Working & The Economy
FL Supreme Court tosses electric utility deregulation proposal off the 2020 ballot
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a proposed state constitutional amendment that sought to deregulate Florida’s electric utility market, saying the ballot summary would be misleading to voters. The unanimous decision from the state’s highest court removes the measure from the 2020 general election ballot. The proposal, sponsored by the group Citizens for Energy […]
Protests, rallies and marches, as state workers, educators, push for livable wages, raises, and school improvements
Florida’s state workers are planning massive protests and rallies across Florida this month, hoping to put pressure on lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis to boost pay considered “horrendously low,” according to union officials. And on Monday, thousands of public educators, parents and other school supporters are scheduled to attend a “Take on Tallahassee” march and […]
Hemp rules: CBD in food and animal feed now regulated; permits to grow hemp still on hold
Rules regulating use of hemp extract in food, dairy products and animal feed in Florida took effect Jan. 1, but growers eager for permits to cultivate hemp here are still on hold. “We’re proud to roll out these final rules for CBD in food and dairy products, open applications for hemp food establishment permits, and ensure our […]
Workplace protections for medical marijuana users: FL lawmakers, advocates hope to pass 2020 law
As medical marijuana use continues to gain popularity in Florida, advocates and lawmakers want to ensure that qualified patients in the workplace won’t get in trouble if they use the drug as a treatment. Patients who need the drug could be considered fearful of personnel action if marijuana is found in their system. That’s why […]
Harnessing sun power: Florida and California taking different paths to solar
On opposite coasts, Florida and California are both famous for sunshine. But their approaches to harnessing sunshine for power are as disparate as their coastlines. Starting Jan. 1, California building codes now require that new homes be built to run on solar power, affecting an estimated 100,000 new homes per year. The standards contained in […]
Daily exposure to trauma means stress disorder for Florida’s first responders
Tampa paramedic Steve LaDue was attending a funeral for a fellow first responder when another colleague collapsed with a heart attack. As he was trained to do, LaDue rushed to treat the man, but failed to save his life. It was the last straw for a career dedicated to other people’s traumas. “My brother really […]
Gov. DeSantis hails his first-year accomplishments, but your view may vary
Things went swimmingly for Florida during 2019 – at least, judging by year-end summaries issued by the governor’s office and state agencies. Aides to Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a long list of accomplishments for his first year in office in areas including education, economic development, health care, hurricane response and recovery, and public safety. He […]
Paid family leave joins the agenda as FL Legislature prepares to convene next month
Working families in Florida may have an opportunity to take paid time off to bond with a newborn, newly fostered, or adopted child under legislation filed for the regular legislative session next month. As legislation to that end for federal workers has made progress in Congress, state lawmakers have filed similar bills that would require […]
Morgan says he’s ready to ‘go to war’ for a ballot measure to raise Florida’s minimum wage
A day after the Florida Supreme Court approved a $15-an-hour minimum wage ballot measure, Orlando lawyer John Morgan says he is ready to “go to war” for the working poor in Florida to pass the proposal in the 2020 general election. “What I’m fixing to do is go to war on behalf of the working […]
Gov. DeSantis delivers $20 million in state recovery grants to Hurricane Michael counties
Gov. Ron DeSantis voyaged into the Hurricane Michael recovery zone Thursday to distribute $20 million in state grant money to communities still recovering from the Oct. 10, 2018, storm. DeSantis, flanked by First Lady Casey DeSantis and Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz, ventured to Quincy, Blountstown, and Panama City to hand over […]
Florida Supreme Court clears the way for a $15-an-hour minimum wage ballot measure
A court ruling has cleared the way for Floridians to decide next year whether they want to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. The Florida Supreme unanimously ruled Thursday in favor of a ballot proposal which if approved by at least 60 percent of the voters next November would raise Florida’s hourly […]
State workers hold rally to demand a 5 percent pay raise
More than two dozen state workers held a rally on the steps of the old Florida Capitol building on Wednesday, demanding Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature back a pay raise for the workers in the coming year. “Right now, we are demanding Gov. DeSantis to give us a raise because I understand how it […]