Latest news with #BernyJacques
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Where's the budget?' Floridians grow impatient over state budget battle
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — As Florida eyes the skies for hurricane season, there's another storm brewing over at the statehouse, Lawmakers have yet to hammer out a budget plan and the clock is ticking. State senators and representatives have been back home in their districts for about a month now, and their constituents have one big question: where's the state budget? DUI driver who killed Lake Placid teen drove 5x the legal limit 'They're wondering when we're going to complete the budget; there's, there's a lot of that more than I anticipated,' said State Senator Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach. With weeks to go before the new fiscal year kicks off, 8 On Your Side spoke to several local leaders in the bay area to get to the bottom of the budget battle. 'What I assured them is a number of things, #1 is that there will be a state budget,' said State Representative Berny Jacques, R-Seminole. 'There will be no state government shutdown. They can take that to the bank. Secondly, I make sure that they know that we are going to cut wasteful spending in state government. That's not negotiable. There will be cuts to wasteful spending. And third, I let them know that the key functions of government will be funded everything from public safety to education. Those things will be funded in an adequate and a strong manner.' 'I do anticipate us getting this budget done by June 30,' said Senator DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach. 'We will eventually get our heads together and hash this out, come to an agreement, and pass a budget that I think all of us would be very proud of.' 'The work is still ongoing,' said State Representative Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor. 'We still need to get our budget done, it's the one thing that we're constitutionally required to do when the legislature meets and we're still working on that. It's a process that involves a little bit of a shift from where we've been in the past.' So, what's the hold up? According to lawmakers, it's the tax reform package.'We're trying to decide, you know, the tax package,' DiCeglie said. 'There are sales tax elements to it. We've got sales tax holidays that are element.' DiCeglie said they want to tackle this issue carefully and make sure that two, three years down the road, they aren't putting future legislatures in a position to have to raise taxes. House members agree, hoping this time around they can shift the narrative of past sessions, saying it's not just about the year ahead.'Whenever we go through a change from what the status quo is, you know, sometimes it could look a little bit messy from the outside, but everyone's on the same page to be able to get to the arrival point,' Anderson said. 'There might be a little difference of opinion of how we get there, but those things are getting flushed out and the conversations are ongoing.' The governor continues to flag major issues with budget delays, saying budget delays are already affecting Floridians back home from getting sales tax relief — like his 2nd Amendment tax holiday, a hurricane preparation sales holiday, and a boater fuel sales tax.'You only have one job, one real job in the legislature, and that's to do the appropriations and the budget,' DeSantis members extended the budget deadline until June 6, which is only one week away. So, can they pass a budget before then? Some lawmakers are not too hopeful, waiting for the governor to step in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida House passes E-Verify measure, but bill looks dead in the Senate
Duval County Republican Kiyan Michael is shown in this Florida House photo. Despite the Senate's inaction, the House passed a bill Wednesday requiring all employers to use an online system to verify that their new hires can legally work in the country. Public agencies, their contractors, and companies with more than 25 employees are now required to use E-Verify, but companies with fewer than 25 employees would also have to use the system under HB 955 from Seminole Republican Rep. Berny Jacques. House lawmakers approved the change, 88-25, with seven Democrats joining every Republican in supporting the bill. However, it's unlikely that the proposal will make it to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk because the Senate didn't take up in any of its committees other proposals to expand the E-Verify requirement. That's despite the fact that the proposal enjoyed bipartisan support in the Legislature's upper chamber, with bills that would require all businesses in Florida to use E-Verify filed by South Florida Democrat Jason Pizzo (SB 782) and Hernando County Republican Blaise Ingoglia (SB 1498). The Florida Legislature passed a bill in 2021 requiring all public employers, contractors, and subcontractors to use E-Verify. They followed that up with a measure two years ago requiring that only private companies with more than 25 employees have to use the system. More than 441,000 Florida companies have fewer than 20 employees, according to a 2023 report from the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Florida law now allows businesses with fewer than 25 employees the option of using E-Verify or the federal form I-9 issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. North Miami-Dade County Rep. Dotie Joseph noted that provision in arguing against the proposal, saying that nothing stops Florida businesses from choosing to use E-Verify right now. 