance, or is really just an ego trip that might destroy me in the end. Those are the things that I think about” says Morgan.

But it’s clear he has been thinking about the issues on which to run. At the top of the list, a higher minimum wage.

“People do not make enough money to survive” Morgan told the crowd.

Morgan calls the idea of private prisons misplaced, says he would end the war on teachers.and told the crowd to stop criticizing the President.

“We got to hope he succeeds, don’t we” asked Morgan.

He would also decriminalize marijuana.

“The war on drugs has failed. It’s a great failure.”

Morgan and Morgan spends 80 million dollars a year on advertising, and that means John Morgan doesn’t have to make a decision for another year or so.

And as he concluded an hour long speech, it was clear the highly political crowd was impressed “I think you could be a suburb Governor” said a Gwen Graham supporter.

Morgan says if he runs and wins, he would only serve one four year term, then go back to his life.  In addition to being a lawyer, Morgan owns stakes in hotels, a casino and more.

The Florida Why Courts Matter Coalition is calling on Floridians to educate themselves on Donald trumps nominee for the US Supreme Court. The coalition wants Floridians to call on its two US Senators, Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio to thoroughly vet the judges record, which coalition member Damien Filer says is not one of inclusion.

“He has a long record on the bench” says Filer. ”It’s a record of siding with Wall Street and Corporations against American workers. Its a record of siding with corporations against women’s rights to reproductive health care. It’s a record of siding with corporations against a clean environment, clean water and air. And those are the kind of values I think we should be looking to be reflected in terms of what American want in a Supreme Court, which really is there to be a check and balance on out political system.”

The coalition believes Neil Gorsuch’s nomination poses a threat to the rights of women, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and working families, but most elected Republicans in Florida are cheering the choice.

Governor Rick Scott is proposing spending 558 million more on public schools this coming year, but if the Governor gets his way, it’s not the state that would be putting the money up, but local taxpayers.

The assessed value of this home has grown in each of the last three years

From 117 to 121 to now 124 thousand.

And with each rise in value, property taxes have gone up.

The tax bill on the house, a hundred and twenty nine dollars higher than it was in 2014.

Statewide, the collective value of the taxes on increasing values is 558 million this year. Governor Rick Scott wants to use all of that money to increase school funding.

“When your house goes up in value, most of us like that” Scott says.

And while the amount of money being collected from property owners is higher, Scott says that isn’t a tax increase.

“If you change the rate, that’s tax increase. But if you spend more money this year because you happen to buy a boat you didn’t buy the year before, the state didn’t raise your taxes” says the Governor.

But House Speaker Richard corcoran doesn’t see it that way.

“He raises property taxes” says Corcoran.

Last year, the state used 420 million dollars to keep the amount of required property taxes being paid from going up. The House plans to do the same thing gain this year.

“I’ve said it a thousand times. The House will not raise taxes” Corcoran reiterated.

If the House wins this philosophical battle, all property owners win. It Scott prevails, businesses will see lower taxes on rent. Both sides agree there isn’t enough to do both.

The Governor supported last years reduction in property taxes and  even included the amount in his total two year tax reduction of a billion dollars.