Palm Beach County could ask voters to increase the sales tax by one penny to 7.5 cents to help pay for emergency fire rescue services under a bill awaiting Gov. Charlie Crist’s approval.

The House on Thursday approved the bill, 110-8. The Senate unanimously approved the bill (SB 1000) on Wednesday.

If a majority of voters agree, the county would be required to reduce property taxes by an amount equal to the projected revenue from the sales tax increase. The county commission would have to approve a measure for the ballot

The measure allows all counties to offer a referendum, but it was a priority for Palm Beach County and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. It was also a priority for Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, who asked Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, to sponsor the measure on behalf of the Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County.

The Palm Beach County FIREPAC, the political action committee run by Armand Nault, has been active in the past election cycle, donating nearly $29,000 to lawmakers in the past 14 months.

Partyswitcher Arlen Specter brings Democrats one vote closer to the 60 they need for a filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate. They’ll reach that threshold if Minnesota’s Al Franken survives a court challenge.

So what does the news mean for Florida, where voters will choose Republican Mel Martinez’s replacement in 2010?

Gov. Charlie Crist: “Well, there’s a difference in the total numbers now.”

U.S. Senate candidate Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach: “I don’t think anyone in Florida was running to be the 60th senator … I assume (Republicans) are going to be fighting for every seat, as will we.”

What do you think?

Kidney patients would get access to supplemental insurance under a bill headed to Gov. Charlie Crist and backed by NBA champ Alonzo Mourning, a kidney transplant recipient.

Crist is expected to sign the “Alonzo Mourning Access to Care” act (HB 675), approved unanimously by the House last week and the Senate today.

Mourning visited with lawmakers and urged them to support the measure that would give Floridians under age 65 suffering from end stage renal disease access to Medicap coverage to help pay the costs of expensive treatments and medications.

About 2,000 kidney patients in Florida need the extra insurance so they don’t have to spend down their savings to become eligible for Medicaid.

The Senate approved its version of a trying to help horse and dog tracks but the fight over gambling is far from over.

In fact, it’s just beginning.

The Senate stripped the House’s bill and replaced it with its own language that would give horse and dog tracks throughout the state the ability to operate slots-like machines.

The House version does not include that provision but raises the stakes in card games like Texas Hold ‘Em.

But the bill’s passage means next to nothing.

A bicameral committee charged with ironing out differences between the two chambers regarding pari-mutuel gaming and a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida held its first – and brief – meeting this morning.

They opened the ante at square one. The House wants no card games for the Seminoles but limit them to Las Vegas-style slot machines. The Senate offered to let them keep the blackjack and other card games they now have plus give them roulette and craps.

The House is likely to say no dice to the roulette and craps but may cave on blackjack.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released this ad today blasting Gov. Charlie Crist for considering a campaign for U.S. Senate.

The spot will run in Tallahassee starting Thursday.

The committee — along with many strategists in the state Capitol — are guessing Crist will run for the Senate seat that Republican Mel Martinez is leaving after one term.

Crist said he will announce his 2010 election plans after the legislative session.

After 11 years, Irv Slosberg finally got his wish.

A bill making it a primary offense to drive without wearing a seat belt is on its way to Gov. Charlie Crist’s desk.

The House passed the measure (SB 344), named after Slosberg’s daughter Dori, who was 14 years old when she was killed in a car crash in 1996, and Katie Marchetti, a 16-year-old Tampa girl who died in a car crash in 2006. Crist is expected to sign it tomorrow.

Slosberg said he started pushing the bill in 1998 when he testified before a state House committee considering a similar proposal. More than a decade later, his tenaciousness paid off.

Getting the legislation passed was Slosberg’s reason for running for – and winning – a seat in the state House. The Boca Raton Democrat served from 2000-2006 but was never able to get lawmakers to sign off on the bill.

