[fcb-l] Urgent!call to support HB0879 and SB1656 to fund Newsline®

Sun Mar 21 21:35:13 GMT 2010

I'd be interested to see a link to the proposed legislation before signing on.

In other states ACB affiliates have opposed various Newsline funding legislation, not because the Federation would benefit, and not because it's a bad service, because it's a great service.  It had been opposed because of problematic pieces in the bills.

In the instance I have personal understanding of, several years ago in New York State a bill had been introduced which would levy a one cent a month tax on all phone lines. The person with sole control of the funds would be a Federation employee with a title which hadn't been created or filled at that time.

There was no accountability mechanism in the legislation, and, when we ran the numbers it came out to several hundred thousand dollars a year which would be realized.

While twelve cents a year per phone probably isn't much, the accountability issues were still there and there was no major plan for expansion to justify that kind of tax payer support.

Just because we have the title of 'consumer', doesn't mean that we're not also accountable.

I'd seriously like to support funding, I'd just like to know what it is that I'd be asked to sign on to first.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Debbie Grubb 
To: fcb-l at acb.org 
Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2010 4:00 PM
Subject: [fcb-l] Urgent!call to support HB0879 and SB1656 to fund Newsline®

Hello Everyone,

This may be something that you will want to advocate for.  Newsline benefits many regardless of consumer group affiliation.

This is a highly personal decision.  I am providing this information so that you will have it available should supporting this legislation be something that you would like to do.

Debbie Grubb
debbiecg at verizon.net

Greetings all,

Your Newsline chair and others have been working diligently for the past few weeks to have sponsored legislation presented in Tallahassee to allow funding of Newsline. The house and senate bills are identical. They are now in committee and we want to have them heard and passed before the legislative session ends in a few weeks. The committees they are in are the Energy & Utilities Policy Committee in the house and the Committee on Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities in the senate. They have been introduced by Representative Ronald Brisé and state Senator Dan Gelber from Miami as well. Below is a complete committee list with contact info for each member. I would like everyone to call particularly the numbers listed at the top of each committee list and urge them to pass the bills and tell them how wonderful you think Newsline® is and how much you use it! The more positive you can be, the better. I would also like you to call any representatives and senators in your local area to urge them to sign on the bill and to vote for it when it is presented. Please have your chapter members contact your local reps and state senators as well. Their e-mail contacts are also below, though the representatives just have a link to their page that you follow and fill out a form to e-mail them. It is crucial that this bill get heard and passed, as Newsline® continues to grow and with these tough economic times, our present funding stream may not be as generous as it has been and we want to keep Newsline active and growing in Florida!

I thank all of you in advance for following through. I also thank Katie Hicks who has gone to the various web sites and compiled this list, which you will find below this message. I would also like to thank all who have helped with this legislation. Please e-mail me when you have contacted your representative, senator and the committee chairs. Call me if you have any questions. Thank you so much!

Sherri Brun
Phone:  407-898-6024
E-mail:  flmom2006 at gmail.com

House Energy & Utilities Policy Committee:
303 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 487-1342

Staff Director: Lucretia Shaw Collins
E-mail: LUCRETIA.COLLINS at myfloridahouse.gov

Administrative Assistant: Linda Sims-Davis
E-mail: LINDA.SIMS-DAVIS at myfloridahouse.gov

Committee chair:
Rep. Stephen Precourt
Capitol Office:
303 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-0256
District Office:
7009 Dr. Phillips Boulevard
Suite 270
Orlando, FL 32819-5124
(407) 355-5784
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4384&SessionId=64

Rep. Clay Ford
Capitol Office:
303 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-0895
District Office:
1804 W. Garden Street
Pensacola, FL 32502-4418
(850) 595-5550
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4409&SessionId=64

Rep. Joseph Gibbons
Capitol Office:
303 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-0895
District Office:
Suite 203, Pembroke Town Hall
3150 SW 52nd Avenue
Pembroke Park, FL 33023-5413
(954) 893-5006
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4400&SessionId=64

Rep. Esteban Bovo, Jr.
Capitol Office:
210 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 487-2197
District Office:
3794 West 12th Avenue
Hialeah, FL 33012-4126
(305) 364-3113
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4460&SessionId=64

Rep. Jennifer Carroll
Capitol Office:
203 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-5102
District Office:
8970 103rd Street
Suite 10
Jacksonville, FL 32210-8689
(904) 573-4994
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4331&SessionId=64

