FLORIDA DIGEST - April 02, 2009

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

From Gay American Heroes
Please join us Saturday April 4, 2009 -4-7pm
From 4 to 7 pm at the Wine Warehouse.
Located at 1301 E. Oakland Park Blvd. - Oakland Park, FL 33334
With special guest, Stuart Milk
Tickets $20.00
Please call Kevin at 954 465 8521
For Tickets or more infomation.


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Lambda Legal
As a generous supporter of Lambda Legal you and a guest are invited to attend Take The Power: A Life and Financial Planning Symposium Your choice of time/location:
EITHER
Wednesday, April 22nd - 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
ArtServe - 1350 East Sunrise Blvd.
Auditorium Room
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304
Continental breakfast provided
OR
Wednesday, April 22nd - 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
University of Miami School of Law
1311 Miller Drive - Room E-352
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Dessert and coffee provided
Co-sponsored by UM OutLaws
There is no charge for these events; however, advance RSVPs are required RSVP to Rick Hill at rhill@lambdalegal.org or 786-473-6126 (please be sure to include which program you plan to attend)


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"Outlet! Plugging Young Women into the Arts!"
A young women's conference with a day of uplifting and educating workshops reaching out to youth lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning from our tri-county community. With such guest speakers as Dani Campbell and special performances by Drag it Out and so much more. Like so many other great things that are happening in the non-profit world, we too need PRESS, and an OUTLET of our own for this information to plug into our LBT and supporting allies. Attached is the PRESS RELEASE, and poster! Please have a look and let us know if/how you can contribute to our voice being heard in the public! Thank you on behalf of the Young women's steering committee!
Saturday, April 18
Sunserve - 1480 SW 9 Ave - Ft. Lauderdale
Tabatha Mudra
954 * 612 * 4489
Tm@TabathaMudra.com
www.TabathaMudra.com


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GLCCSF - Ft. Lauderdale
News & Events - In this issue:
In This Issue
GLCC FLEA MARKET - SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 8:00AM - 2:00PM
STONEWALL LIBRARY GRAND OPENING - APRIL 23
MIAMI/FORT LAUDERDALE GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL - APRIL 24 - MAY 3
"THE ANDREWS BROTHERS" - RISING ACTION THEATRE - OPENS APRIL 3 - MAY 17
COMING THIS SUMMER...WEB BASED CENSUS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY
http://www.localendar.com/public/glccsf


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Everglades Restoration Plan Shrinks
By DAMIEN CAVE
The Everglades have become yet another victim of the shrinking economy. Gov. Charlie Crist announced Wednesday that Florida would significantly scale back its $1.34 billion deal to restore the Everglades by buying 180,000 acres from the United States Sugar Corporation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/us/02everglades.html?hpw


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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Florida House to look at raising a variety of fees
BY MARC CAPUTO
Is a $2 surcharge on rental cars a tax? The question will be answered Thursday at the House Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Committee, which will vote on the most robust package of fees in the Legislature: $837.9 million. The fees, ranging from fines on drunken drivers to increases for motor vehicle tags, will largely help supplement the general-revenue budget. But the rental surcharge worth about $100 million to the state could have trouble.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/980531.html


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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Meek rakes in $1.5 mil for Senate bid
Posted by Beth Reinhard
When a candidate arranges a conference call with reporters to announce a quarterly fundraising total, it's usually a big one. U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, did not disappoint, announcing that he collected $1.49 million in the first three months of his campaign.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2009/04/meek-rakes-in-14-mil-for-senate-bid.html

-Gelber raises $400,000 for Senate
Posted by Beth Reinhard
State Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach collected $400,000 in the first three months of his U.S. Senate campaign. "Given that Dan has been in legislative session in Tallahassee non-stop and most of his campaigning has been on weekends, we feel pretty good about that number,'' said Gelber's senior advisor, Steve Schale. U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami announced earlier today that he raised $1.49 million. Will fence-sitting donors wait and see what Gelber can do after the legislative session ends May 1? "It's going to be a long race,'' Schale insisted.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2009/04/gelber-raises-400000-for-senate.html

-Crist seems to acknowledge cig tax coming
Posted by Alex Leary
Gov. Charlie Crist says he's still opposed to a cigarette tax increase, but he sounds increasingly resigned to one coming from the Legislature. As long as the deal excludes cigars. "I'm not particularly fond of any taxes, user fees may be a different item, so we'll see how it progresses in the House and Senate," Crist told reporters. "They have a tough job, our members. We've already cut over $7 billion over the past two years. ... We know that we have to be in balance."
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/03/crist-seems-to-acknowledge-cig-tax-coming.html

-Penny gas tax could kill clean energy bill
Posted by Shannon Colavecchio
Much-anticipated legislation to encourage clean and renewable energy in Florida appears in danger of dying, but not because of concerns over the inclusion of nuclear energy. Instead, a penny gas tax threatens to squelch the "20 by 2020" proposal, one of Gov. Charlie Crist's legislative priorities. Bill sponsor Sen. Jim King, chair of the chamber's energy and utilities committee, said the penny tax on fuel is necessary to ensure that the renewable and clean energy legislation is actually implemented. It would generate roughly $90 million a year, half to go into a trust fund for helping to develop renewable energies, and half to go into general revenue.
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/03/penny-gas-tax-could-kill-clean-energy-bill.html


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