“It’s my daughter watching down on us,” Slosberg, near tears, said outside the House chambers shortly after the 95-20 vote. “I feel that she’s watching down on me and on us, the community, and making sure that what happened to her…making sure that it doesn’t happen to anyone else, what happened to our family.”

“Because wow does this change your life,” he went on. “After she died I did four things. I went to the gym. I went to Starbucks. I went to the cemetery. And I cried. For three years.”

Gov. Charlie Crist weighed in Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter’s decision to run as a Democrat in 2010:

“He ought to do what he feels is right,” Crist said.

Crist, a potential Senate candidate himself, implied that Specter’s switch could make Florida’s open U.S. Senate seat an even bigger prize for either party.

“Well, there’s a difference in the total numbers now,” he said.

Specter’s party switch brings the Democrats to a majority of 59 in the U.S. Senate, just one vote shy of a fillibuster-proof majority. Al Franken’s lead in Minnesota could clinch the majority if he withstands a recount and legal challenges.

Students could pay 15 percent more for college tuition next school year under a bill headed to Gov. Charlie Crist.

The House gave final approval to the bill in a 115-7 vote this morning. Opposition included Democratic Reps. Joseph Abruzzo of Wellington, Kelly Skidmore of Boca Raton and Mark Pafford of West Palm Beach.

The Senate approved the bill (SB 762) on Monday in a 30-7 vote.

The moves annual decisions about tuition increase out of the legislature and to the state university system.

Opponents said it was a bad time to allow tuition hikes.

“Right now the people of Florida are having a tough surviving,” said Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Davie. “This is the wrong time to do this in the state of Florida.”

Rep. Will Weatherford, a Wesley Chapel Republican sponsoring the bill in the House, said it would give “resources and flexibility” to state colleges and universities. He said 30-percent of new money would be earmarked for financial aid.

“It is the right thing to do,” Weatherford said.

Crist sent out this statement after the House vote:

“I want to express my appreciation to Representative Will Weatherford and the Florida House for supporting the future of Florida’s state universities and their students and faculties. The vote today ensures these schools have the resources they need in order to achieve academic excellence. Students with financial needs, faculty members and researchers will benefit from these efforts to strengthen Florida’s 11 state universities and help them compete with schools across the nation.”

Are tobacco companies lying? That’s what Sen. Ted Deutch wants to know.

The Boca Raton Democrat asked Attorney General Bill McCollum to investigate discrepancies between tobacco companies execs’ testimony to lawmakers and their corporate tax filings.

At issue is a bill (SB 2198) that would stop tobacco companies from having to post the full bond when they appeal cases they lose in cigarette lawsuits.

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House Republicans have agreed to add $200 million to the budget for state universities, closing the gap with the Senate, where lawmakers wanted wanted to keep spending levels even.

The House proposal is now $3.4 billion for universities, still $95 million below the Senate.

The House also boosted its community college budget by $141 million to $1.05 billion. The Senate’s proposal is $21 million richer.

Relatives of Dori Slosberg of Boca Raton and Katie Marchetti of Tampa watched the Senate Tuesday approve 33-4 a seat belt named for the teens who died in auto crashes without their seat belts on.
The primary seat belt law, which would allow police to pull over adult drivers solely for not wearing their seat belts, was introduced for years by former state Rep. Irv Slosberg of Boca Raton, who left the Legislature in 2006 because of term limits.

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House Speaker Larry Cretul said the budget he and Senate President Jeff Atwater have agreed on would leave $1.1 billion in unspent money, assuring Floridians that “millions of dollars in tax increases can be avoided next year.”

It’s a big change from the budget that originally passed the House, which left just $500 million in reserves and served up a $1.5 billion shortfall in 2010-11.

So what’s changed in the past week for GOP House leaders?

“The difference now between last week is we’ve got revenues,” Cretul said.

Of course, those new revenues are thanks to a unanimously approved Senate budget, which includes cigarette tax increases and new gambling money. The House budget did not include any new money, meaning deficits of about $2.5 billion by 2011-12.