'If they choose to use I-9, let them,' she said. 'If they choose to use E-Verify, let them. But most businesses just say no to E-Verify. You know why? Because it sucks.' She called the bill a 'politically motivated anti-immigrant attack that hurts Florida businesses and hard-working people who are looking to hire and work legally in this country.' Orlando Democrat Anna Eskamani said of the proposal, 'We're basically taking a population of hard-working people and rejecting them, purely based on what the federal government defines as an unregulated status. And I think that's dangerous, bad for economy, [and] does not make any one of us more safe.' Duval County Republican Kiyan Michael co-sponsored the measure. She lost her son Brandon to a 2007 auto accident blamed on an undocumented immigrant who'd already been deported twice and who was driving without a license. 'Those who are voting down on this bill, who did you take an oath to?' she asked, looking at the Democrats on the other side the House chamber. 'I'm sure it was not for people who were not able to vote for you, and who did not vote for you.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Measure to require E-Verify for all Florida businesses moves to House
Screenshot from the Florida Channel of House Republicans Kiyan Michael from Duval County & Berny Jacques from Pinellas speaking to the House Commerce Committee on April 7, 2025. The Florida Legislature passed a law two years ago that required employers with more than 25 employees to use E-Verify to vet the legal status of new hires. Now, with Florida Republicans already passing strong measures this year cracking down on illegal immigration to align with President Donald Trump's goal of mass deportations, a proposal (HB 955) that would require all private employers in Florida to use the E-Verify system to check each employee's legal status won approval by its second committee in the House on Monday, and now will go to the floor for a final vote. 'It builds upon what we've already done here in the state of Florida,' said Pinellas County Republican Rep. Berny Jacques, a co-sponsor along with Jacksonville Republican Kiyan Michael. 'Prior to two years ago, there was no requirement whatsoever for private employers, unless if you were contracting with the state government. We did a requirement for 25 or more employees, so that closes that gap to make sure that the workforce integrity is uplifted and we are making sure that every worker in this state is authorized to do so legally.' The Legislature passed significant measures cracking down on illegal immigration in a special session in early February, including making it a misdemeanor for immigrants over the age of 18 to 'knowingly' enter Florida and imposing the death penalty for immigrants lacking permanent legal status who are convicted of capital crimes such as murder or sexual abuse of minors under 12. Thomas Kennedy with the Florida Immigrant Coalition said the expansion of E-Verify was a 'bad deal for Floridians,' noting the state is already facing an acute worker shortage. 'At a time where we are basically touching all the 'do not touch' buttons in terms of wrecking our economy, including mass layoffs, increasing prices, undermining consumer and international confidence, why would we continue messing with our state, with our workforce?' he asked the House Commerce Committee. However, both Republicans and some Democrats applauded the measure. 'Every job in Florida should go to someone who is legally authorized to work in this country. Period,' said Panhandle Republican Rep. Michelle Salzman. 'We must prioritize American workers and Florida families who are here legally.' Miami-Dade Republican David Borrero questioned why anyone on the committee could opposed E-Verify for all businesses. And he said it would encourage employers to pay higher wages for American workers. 'If you are opposed to this bill, then what you are saying is that you are okay creating an environment where people can break the law,' he said. 'You are okay with an environment where they can take away jobs from the American people. … [I]f this is truly creating a working shortage, then what that means is that we do not have reasonable-paying jobs in these industries. And so you know what happens is that when you take away these jobs from undocumented immigrants, maybe now we're going to have jobs that pay reasonable rates — maybe now developers, contractors, farmers where they're actually going to pay reasonable rates for the American people. That's what's going to happen.' Florida is one of 23 states that use E-Verify in some fashion, although only a handful require all private companies to use the system. The bill passed, 19-3, with three Democrats joining every Republican on the House Commerce Committee supporting it. Whether the proposal makes it into law is in question, though, as the Legislature begins its sixth week in the nine-week session. None of the bills filed in the Senate that addresses E-Verify have been heard in any committee yet. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay lawmaker seeks to revise voter eligibility requirements
