Florida House Backs Making It Harder To Raise Taxes
January 26, 2018
TALLAHASSEE — In a priority of Gov. Rick Scott and Speaker Richard Corcoran, the Florida House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder to raise taxes and fees.
The proposal, which could go on the November ballot, would require two-thirds votes by the House and the Senate in the future to increase taxes and fees, up from the usual majority votes.
“I believe that taking a citizen’s hard-earned money should not be done lightly,” sponsor Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, said before the House voted 80-29 to approve the measure (HJR 7001). “You either stand with the people whose money the government takes or you stand with the government that takes it.”
But Democratic critics argued that the current Legislature should not seek to tie the hands of future lawmakers in making decisions about taxes and spending. They said Florida lags other states in funding for such things as public schools and mental-health programs.
“Each and every session, there’s a different tension between taxes and revenue and what we want to spend money on and what we don’t,’’ Rep. Sean Shaw, D-Tampa, said. “I’m no smarter than someone who’s going to come here 10 years from now to vote. And so I don’t think I ought to have more power than that person that sits in this seat 10 years from now to vote. They should be able to vote up or down on tax policy, up and down on revenues, just like I do.”
While the measure easily passed, the House still needs to work out differences with the Senate before the proposed constitutional amendment could go before voters in November.
The Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee is slated Monday to take up a version (SJR 1742) that would require three-fifths votes of the House and Senate before taxes could be increased in the future — a lower threshold than the House plan. The Senate version also would not apply to raising fees.
But while differences remain, Scott and Corcoran have focused heavily on the issue in the early stages of the 2018 session. If a tax-limit proposal reaches the November ballot, it would require approval from 60 percent of voters to go into the state Constitution.
“When I first announced this proposal, Speaker Corcoran joined me to ensure we do all we can to let families and job creators keep more of their hard-earned money,” Scott said in a statement after the House vote. “Today, the Florida House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed this proposal in a bipartisan vote to give Floridians the chance to go to the polls and vote to make it harder for politicians in Tallahassee to raise taxes and fees.”
The proposed constitutional amendment was one of 19 measures approved Thursday by the House, including two health-care bills that have long been backed by Corcoran and other House GOP leaders.
One of those bills (HB 27), sponsored by Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, would eliminate the controversial “certificate of need” regulatory process for hospitals. Under the process, hospitals must seek approval from the state Agency for Health Care Administration before adding facilities or programs.
Fitzenhagen said eliminating the so-called CON process would increase competition and drive down health-care costs. But critics, such as Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, argued it could lead to new hospitals in affluent areas “cherry picking” insured patients from older hospitals, which would be left serving larger proportions of low-income and uninsured patients.
The House, which voted 72-36 to approve the bill, also has passed CON repeals in the past but has not gotten agreement from the Senate.
Similarly, the House voted 97-10 to approve a bill (HB 37) aimed at encouraging the use of “direct primary care” agreements. Under the agreements, patients or their employers would make regular payments to doctors for primary-care services, at least partly cutting out the role of insurers.
The bill, sponsored by Insurance & Banking Chairman Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, would make clear the agreements are not governed by insurance laws and regulations. Like with the CON repeal, the House in the past has been unable to reach agreement with the Senate on direct primary care.
Rep. Mike Miller, R-Winter Park, said the bill would address health-care costs and give decision-making power to doctors and patients.
“We’re trying to lower the cost of health care and improve the outcomes,” Miller said.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Multiple Departments Contain Grass Fire Near Jay
January 25, 2018
A grass fire in the 6200 block of Old Pollard Road in Jay threatened several structures Thursday afternoon. Firefighters from Berrydale, Jay, Century, Flomaton and the Florida Division of Forestry were able to contain the fire and prevent and structural damage. There were no injuries reported. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Brush Fire Threatens Structures, Vehicles
January 25, 2018
A brush fire in Molino threatened several structures and vehicles Thursday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 1:30 p.m. on Cedar Tree Lane. Firefighters from the Molino, Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue worked to bring the fire under control with no structural damage.
There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Respond To Brush Fire On Shady Lane In Century
January 25, 2018
Firefighters responded to brush fire at residence in the 9500 block of Shady Lane in Century about noon Thursday. The fire reportedly started when a trash fire got out of control. It was quickly brought under control before reaching a wooded area. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Small Chemical Explosion Forces Evacuation At UWF Building
January 25, 2018
A small chemical explosion led to the evacuation of a building at the University of West Florida this afternoon.
The chemistry lab explosion in Building 58 occurred about 12:15 p.m. There were no students in the lab at the time of the explosion. The science building was evacuated as firefighters worked to clear smoke from the building.
There were no injuries.
Building 58 was set to remain closed with all classes and labs in the building canceled until 4:30 p.m. The rest of the UWF campus remained operational as usual.
Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Warning Of Man That Tried To Lure Kids Into Car With Cash
January 25, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is warning parents about a man that allegedly tried to lure children try to lure children into his car from a school bus stop Thursday morning.
Deputies responded to the 8800 block of Sonnyboy Lane in reference to a suspicious person.
Deputies were told a group of children were approached by a black male who offered them money to get in his car. The children say he was driving a white four-door car, described as being dirty with tinted windows. The black male was described to be possibly in his 30’s or 40’s, with short dreads, a little bit of facial hair and was wearing all black.
The children did not accept his offer and did not enter the vehicle.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Sonnyboy Lane is located just north of Johnson Avenue in Ensley, between Chemstrand Road and Airway Drive.
FHP Seeks Highway 29 Hit And Run Driver
January 25, 2018
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a hit and run driver after a traffic crash Wednesday night in Ensley.