Cretul said building a reserve “was one of the most important things to all of us, including me.”

Carrying a larger balance, Cretul said, means “we wouldn’t have to be doing this all over next year.” He said he also hoped the black ink “gives some assurances” to Moody’s Investor Service, which put the state’s credit rating on a watch-list for possible downgrade, in part, because of low reserves.

So what are the new revenues: nearly $1 billion in fee increases, another $1 billion from a cigarette tax hike and untold millions from gambling revenues.

What Floridians won’t see in this budget: any pork projects for back home.

“The pig’s kind of lean,” Cretul said. Listen here to Cretul address the House conference committee.

Cretul on other issues:

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Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson’s attempt at license tag brevity appears over.

Less than an hour after the Senate approved an amendment creating the “Can a Brotha Get a Break” license tag, they took it out.

But it’s unclear whether they’ll sign off on a Christian-themed license tag that a South Carolina court put the brakes on.

The “I Believe” license tag with a Christian cross made it into a bill (SB 2326) creating half a dozen other tags, including the “Trinity” plate with the image of Jesus Christ on it.

The Senate stripped the plate of the image with an amendment stating that no religious images would be on it.

But they later approved another amendment that included both tags.

Sen. Ronda Storms, the sponsor of the “I Believe” plate, said that was a mistake and the “Trinity” plate should not be included. The money from the “I Believe” tag goes to pay for faith-based education programs.

Gov. Charlie Crist said he’d sign both plates into law if the bills pass.

The bill’s on hold while the politicians try to figure it out.

Proposed Christian-based license plates that depict the image of Jesus Christ and a cross created quite the stir among civil libertarians and Jewish lawmakers last week.

Those tags probably won’t make it onto the back of Florida vehicles this year.

But a plate that some senators found objectionable made it onto a bill this afternoon.

By a voice vote, the Senate gave preliminary approval to the “Can a Brotha Get a Break” tag – with the smiling visage of Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson.

“Mr. President, this has been a tough session,” Lawson, whose North Florida district includes Tallahassee, the home for many of the state’s employees.

“I want to know, can a brother get a break?” he asked.

The proceeds from the tongue-in-cheek tag, Lawson explained, would go towards grief counseling for state workers, whose paychecks are slated to get skimpier and who may be getting pink slips as lawmakers slash agency budgets.

Senate Alex Villalobos, presiding over the chamber, objected.

“I believe this is in violation of Senate decorum,” Villalobos, R-Miami, said when an image of the plate was displayed on the large screen behind the president’ podium. “That is one ugly tag we have here.”

Sen. Arthenia Joyner apparently felt slighted.

“What about the sisters?” Joyner, R-Tampa, wanted to know.

The measure was put onto another license tag bill creating an autism plate, a biodiversity plate and a “Go Green” plate.

The Senate just agreed to pay nearly $10 million to the family who adopted three brothers who were raped and starved in Palm Beach County foster care.

Under the measure (SB 58), the state will pay Jorge and Debbie and their adopted children $950,000 a year for the next 10 years.

The House has yet to approve the settlement but House Speaker Larry Cretul spoke personally with the family last week.

Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon asked Cretul and Senate President Jeff Atwater, who sponsored the claims bill last year, the settlement be paid.

As small children, the boys were repeatedly molested by former foster parent Hector Rosa, who is serving life in prison for his crimes. In another foster home, they were threatened with being locked up in a chicken coop when they misbehaved. DCF hid that history from the couple to help speed the boys’ adoption.

Lawmakers approved another bill (HB 381) on its way to Gov. Charlie Crist’s desk that would give potential foster and adoptive families the ability to review case files before they take the children into their homes. Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, sponsored the legislation based on the Palm Beach County family’s experience.

Lawmakers have yet to cut a deal on gambling proposals affecting the Seminole tribe’s casinos, dog and horse tracks and education spending.

