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The Current (limited selections)

The Week in Review for May 17, 2013

This week leading senators took a shot at the annual turkey list of state budget items compiled by a business-backed policy group. And Gov. Scott turned down a proposed deal to bring Internet-retailer Amazon to the state.

DEP attorneys seek new hearing in permitting case involving employee who testified against bosses

Judge E. Gary Early issued the recommended order April 11 backing DEP wetlands expert Connie Bersok, who testified last November in a legal challenge to a proposed permit for a wetlands mitigation bank in Clay County. She had written a memo objecting to a draft proposed permit before being suspended from her job for unsubstantiated work violations.

Arrivals and Departures May 17

A former McCollum spokesperson joins a marketing firm to focus on crisis communications. And Scott makes appointments to the boards of six Early Learning Coalitions.

Gov. Scott signs constitutionally murky tax cut, touts jobless rate down to 7.2 percent

Questions remain about the House vote on HB 7007, but Scott highlighted the manufacturing tax cut in the bill and the drop in unemployment rate to 7.2 percent.

Lobbying firms cashed in on the session

The top Five lobbying firms collected more than $1 million from clients during the first three months of this year. Wednesday was the deadline for firms to file reports with the state. More than 100 lobbying firms say they earned more than $500,000 each in the first quarter representing clients before state government.

High court knocks down Palm Bay lien ordinance, but foreclosure bill could aid local governments

An ordinance from the Brevard County town giving higher priority to municipal liens than mortgage liens was struck down by the Florida Supreme Court. A bill headed to Gov. Rick Scott's desk, though, would give local governments more power to pursue foreclosures on properties they have liens on ahead of action by banks and lenders.

TaxWatch "turkeys" draw fire

The Senate's chief budget writer calls the group's annual turkey list a tired, lame attempt to be relevant. While the Senate President referred to the business-backed group's report as an example of the "arrogance of the elite."

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On Tuesday, November 20, 2012, the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate adopted new rules for 2012-2014 during the 2012O Organization Session. The vast majority of the rules remain...

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2013 Legislative Session Dates

We've compiled the House and Senate rules -- in chronological order of their related dates -- into a simple to understand table.

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