News
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
|
|
|
|
THE LATEST
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
A vote's not a vote when nobody believes it
Today is Day 58 of the 60-day session of the Florida Legislature.
By Times staff writers, Associated Pres
Published May 4, 2005
The state Senate on Tuesday continued the new Florida tradition of fouling up a vote count.
The trouble began with an amendment to the Senate's Medicaid restructuring bill. The measure would have made it harder for some companies, such as Wal-Mart, to get corporate tax credits if too many employees are on Medicaid.
It passed, 18-16, surprising even its sponsor, Democratic Leader Les Miller of Tampa.
A few minutes of flurried activity later, Sen. Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey, acting as presiding officer, made an announcement: Some senators said their votes were incorrectly tabulated.
"When I locked the board the vote was 17-17 and somehow it changed," Carlton said.
So the Senate held a recount.
This time the amendment failed, 20-14.
-ALISA ULFERTS
Senate refuses to amend abortion regulation bill
The Senate refused Tuesday to approve a change to a bill that some lawmakers said must be made to let clinics around the state provide second-trimester abortions.
The bill (HB 1041) increases regulation of abortion clinics that provide second-trimester abortions. One provision requires a clinic's medical director to have privileges at a nearby hospital.
The amendment, rejected 22-15, would have instead let clinics work out standing agreements with nearby hospitals to accept women from the clinics.
Sen. Rod Smith said some hospitals refuse to give privileges to doctors who perform abortions.
"If you vote this down ... there will be places for which abortion will be effectively denied," said Smith, D-Alachua.
Supporters say the overall legislation, which the House passed last month, will improve the treatment of women seeking abortions. Opponents say its intent is to erode the constitutional right to abortion.
Accord on slots gets "closer and closer'
Lawmakers worked Tuesday toward an agreement regulating and taxing slot machines voters approved for four Broward County parimutuels in the final days of the legislative session.
"We're down to four or five issues," House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City, told reporters. "We're getting closer and closer."
The House bill, passed Monday, would limit the three racetracks and one jai-alai fronton to bingo-based gambling machines rather than traditional slot machines. It would tax slots' revenue at 55 percent.
The Senate bill, still awaiting a vote by the full chamber, would allow full-fledged slot machines like those found in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. It also has a lower tax rate, ranging from 30 percent to 35 percent based on the amount of slots' revenue.
Any taxes collected by the state must go to schools around the state.
-ASSOCIATED PRESS
[Last modified May 4, 2005, 00:56:08]
Share your thoughts on this story
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Letter to the editor