No money from changes to the gambling compact with the Seminoles is yet included in the budget, Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander said this afternoon.

“We agreed to put it in conference and let the conferees figure it out,” Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said.

Money from a potential gambling compact would be added into the budget if the conference committee reaches agreement.

Other details in the preliminary budget agreement:
- $30 million total cuts to state worker salaries. The House had wanted a sliding scale of up to 7 percent for all workers; the Senate would have hit employees making more than $100,000 with a 1 percent cut. The Senate wants a graduated scale starting with employees who make $65,000 or more. Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul will ultimately decide what happens there.

- $110 million cut to universities. The Senate’s budget maintained spending at last year’s levels; the House had wanted about $260 million in cuts. Alexander said the agreed-upon amount would be more than covered by the $125 million in the budget from an 8 percent tuition hike included in the budget and the differential that would allow universities to raise tuition up to 15 percent per year until it reaches the national average.

- $400 million raid on trust funds, including $100 million from road projects. That’s $300 million less than the House sought from the transportation trust fund.

- The Senate agreed to the House’s $800 million hike in fees, but tag fees won’t be included. The Senate budget originally had about $500 million in fee increases.

- $1.7 billion in working capital and reserves, depending on how much the gambling agreement brings in.

- Buck-a-pack cigarette tax and $1 an ounce tax on loose tobacco but cigars will likely come out of that.

The Florida Senate this morning approved an average increase of 5 percent for Citizens Property Insurance premiums, setting up a showdown with the House, where a proposal would let rates jump 20 percent.

The Senate bill (SB 1950) was approved 34-2. South Florida Sens. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, and Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah, voted against it.

The bill was significantly amended Monday by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, to cut the cap on rate increases in half. Customers of the state-run insurer have not had a rate increase in three years.

“God bless him,” Gov. Charlie Crist said of Fasano this morning. “Obviously, when you’re in a tough economy, if there is less of an increase, that’s better for the people.”

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State lawmakers will need an extra week to finalize the state budget after House and Senate leaders emerged this morning from 10 days of closed-door meetings to announce they reached a deal on spending.

Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul said they reached an agreement on spending for education, health care and other areas of the budget, but did not immediately release details.

Instead, they updated lawmakers on a new schedule that will extend the scheduled end of the annual spring session from Friday, May 1 to Thursday, May 7. They announced any issues outside of the budget must be completed by Friday.

“Floridians will be very impressed by (the deal) given the tough financial times we’re in,” Atwater said.

Asked if Floridians should be disappointed a deal wasn’t reached on time, Gov. Charlie Crist said, “A little bit.”

Here’s the schedule:
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Rep. Dean Cannon deflected a handful of budget questions from gaggle of reporters on Monday.

He said the budget was up to Speaker Cretul, but maybe Cannon’s just not that comfortable in large groups.

These snapshots were taken during a couple hours Cannon was on the House floor today.

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Another House session adjourned with no acknowledgment of the closed-door budget meetings that, by our count, have now stretched over 10 days since the two chambers passed competing spending plans.

So when the House doors opened, reporters immediately sought answers from Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, who last week was the face of the House GOP budget negotiations.

Not anymore.

“Both the speaker’s office and the Senate president’s office have been talking really since Thursday,” Cannon said. “I’ve got a ton of confidence in Speaker Cretul and President Atwater that they’ll get the job done.”

Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander thought you were close to a deal last week?

“Like I said, since Thursday, all the communications have been between the speaker and the president. So I don’t know where he gets that.”

What’s your understanding of how close the speaker and president are to a budget deal?

“Again I haven’t been involved in any of those conversations directly since last Thursday. At that point it all went to the presiding officers. I know they’re working on it … I’ve got a lot of confidence in Speaker Cretul and President Atwater.”

Will other issues be involved in an extended session?

“You’ll have to ask the speaker and the president.”