The hit and driver was turning from southbound Highway 29 onto Hood Drive near Walmart about 6:10 p.m. when they turned into the path of a car traveling northbound on Highway 29. The 23-year old driver of that car was not seriously injured.
No description of the hit and run vehicle was available, but it will have significant damage to the passenger side.
Anyone with information on the hit and run crash is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at *FHP or (850) 484-5000.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Stolen Debit Card Leads To Felony Drug Charges Against Cantonment Man
January 25, 2018
A alleged stolen debit card led to felony drug charges against a Cantonment man.
Jeffrey Ervinton Rivers, 35 was accused of using a debit card stolen from his cousin at a Cantonment Tom Thumb to make a $9.28 purchase and a $400 ATM withdrawal.
When deputies went to an address on Deauville Way in Pensacola to arrest Rivers, they reported finding him asleep on a couch with the stolen debit card in his pocket. Deputies also reported finding three bags of marijuana, 10 Ecstasy pills, snf two pieces of crack cocaine in his pants pockets.
Rivers was charged with three counts of possession of marijuana, possession of crack cocaine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, fraudulent use of a debit card, petty theft of a debit card and grand theft. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $8,000.
Town Planner To Return To Century; Councilman Wants Position Oversight
January 25, 2018
Town officials have announced that Town Planner Debbie Nickles is returning to Century following her resignation, but one council member wants more position oversight.
Nickles worked with the town for decades, until calling it quits December 29 over moral and ethical issues, and concerns about the town’s credibility.
At the town’s last council meeting in December, Nickles expressed grave concerns regarding the town’s decision to bill an apartment developer $180,250 to establish water and sewer service as opposed to $63,500 based upon a 2015 verbal agreement that she and then-mayor Freddie McCall made with the Paces Foundation. The 2015 agreement was based upon then-current published rates. [Read more...]
“I feel like this is a moral, ethical thing to me. I feel like we made a commitment to them and the town should honor that commitment,” she said addressing the town council in December.
The council voted 4-1 in early January to attempt to lure Nickles back, with council member Louis Gomez voting against.
This week, Gomez expressed concerns over the power held by the town planner. He cited comments on stories about Nickles on NorthEscambia.com.
“Mrs. Nickles has been serving the town for 30 years; she’s a big part of Century and a big part of the past of Century. But I was looking at if from the standpoint of if Mrs. Nickles fell ill or decided to retire,” he said of his vote against bringing her back to the planner position. “Some of the comments I read made it seem as though Century should just fold up, pack up and just take a bulldozer and go ahead and level this place without her. In my opinion, just opinion now, is that’s too much power for one person.
“I want to be 100 percent behind Mrs. Nickles, but my recommendation is someone needs to work hand in hand with her at a city government level in order that we won’t be held hostage by one person leaving or staying.”
“If it’s something to do with Century, I want to know about it,” Gomez said. “I don’t want to come up later and say it’s done because she had the authority to sign off on it because I want to see what is happening.”
“The downside to everything to going to come before the council is time with us only meeting twice a month” Council President Ann Brooks said. “For example, if somebody came in and needed a new roof, she has to sign off on that, it’s a land use, before they can get a permit to put a new roof on. Are we going to hold up a roof on someone’s home?”
“Yes,” Gomez replied. “We are gonna hold it up, but we are going to expedite the permit.”
“Until we have the next council meeting, you would like to hold off on anyone getting a roof?” Brooks asked.
“I don’t care,” Gomez said. “There’s people been waiting two years to get their house built over here. They don’t even have a house, let a lone a roof. If you are going to do stuff and be transparent, all I’m saying is I’m on this seat and I want to see it.” Or, as alternative, he said a person should be elected or appointed to “follow up” on anything that has to do with Century.
“I don’t want anybody to come back and say that this administration we have in place now let nothing slip through the cracks,” he said. “…Part of the problem was the way they did business in this past, not the person, not Mrs. Nickles.” He claimed that not all business by “a previous administration” was done “on top of the table”.
Mayor Henry Hawkins said, “I need to be aware of what’s going on….the council will be assured that not one person is doing everything with that authority. I’m in the loop; because I’m in the loop, you’ll be in the loop.”
“If something goes wrong in Century, I guarantee you they ain’t going to be saying Mrs. Nickles done it. Who they gonna say, who gonna be on the page on NorthEscambia and Tri City Ledger? The town council. If something goes wrong in Century, some money gets lost or whatever the case may be, a grant goes bad, they are going to blame (council members) Ann Brooks, Mr. Riley, Mr. Boutwell, Mr. Gomez and Mayor Hawkins. If my name is on the line, I just want it up on top. It’s no vengeance against no one.”
The council tabled any action on any additional oversight over Nickles’ position until a February workshop meeting.
Pictured top and bottom: Century council member Louis Gomez. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
January 25, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending January 18 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Clark and Long discovered a large amount of trash dumped along a road way in Escambia County. They dug through the trash and found the name and address of an individual they suspected dumped the trash. They located the subject and interviewed him and he admitted the trash belonged to him and that he dumped it along the roadside. The subject was issued a notice to appear for dumping.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Lambert arrived at Boiling Creek Boat Ramp in Eglin WMA a little after sunset. There were two trucks with boat trailers parked at the ramp. A brief time later, he heard several wood ducks fly over and heard multiple gun shots from two locations, one north of the boat ramp and one south of the boat ramp. The shooting continued until approximately 35 minutes after sunset. During waterfowl season, ducks can legally be hunted until sunset. The vessels arrived back at the ramp, one vessel from the north location and one from the south location. Lieutenant Lambert interviewed the subjects, they both possessed duck hunting equipment along with wood ducks. The subjects were cited and warned for several violations to include hunting ducks after hours, unplugged shotgun and various boating safety violations.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.