October 15, 2012, Written by Jim Turner, Sunshine State News – Minimum wage in Florida will grow to $7.79 an hour with the arrival of the New Year — a 12 cents boost from the current rate. The state Department of Economic Opportunity announced without fanfare the recalculated minimum figure on Monday, and a Washington, D.C., think tank was quick to point out that this will further hinder chances for teens to find work in the Sunshine State.
News Release Category: Industry News
2nd Presidential Debate Is Less Formal, but Little Is Left to Chance
October 15, 2012, Written by Jeremy Peters, New York Times – The format for the second presidential debate is designed to be a little less stiff — a free-flowing question-and-answer session between the candidates and a studio audience. But behind the scenes, little is left to chance. There are 80 participants, culled by Gallup, the polling firm, from a sample of uncommitted voters who live near the debate’s location in Hempstead on Long Island. On Tuesday morning, they are scheduled to arrive at the site to begin rehearsals with the moderator, CNN’s Candy Crowley. They will have prepared questions to ask but will not use them during the prep session. To preserve as much secrecy as possible, they will rehearse with dummy questions. Ms. Crowley will select the participants to call on during the actual debate, which she will determine by reviewing their questions beforehand. The campaigns are not allowed to screen any of them.
In battleground states, race is now hand-to-hand combat
October 15, 2012, Written by Dave Boyer, The Washington Times – Since President Obama’s lackluster showing at the first debate two weeks ago, the race has tightened across the board, both in national surveys and where it matters most — in the 11 battleground states that will decide the election. In every state still considered up for grabs Nov. 6, the Real Clear Politics (RCP) average of polls shows Republican nominee Mitt Romney has gained ground on the president — and has taken the lead outright in Colorado, Florida and North Carolina.
Justices to Review Voter Law in Arizona
October 15, 2012, Written by Adam Liptak, WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to decide whether Arizona may require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections. The federal appeals court in San Francisco blocked the state law in April, saying it conflicted with a federal one.
Unions spread cash to liberal super PACs
October 15, 2012 , Written by Rick Levinthall, Politico – The Citizens United decision gave corporations and unions new powers to spend money for political purposes, and organized labor is taking advantage of late. The United Auto Workers funneled more than $5.44 million this summer into its super PAC, the UAW Education Fund, a super PAC, new federal records show.
Proposed Miami-Dade ordinance would require sick leave for employees
October 17, 2012, Written by: Paiva Cordel, The Miami Herald – In Miami-Dade County, many service workers punch a time clock despite having a cold or flu, back spasms or migraines. Without paid sick time, they can’t afford to stay home and lose wages — and possibly their jobs. A proposed county ordinance that would require all employers to offer earned sick time could change that. “In a community where tourism reigns supreme, it is important that we protect the workers who support one of our main sources of revenue,” said Miami-Dade Commissioner Barbara Jordan, who is sponsoring the ordinance and has asked that it be put on the commission agenda for preliminary approval on Nov. 20. Jordan spoke Wednesday, at a rally on the plaza outside Miami-Dade’s Government Center, amid more than 30 service workers who waved colorful placards with such sayings as “No Sick Time = Public Health Risks.” Brought together by a coalition of labor, community and faith leaders, the workers chanted “Paid Sick Days,” as the song Ain’t No Stopping Us Now, blared.
Absentee-ballot war: 500,000 Floridians have voted; Democrats slightly trail Republicans
October 17, 2012, Written by: Marc Caputo, The Miami Herald – In a sign of the intense interest in the presidential race, about 500,000 Floridians have already cast absentee ballots and that number is growing by the day.More than 1.8 million additional voters have requested the ballots, which are typically mailed in. The heaviest voting so far is taking place in Tampa Bay, Miami-Dade and the so-called Interstate 4 corridor in the center of the state. Generally, whoever wins the I-4 corridor — the swing area of the swing state — wins the election. Overall, Republicans lead Democrats in the number of voted absentee ballots so far, by a 45-40 percent spread. That’s despite the fact that registered Democrats exceed Republicans by a 4-percentage-point margin in the state.
Nelson, Mack meet in bitter Fla. Senate debate
October 17, 2012, Written by: Brendan Farrington, TBO.com – DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — The first and only debate between Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican challenger Rep. Connie Mack IV Wednesday came across almost like the old school-yard taunt, “I know you are, but what am I?” Both candidates accused each other of lying about the other’s records, both used the “there you go again” line made famous three decades ago by President Ronald Reagan and both strayed from the subject of questions to take shots at the other. The debate wasn’t so much a look at what the candidates will support if elected, but rather a lot of finger pointing about each other’s records to date.
Slots could bring jobs to Brevard, but are they legal?
October 21, 2012, Written by: Wayne T. Price, Florida Today – MELBOURNE — A few times a year, Janice Sidwa of Orlando drives to Tampa or Hollywood to play slot machines and stay a couple of nights at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casinos. She says she spends more than $500 on each outing for slots, meals, gas and a room. “I’d love to have something like that in this area. I hate having to drive that far,” said Sidwa, 66, as she prepared to board Victory Casino Cruises’ ship at Port Canaveral, which is for now Brevard’s only Las Vegas-style gambling experience
Five of 11 amendments on ballot give voters chance to put more tax breaks into state constitution
October 21, 2012, Written by Melissa E. Holsom, TC Palm – Among the 11 referendum questions put on the Nov. 6 ballot by the Florida Legislature, five give voters the opportunity to put more tax breaks into the state constitution. Like many Americans, Floridians love lower taxes and, even with the 60 percent approval required, the tax breaks are expected to pass easily. Only once in recent history have they opted not to reduce taxes, said Daniel Smith, a University of Florida political science professor who studies constitutional amendments and ballot initiatives. “Other than rejecting a constitutional amendment in 1998 that would have granted tax-exempt status to certain municipal properties and allowed a tangible personal property tax exemption for attachments to mobile homes, Floridians have jumped at the opportunity to cut their taxes,” he said.