St. Petersburg has opened up a few more mobile charging stations so residents waiting on their power to be restored after Hurricane Irma can top off their phone batteries.
Landlines are quickly going the way of rotary-dial phones in Florida. A state report released this week showed that large numbers of Floridians continue unplugging the types of phone lines that were a fixture of life for decades. Instead, they are reaching into their pockets for mobile phones or using internet technology to chat with friends and family.
A tax cut that would have helped a broader swath of Floridians, including the middle class and working poor, was changed Tuesday to instead benefit the state’s business owners. With no debate, the Senate’s Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee cleared the bill (SB 378) by a 4-0 vote. As initially proposed by Miami-Dade Republican Anitere Flores, it would have paid for a cut in the state’s communications services tax (CST) on mobile phone, satellite and cable TV service by repealing a tax break to insurers. The…
A coalition of Florida business groups is giving the thumbs-down to state Sen. Anitere Flores’ proposal to pay for a cut in the state’s tax on mobile phone and satellite and cable TV service by repealing a tax break to insurers. The legislation (SB 378) would swap the insurance break for a 2 percent reduction in the state’s communications services tax (CST). The proposal is a priority of Senate President Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican. Negron earlier this year said he was looking to eliminate the…
In a move sure to ire the insurance industry, state Sen. Anitere Flores is proposing a cut in the state tax on mobile phone and satellite and cable TV service by repealing a tax break to insurers. Flores, the Senate President pro Tempore, on Friday said she was filing legislation (SB 378) to swap the insurance break for a 2 percent reduction in the state’s communications services tax (CST). The proposal is a priority of Senate President Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican.…
Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner is calling on cellular providers to suspend data overage charges. Joyner urged the state’s cell phone providers to halt overage charges for customers who live in areas impacted by Hurricane Matthew. She also called on Gov. Rick Scott to support her request, saying the charges are the “last thing victims of this monster storm need to worry about.” “As Floridians ready for evacuations or hunker down in their homes as this hurricane approaches, communication is…
Today on Context Florida: To win the Republican nomination in 2016, a candidate must win 1,237 delegates. After the March 22 primaries, Darryl Paulson points out that Donald Trump has 739 delegates and needs another 498 to win. If no candidate has 1,237 delegates when the convention starts, it is considered to be a contested convention. If no one secures a majority during the first ballot, the convention becomes “brokered.” Statistician Nate Silver estimates that Trump will fall about 29 delegates…
