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James Call - page 20

James Call has 398 articles published.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham wants crackdown on congressional perks

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North Florida U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham has found a Republican co-sponsor for a crackdown on congressional perks. Graham, speaking Tuesday at a Tallahassee news conference, called the perks elimination act (HR 1339) a “common sense” measure that would save millions of dollars by prohibiting members of Congress from billing taxpayers to fly first class and rent luxury cars.  “It is common sense and I think it is what the people of our country deserve that tax dollars are used efficiently. There is…

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Singin’ the small government blues

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Florida lawmakers’ balancing act in writing a state budget includes factoring in promises of a tax cut, increases in education and conservation measures and bridging a nearly $2 billion gap created by the scheduled end of a Low Income Pool program for hospitals. They will get fresh numbers Tuesday to begin work on a spending plan for the fiscal year beginning in July. Republicans who control the state Capitol have campaigned on, governed by and promised more of the economic-freedom…

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Annual Capitol Press skit show skewers Tallahassee elite

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News will take a backseat to humor Tuesday night when the Capitol Press Corps presents the 60th edition of the sometimes Annual Press Skits; a tradition that began when the senior members of Florida’s political/media class were toddlers. “It’s become ingrained in the culture of Tallahassee, said Steve Bousquet, appearing in his 21st Press Skits show. “You almost have to be a part of Tallahassee to get the jokes and they serve as sort of a release valve for lawmakers…

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House Education Committee talks school accountability reform

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The House Education Committee spent about an hour Monday discussing and approving an overhaul of Florida’s testing-focused school accountability program. The measure was approved on a unanimous vote. Read a staff analysis here. Chair Marlene O’Toole said last week she wanted to get the measure to the floor as quickly as possible and Monday committee members backed their chair and moved the proposal along. Representatives of the hospitality industry had couched their objections to a potentially earlier start date for…

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The day that was in Florida Politics — March 9

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It was a day of testing at the state Capitol. The House Education Committee took about an hour to dispose of an overhaul of Florida’s school accountability system. The measure reducing testing and allowing an earlier start date of the school year sailed through with a few concerns expressed and a unanimous vote. While the committee met, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart announced that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating a cyber attack on a server used to administer…

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Capitol Preview: Money, press skits and the search for clarity

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This week politics at the state Capitol will be about money and a search for clarity. Legislators will get a better view of the hill they need to climb in building a state budget for the year beginning July 1. The Revenue Estimating Conference meets Tuesday and will count up how much tax money the state has collected so far and project how much more money will roll in by the end of June. These are the numbers lawmakers will use when…

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NRCC obsession with Gwen Graham and ‘brass in her pocket’

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This is funny. Chris Pack obviously doesn’t know me and/or much about rookie U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham. Then again, I should have realized back when people threw beer cans at me during my stand-up comedy phase in college that I do humor like Andy Kaufman – a few get my jokes, but most are bewildered. So, Pack of the NRCC sent out an e-mail, one of those ICYM things alerting folks about a supposedly negative piece on Graham that I wrote based…

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