All of a sudden 177,000 Bright Futures scholarship families are getting hip to what Sen. Evelyn Lynn and the rest of the lugheads in the Legislature did to one of the most successful Republican initiatives in Florida history.
A proposal to prohibit message-sending while driving has returned in the Senate, with Sen. Evelyn Lynn filing a measure that would bar drivers from sending or reading text messages, e-mails, or other forms of communication.
With Florida facing a $2.5 billion budget gap, rising Internet sales over the Thanksgiving holiday renewed calls Monday for the state to join others looking to make it easier to collect sales taxes from out-of-state and mail-order merchants.
By: Kevin Derby
| Posted: November 24, 2010 4:05 AM
Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, unveiled his committee assignments Tuesday, assignments that will shape the course of Florida government for the next two years.
The Florida Senate’s political right turn was marked on its opening day by the occasional red light – with a dwindling number of Republican moderates voting ‘no’ on several veto overrides sought by leaders.
By: Kevin Derby
| Posted: November 16, 2010 4:05 AM
As the Senate readies for its special session on Tuesday, incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, named committee and subcommittee chairs.
By: Kevin Derby
| Posted: November 13, 2010 4:05 AM
On Friday, incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, continued to name members of his leadership team -- tapping Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, to serve as Republican conference chair and appointing two newly elected Republicans, Sen. Anitere Flores of Miami and Sen. David Simmons of Altamonte Springs, to serve as majority whips.
Florida could become the 24th state to collect sales tax on purchases from Amazon.com and other online and out-of-state vendors if some lawmakers and business advocates get their way.
In a Friday press conference to generate support for their stalled bills, Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Daytona Beach, and Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, urged Florida to implement the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement and reap the bounty of a vast supply of uncollected taxes.
Lawmakers have backed away from a demand that applicants for the merit-based Bright Futures Scholarship Program file for federal financial aid.
During a weekend budget conference, the House and Senate removed from a proposed Bright Futures overhaul the requirement that scholarship hopefuls file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as FAFSA.
