Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Tag archive

Thad Altman - page 5

Debbie Wasserman Schultz rallies Florida Democrats for second half of Session

in Top Headlines by

Senate Democrats kicked off the second half of the 2015 legislative session with a pep talk from Democratic National Committee Chair and South Florida U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. In a pre-floor session huddle Schultz said she came to bolster their efforts to uphold “the will of the voters” on both Medicaid expansion and the spending of Amendment 1 money. The Senate will consider an amendment by state Sen. Thad Altman directing more than $300 million toward land buying for conservation. However,…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

With Senate budget amendments teed up, calls flood senators

in Top Headlines by

Amendment 1 supporters on Tuesday were flooding senators with calls urging them to support funding for land-buying in advance of Senate floor action on the state budget on Wednesday. In November, 75 percent of voters statewide supported the water and land conservation funding initiative that provides an estimated $741 million in the 2015-16 state budget. The proposed Senate budget provides $2 million for the Florida Forever land-buying program and another $20 million for land acquisition for Kissimmee River restoration. On…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Fracking bills pass Senate committee with DEP support

in Top Headlines by

Bills dealing with oil and gas hydraulic fracturing in Florida passed their first Senate committee stop on Tuesday after a state environmental official said they would provide needed regulation for the industry. SB 1468 by state Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican from Bradenton, requires the state to develop rules for permitting “high-pressure well-stimulation,” which includes hydraulic fracturing — also called fracking. SB 1582 provides for a public records exemption for fracking “trade secrets.” Paula Cobb, the Florida Department of Environmental…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Short on time, Senate committee asks Dep’t of Elder Affairs Secretary nominee to come back next week

in Top Headlines by

Time ran short on Thursday before the Senate Children and Families Committee could weigh in on whether to approve Samuel P. Verghese as the Secretary of the State Department of Elder Affairs. Verghese, a New Jersey transplant, began his testimony by telling the committee that serving as secretary is about “serving others.” “Plain and simple, it’s about public service. It’s about serving others,” Verghese said. “It’s about about serving a purpose that’s so much greater than myself: the elders of…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Space Day 2015 celebrates aerospace today at Florida Capitol

in Top Headlines by

“There’s a lot of synergy among Pensacola, Tampa, Jacksonville and the Space Coast (Brevard County) (on this),” said state Sen. Thad Altman. “It’s why we call it Space Day — We don’t call it Brevard day.” Altman was driving to the state Capitol from the Space Coast Monday while discussing the aerospace industry and the importance of space exploration in the creation of modern Florida. Wednesday is Space Day at the Capitol: When the aerospace industry parachutes in and tells lawmakers about its importance to…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

North Florida Land Trust howls over Amendment 1 funding

in Top Headlines by

Add Jacksonville’s North Florida Land Trust to the chorus of outrage over the Legislature’s proposal for the Amendment 1 budget. Amendment 1 passed overwhelmingly last November. The measure is designed to dedicate 33 percent of revenue from excise taxes to protect the state’s land and water resources. But now environmental groups like the NFLT are furious that the Senate is proposing to spend $714.2 million on Amendment 1, which is about $58 million less than the House proposed and $43 million…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Amendment 1 budget proposal prompts objections, heated exchange

in Top Headlines by

A Senate appropriations subcommittee chairman on Thursday presented a budget proposal that provides $22 million for land acquisition, prompting another Republican subcommittee member to charge that the proposal violated Amendment 1. Amendment 1 is a conservation spending initiative approved by 75 percent of voters in November. In 2015-16, the measure will provide $741.8 million, or 33 percent of documentary stamp revenue, for water and land conservation programs. State Sen. Alan Hays, chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, recommended…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

1 … 3 4 5 6
Go to Top