Rep. Mike Horner
Capitol Office:
300 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-8992
District Office:
323 Pleasant Street
Kissimmee, FL 34741-5763
(407) 943-3077
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4455&SessionId=64

Rep. Matt Hudson
Capitol Office:
1302 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-1028
District Office:
Administration Building, Suite 212
3301 East Tamiami Trail
Naples, FL 34112-3972
(239) 417-6270
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4420&SessionId=64

Rep. Seth McKeel
Capitol Office:
319 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-9890
District Office:
4250 South Florida Avenue
Suite 4
Lakeland, FL 33813-1670
(863) 647-4896
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4368&SessionId=64

Rep. Dave Murzin
Capitol Office:
204 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-8278
District Office:
Suite 1
11 East Olive Road
Pensacola, FL 32514-4400
(850) 494-7330
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4261&SessionId=64

Rep. Maria Lorts Sachs
Capitol Office:
218 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-1662
District Office:
203 NE 1st Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33444-3714
(561) 266-6645
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4377&SessionId=64

Rep. Robert C. Schenck
Capitol Office:
214 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-6641
District Office:
The Lincoln Centre
12503 Springhill Drive
Spring Hill, FL 34609-5069
(352) 688-5005
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4386&SessionId=64

Rep. Darren Soto
Capitol Office:
1402 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-9240
District Office:
5425 S. Semoran Boulevard
Suite 1-B
Orlando, FL 32822-1751
(407) 249-4743
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4414&SessionId=64

Rep. Charles E. Van Zant
Capitol Office:
1101 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-0665
District Office:
Suite 5
3841 Reid Street
Palatka, FL 32177-2509
(386) 312-2272
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4444&SessionId=64

Rep. Alan B. Williams
Capitol Office:
1001 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-1798
E-mail: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4437&SessionId=64

Senate Committee on Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities
404 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5722
Senate VOIP 5722

Chair: Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Tallahassee Office:
330 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5109
District Office:
1481 NW 22nd Street
Miami, FL 33142-7741
(305) 643-7200
FAX (305) 643-7202
E-mail: portilla.alex.web at flsenate.gov

Vice Chair: Senator Arthenia L. Joyner
Tallahassee Office:
210 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5059
FAX (888) 263-7871
District Office:
508 W. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Suite C
Tampa, FL 33603-3415
(813) 233-4277
FAX (813) 233-4280
E-mail: joyner.arthenia.web at flsenate.gov

Senator Mike Fasano
Tallahassee Office:
404 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5062
District Office:
8217 Massachusetts Avenue
New Port Richey, FL 34653-3111
(727) 848-5885
FAX (727) 841-4453
E-mail: fasano.mike.web at flsenate.gov

Senator Dan Gelber 
Tallahassee Office:
226 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5121
District Office:
1920 Meridian Avenue
3rd Floor
Miami Beach, FL 33139-1818
(305) 535-5485
E-mail: gelber.dan.web at flsenate.gov

Senator Mike Haridopolos
Tallahassee Office:
420 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5056
District Office:
3270 Suntree Boulevard
Suite 122
Melbourne, FL 32940
(321) 752-3131
E-mail: haridopolos.mike.web at flsenate.gov

Senator Joe Negron
Tallahassee Office:
306 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5088
District Office:
3500 SW Corporate Parkway
Suite 204
Palm City, FL 34990
(772) 219-1665
FAX (772) 219-1666
Toll Free:
1-888-759-0791
E-mail: negron.joe.web at flsenate.gov

Senator Steve Oelrich
Tallahassee Office:
314 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5020
District Office:
4131 Northwest 28th Lane, Suite 7
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 375-3555
FAX (352) 955-6262
E-mail: oelrich.steve.web at flsenate.gov

Senator Garrett S. Richter
Tallahassee Office:
310 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5124
District Office:
Building F, Suite 203
3301 E. Tamiami Trail
Naples, FL 34112-4961
(239) 417-6205
E-mail: richter.garrett.web at flsenate.gov

Senator Christopher L. Smith
Tallahassee Office:
220 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5112
District Office 1:
1101 N.E. 40th Court
Suite 1
Oakland Park, FL 33334
(954) 267-2114
FAX (954) 267-2116
District Office 2:
1977 North Tamarind Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
(561) 650-6801
FAX (561) 650-6819
E-mail: smith.chris.web at flsenate.gov

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