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Gary Fineout - page 22

Gary Fineout has 257 articles published.

Legislative session limps to close amid acrimony, standoff

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The annual session of the Florida Legislature limped to a premature end Wednesday amid finger-pointing and threats of possible lawsuits. The House abruptly adjourned a day earlier, with leaders contending there was no reason to remain at the Capitol as long as they continue to have a stalemate with Senate leaders over a new state budget and health care. But Senate President Andy Gardiner sent a letter to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli asking legislators to come back to the Capitol…

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Florida Senate revives push to help pro sports teams

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Backers of Florida’s professional sports franchises are mounting a drive in the waning moments of this year’s session of the Florida Legislature to help out three teams and Daytona International Speedway. A Florida Senate panel on Tuesday tacked a provision into an economic development bill that would guarantee taxpayer money to the racetrack and the stadiums used by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and the Orlando City Lions. The proposals would cost the state $255 million and would be paid…

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Florida ethics panel: David Rivera deserves fine, reprimand

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Former U.S. Rep. David Rivera broke Florida’s ethics law and should pay nearly $60,000 in fines and restitution, a state panel concluded Friday. The Miami Republican, who has been a long-time friend of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, is accused of double-billing taxpayers for travel expenses while he was a state legislator and failing to properly report his income. The unanimous vote by the Florida Commission on Ethics is the latest chapter of a long-running investigation that first began in 2010…

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Marco Rubio on key issues of 2016 campaign

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A snapshot of where Florida Sen. Marco Rubio stands on issues likely to be debated during the Republican presidential primaries, as he enters the race. IMMIGRATION Rubio, whose parents emigrated from Cuba, was a co-author of a bipartisan immigration overhaul that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Rubio backed off the issue, after the measure came under fire from conservatives, saying it could not win enough support in Congress. Rubio now says that…

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Florida’s political parties rake in money during session

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Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature is in the middle of another contentious session where it’s deciding everything from the future of gambling in the state to whether or not grocery stores can sell liquor in their aisles. And the corporations, trade associations, and law firms with a stake in the outcome of this year’s session have flooded the campaign accounts of the two major parties, as well as accounts connected to Senate President Andy Gardiner and Gov. Rick Scott. New campaign reports…

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After backlash, Florida puts limits on standardized testing

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Responding to a backlash about the continued use of high-stakes standardized tests, the Florida Legislature on Thursday passed significant changes to the system that was primarily put in place by former Gov. Jeb Bush. The changes, though not as wide as critics wanted, still represent a departure for Republicans who had fully embraced the reforms championed by Bush during his eight years in office. Bush is touting his reforms in what appears to be a likely presidential campaign. The bill…

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Florida Senate holding firm on health care despite standoff

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A growing standoff about health care is creating a divide between the Republican-controlled Florida Senate and Gov. Rick Scott. A Senate panel Tuesday refused to confirm a top appointee of the Scott administration after he would not answer questions about whether he supported the Senate plan to expand healthcare coverage to 800,000 Floridians. The move came a day after Scott said he could no longer support expanding Medicaid because of doubts about the federal government’s promise to pay for it.…

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