India Festival Tampa Bay gearing up for 35th celebration

India Festival Tampa Bay

Florida State Fairgrounds

4800 US-301, Tampa, FL

Saturday, Nov. 23 from 10am – 10pm

Tickets HERE

The Gujarati Semaj of Tampa Bay, Inc. is getting ready to bring their 35th India Festival to Tampa Bay.....MORE

'Pudding Fingers'

A new ad from a Donald Trump super PAC puts Ron DeSantis in a sticky situation.

The 30-second “Pudding Fingers” from MAGA Inc. predicates itself on a report on the Florida Governor’s alleged eating habits.

More HERE

Florida Dems $2 million Tax Breaks

A group of Florida senators -- including three from Central Florida -- voted Tuesday to give $2 million tax breaks to rental-car giant Avis Budget Group Inc. and a few other big companies that rent or lease cars. HERE

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Florida Dems Linda Stewart of Orlando and Victor Torres of Kissimmee voted for 
the tax break.

Avis and the rental-car industry have been lobbying Florida lawmakers for a tax break for more than a year. They want one to offset an increase to their state corporate income 
tax bill.

Florida Inc. Transaction

You pay Friends of 
Ron DeSantis $68,000

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You move up the list in the state's efforts to help the Bahamas recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian. HERE

Florida Inc. Hits Tampa Bay

So as most of you have probably heard, we lost on Thursday. 3-1.

Desantis, Moody and Patronis all sided with their campaign donors, unsurprisingly. We did see progress in that Nikki Fried signaled to the community that she is here to stand up for Floridians on climate change. So there is hope beyond Thursday's vote.

It's tough when you are going against a quarter million dollars of reelection money and God knows how much more in "steak dinners". I know that we had the facts presented clearly in the room and Desantis chose to ignore those and let TECO get their gas plans approved.

I'll save the speech on fracking, which is IMO the worst ecological crisis facing us today. The fact that the Gov. cut voices short, ignored detailed evidence on the benefits of solar vs the downfalls of gas and held ZERO discussion on the issue tells you everything you need to know about Ron Dishonest.
This quote says it all:
“If you approve this, you have lower emissions. I mean, that's just the fact,” said DeSantis

But some, like Brian Lee with Rethink Energy Florida, argue methane, the primary fuel source for natural gas plants, is equally problematic.

“There are leaks at every point in the process that are equivalent to the CO2 emissions of all coal that is burned in the country,” said Lee. Governor Ron DeSantis, why do you continue to ignore the facts. Oh yeah, that's right. You are looking at your own reelection campaign instead of protecting FL. Don't even care about your hometown of Dunedin, Florida? A place that will be gone soon due to these types of projects you just approved. Well, keep voting against our future and we will make to see you at the voting booth! Believe that.

bit.ly/pipelineleaks

Florida Inc. Headed To Israel

CEO  DeSantis  and his Jr executives will be traveling there May 25th on a week long visit  to partner with companies, researchers and universities in Israel to tackle the Sunshine State’s problems, including water quality. HERE

He also intends to conduct a Cabinet meeting at the U.S. Embassy, which the Trump Administration relocated last year from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Tip on the water quality thing.

How much is this going to cost 
and who is paying?

Florida Inc. Killing Dolphins?

Toxic algae blooms could be linked to a brain disease similar to Alzheimer's, according to a new study published by researchers at the University of Miami.

The seven Florida dolphins that were studied were found in areas with toxic recurring algal blooms - the Atlantic Ocean, the Banana River, the Indian River Lagoon and the Gulf of Mexico.

HERE 

Florida Inc. on Adams Street

In Tallahassee, a spree of fundraising events toke place Monday next door to the Capitol, as special interests race to pad lawmakers’ political committees with cash before the start of the legislative session the next day. HERE

Rick Scott's Florida INC.

Rick Scott and his wife have invested at least $18 million in three financial firms managing money for the state’s pension system that Scott oversees — a situation that intertwines the governor’s personal finances with his responsibility for supervising state employees’ retirement savings. here

Check this out

Florida INC. $83 million in 2017

CEO Rick Scott had a very good year in 2017, as he saw his net worth increase by more than $83 million. here

Florida INC. Strikes Down Miami Beach Minimum Wage

An appeals court has blocked a Miami Beach ordinance establishing a citywide mandatory minimum wage. 

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A measure that sparked a legal challenge from statewide business groups. here

Florida INC. Getting $96.3 Million Of Our Tax Dollars

Florida’s 650 charter schools will see an extra $96.3 million coming their way in 2017-18, thanks to Florida INC. CEO 
Rick Scott. here

Florida INC. Wants To Destroy Rare Coastal Bird Habitat In Fort Myers Beach

Real estate investors were recently promised a state permit to destroy rare coastal bird habitat in Fort Myers Beach. Audubon and the Town of Fort Myers Beach is in court to stop Texas Holdem and Squeeze Me Inn from building a private boardwalk through the heart of Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area. here

Florida INC. Stealing Our Money For Public Schools

A businessman whose companies managed 15 charter schools in Florida, including six across Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, was charged Monday with racketeering in what prosecutors said was a scheme to steer public education money his way using huge markups, bogus invoices and a web of related corporations. here

Florida Inc Taking Control

"St. Petersburg is a city making incredible progress, attracting entrepreneurs, millennials, businesses and new residents every day. I believe part of that is due to the City Council’s common sense local ordinances that reflect our community’s values.  But lawmakers in Tallahassee have decided they know best, and routinely prevent cities and counties from passing local laws that our citizens want." 

Karl Nurse

Florida INC. Workers' Compensation Policy

Florida is already one of the hardest states for workers seeking treatment or lost wages when injured on the job. Now lawmakers are trying again to make it more difficult for employees to sue when they have wrongly been denied workers' compensation. Senate bills would impose new caps on workers' attorney fees in such disputes, which critics say will discourage lawyers from taking cases. here

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Backers don't entirely deny the charge.

"What we're trying to do is reduce attorney involvement in the system," said Rep. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican leading the House legislation.

Florida INC Culture Of Corruption

Florida Power & Light. was so intent on influencing the implementation of a constitutional amendment expanding solar installation in Florida, it drafted legislation designed to create new requirements for homeowners and businesses that install rooftop solar and sent it to the legislator who was authoring the language. here

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The proposal, HB 1351 by Florida Fracker Ray Rodrigues, was passed Wednesday by the House Ways and Means Committee, it contains sections that include verbatim language supplied by NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light.

Florida INC. Approves FPL Hand Job

A House committee overlooked opposition by residential and commercial utility customers Tuesday and approved a proposal sought by Florida Power & Light to allow the company to expand its rate base by charging customers for investments in natural gas fracking operations in other states. here

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The bill, HB 1043 is by Florida GOP 

Rep. Jason Brodeur of Sanford.

Florida Mayors Strike Back

Florida INC. is considering a bill that would limit cities’ ability to regulate businesses and industries. here
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Florida mayors voice their concerns in  Tallahassee
about bills under consideration by
 the Legislature that limit local control.

Florida INC. Taking Over Cities

Right-wing corporate interests are pushing state legislatures to curtail the progressive power of city governments. here

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Right now, there are two bills filed in the Florida legislature that propose sweeping new restrictions on local governments. One (House Bill 17) would bar them from regulating "businesses, professions, and occupations," the other (SB 1158), would expressly preempt "the regulation of matters relating to commerce, trade, and labor."