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — In a continued effort to secure Florida's elections, Republican lawmakers are now looking to strengthen the verification process of voter eligibility by adding additional requirements for Floridians. The bill sponsor says he wants to close current loopholes in the process and prevent future voter fraud. Republicans behind the effort say now is not the time to rest on our laurels and that this bill will only continue to secure our elections. However, Democrats argue that the bill will only turn voters away. State Representative Berny Jacques of St. Petersburg says he wants to reinforce public trust in the state's election system. 'We have been leading the nation in reforms, and it's not the time to rest on our laurels. We must continue to secure our elections to make sure that there are no gaps in our system, especially when it comes to non-citizens voting in our elections, we must ensure that never occurs in the state of Florida,' said Jacques. After the 2020 election, the Florida legislature enacted election integrity reforms. Representative Jacques adds that his efforts in this legislation now are a continuation of that fight. 'You cannot have a sovereign country when you have things that compromise the integrity of our elections, and so this is a continuation of that fight,' said Jacques. House Bill 831 adds measures to verify citizenship during the voter registration process, looks to remove people who no longer live in the state, adds an indicator on driver's licenses and IDs of non-citizens, etc. 'This bill adds additional measures to verify citizenship upfront during the registration process to make sure that those who are registered in our elections are in fact citizens. It also has voter roll maintenance and audits on a quarterly basis to make sure that those who are no longer living in our state, that might have moved, are removed from our rolls and those who aren't living, period, right, those who are deceased, are removed from the rolls and also make sure that non-citizens that are in our voter rolls are also removed,' said Jacques. With that, Democrats in opposition to the bill say the additions will only turn voters away. 'They made it seem like we have this massive fraud. You have all of these people from someplace else voting, the dead people are voting, this is all just a bunch of foolishness. So, for me, this is trying to make it more difficult for people. You put up as many roadblocks as you possibly can, hoping that people are not going to vote,' said State Representative Dianne Hart, D-Tampa. While the legislation has been introduced, it has not yet been called for a vote. Representative Jacques says he believes the bill hasn't been called for a vote yet due to the number of election bills filed this session and hopes his colleagues will see the importance of his efforts. 'This is one worth pursuing because the integrity of our elections is paramount,' said Jacques. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
New bill would penalize human traffickers to fullest extent
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — A new bill filed in the Florida House aims to impose the harshest penalties on human traffickers. House Bill 1283, filed by Rep. Berny Jacques, is strengthening Florida's fight to combat human trafficking and to penalize those who exploit children and vulnerable people. Deputies searching for answers 1 year after man is found dead in New Port Richey home The bill would establish traffickers as a distinct criminal offense, allowing life imprisonment and the death penalty for those who are convicted of using physical force to traffic kids under 12 or those with severe mental incapacities, according to the Florida House of Representatives. Rep. Jacques is pushing for the convicted offenders to be punished to the full extent of the law. According to the bill, the Legislature finds human trafficking a form of modern-day slavery and destroys the innocence of young children. It also reads that traffickers have a 'culpable mental state of reckless indifference or disregard for human life.' Once convicted, the court would conduct a separate sentencing to determine if the trafficker should be sentenced to death or spend their life in prison. Hot tub company permanently shut down for scamming Floridians, Attorney General says 'Human trafficking is one of the greatest evils of our time, and those who prey on the most vulnerable—especially children—must face the full force of justice,' Rep. Jacques said. 'This legislation makes it clear: Florida has zero tolerance for these crimes. We are protecting ourcommunities, standing up for victims, and ensuring that those who commit these horrific acts are punished to the fullest extent of the law.' Rep. Jacques said this bill reinforces Florida's commitment to protect its most vulnerable citizens from sex trafficking. If passed, this act would take effect on Oct. 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
