[firemed]

I find it funny that Crist is talking about his political agenda cutting taxes but now we have to change all the voting machines just bought in 2001 and buy new machines to replace them. This will cost millions of our tax dollars. Now if he wants to cut taxes it seems we could have used the old machines. But father knows best !
The 60-day legislative session came to an end with the ceremonial dropping of the white handkerchiefs Friday, but without an agreement on property tax relief.
Legislators will be back in Tallahassee again June 12 in hopes of reaching a compromise on the property tax issue.

While legislators didn't pass the top item on their agenda, earlier in the week they passed a $71.9 billion budget that begins July 1. Southwest Florida fared well in the budget with $100 million going to projects for Lake Okeechobee.

On Friday, while finishing well before the midnight deadline, legislators passed and killed several important bills.

Anti-bullying

An anti-bullying bill named for a Cape Coral teen who committed suicide didn't make it through the Florida Senate for the second straight year. Debbie Johnston, whose son killed himself in 2005, said she will go to Tallahassee, in hopes it will be passed in a special session next month. If that doesn't happen, she will work to get it passed next year.

insurance

Legislature voted Friday to extend a rate freeze for customers of Citizens Property Insurance. The freeze will lock in 2005 rates through 2009.

Wetlands

The Senate voted down a bill that would have allowed a $4.5 million marina to be built on the Caloosahatchee River. It was part of a larger bill that was supposed to make it easier for developers to get permits to build on wetlands if the project is smaller than 3 acres.

Property Taxes

Coming Sunday and Monday: A look ahead toward the special session on property taxes. How Gov. Charlie Crist fared in his first legislative session. A closer look at local bills and the local delegation.

The 60-day legislative session came to an end with the ceremonial dropping of the white handkerchiefs Friday, but without an agreement on property tax relief.

Legislators will be back in Tallahassee again June 12 in hopes of reaching a compromise on the property tax issue.

While legislators didn't pass the top item on their agenda, earlier in the week they passed a $71.9 billion budget that begins July 1. Southwest Florida fared well in the budget with $100 million going to projects for Lake Okeechobee.

On Friday, while finishing well before the midnight deadline, legislators passed and killed several important bills.

Anti-bullying

An anti-bullying bill named for a Cape Coral teen who committed suicide didn't make it through the Florida Senate for the second straight year. Debbie Johnston, whose son killed himself in 2005, said she will go to Tallahassee, in hopes it will be passed in a special session next month. If that doesn't happen, she will work to get it passed next year.

insurance

Legislature voted Friday to extend a rate freeze for customers of Citizens Property Insurance. The freeze will lock in 2005 rates through 2009.

Wetlands

The Senate voted down a bill that would have allowed a $4.5 million marina to be built on the Caloosahatchee River. It was part of a larger bill that was supposed to make it easier for developers to get permits to build on wetlands if the project is smaller than 3 acres.

Property Taxes

Coming Sunday and Monday: A look ahead toward the special session on property taxes. How Gov. Charlie Crist fared in his first legislative session. A closer look at local bills and the local delegation.

The vote to change voting machines from the new touch screen to a paper type of machine was passed. here is the link to the voting machine story.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=12420&z=3&p= (broken link)

[SouthernBelle3]

Thumbs up on the Wetland issue, Thumbs down on the property tax relief. How does anyone feel about raising the homestead exemption to $50,000. It has been $25,000 ever since I have lived in Florida, about 26years. Isn't it time to adjust for inflation?

[Magnolia Bloom]

If the call for the special session is only property taxes, I don't think that they can take up the anti-bullying bill.

What happens with the no-fault auto insurance issue? Since it is sunsetting, they will have a gun to their heads to include it in the special session, too. Unless it was a backroom deal with the insurance companies to let it sunset in exchange for getting some of the HO issues passed.

I like the 50k exemption idea on property taxes.