October 31 Prayer Pod

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 31 Psalm 73:28
Pray: Lord hear Your words: But it is good for me to draw nearer God; I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all your works.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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Fiscal Insanity: All for Transportation Is A Tax Hike Scam to Bailout Financially Failing HART

Posted By: Sharon Calvert

HART is going insolvent and will go over the fiscal cliff soon. They want a taxpayer bailout.Obligingly, the Tampa Centric 5 Democrat county commissioners put the 30 year $23 BILLION All for Transportation (AFT) sales tax hike on the November ballot. They mandated that 45% ($10-11 BILLION) - the largest share of the $23 BILLION AFT sales tax hike - must go to HART.  Four of the Tampa Centric 5 (Overman, Smith, Kemp, Myers) sit on the HART Board with AFT Chair Tyler Hudson and AFT spokesperson Rena Frazier. They all know HART is going broke because it's happening on their watch.

The 5 commissioners, AFT, and AFT's wealthy special interests donors want taxpayers to punish themselves with higher taxes for HART's fiscal negligence. 

They want taxpayers to punish themselves with a $23B new tax to bail out HART, cover up HART's financial mess and leverage the tax dollars to fund costly Tampa rail.....that benefits the wealthy AFT donor base.

The AFT sales tax was recently ruled misleading and unlawful by Circuit Court Judge Moe but the County is wasting more taxpayers dollars appealing. 

The misleading AFT ballot language states the tax will be used to "expand public transit" and "enhance bus service". But HART documents have stated:

If the sales surtax measure is approved by Hillsborough County voters in November 2022, HART would be able to achieve its goal of financial sustainability..

HART is not financially sustainable and why they want a taxpayer funded bailout.

But HART's ridership is dismal and their operating costs are soaring. The HART Board knows this and so does the County. 

HART CEO Adelee Le Grand presented at the March 10, 2022 BOCC Transportation Workshop. She presented a chart of HART's dismal FY21 ridership (comment in red is mine).

With Hillsborough County's population of over 1.5 million, HART's daily ridership in FY21 was about 1.8% of the total population.

At the September 26, 2022 HART Board meeting, this was presented showing HART's ridership declined in FY22 (comments in red are mine).

Total ridership dropped in FY22 to 8,981,123 which is about 24,605 riders per day. Daily ridership declined to about 1.6% of the total County population in FY22.

READ THE ENTIRE POST CLICK: EYE ON TAMPA BAY

This post is contributed by EYE ON TAMPA BAY. The views expressed in this post are the blog publisher's and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher of BayPost Internet.

 Cross Posted with permission from: Eye On Tampa Bay

October 30 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 30 Proverbs 29:11
Pray: Lord hear Your words: A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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October 29 Prayer Pod

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 29 2 Peter 1:5-6
Pray: Lord hear Your words: But also for this very recent, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, and to perseverance godliness.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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Teachers Rally to Boost Profile of Hernández-Mats for Lt. Gov.

Florida News Connection

October 24, 2022

By: Trimmel Gomes

In the race for governor, Democratic nominee Charlie Crist picked the top teacher's union representative in Florida's largest public school district as his running mate. The challenge ahead appears to be raising her statewide name identification.

Karla Hernandez-Mats is a special-education teacher and first-generation American born to Honduran immigrants.

Despite being well known in education circles, her pick as a running mate is seen as a wildcard, according to Susan MacManus PhD - University of South Florida Professor Emerita of Political Science.

"The difficulty is that she is just not getting a lot of exposure and people don't know who she is," said MacManus. "And she may be well-known down in South Florida, but she is not well-known in the rest of the state."

However, teachers are rallying to change that, and think her background will impress the large Hispanic voting bloc in the state.

MacManus said that tactic worked for Gov. Ron DeSantis when he picked Lieutenant Gov. Jeanette Nunez. Education issues - such as parental rights, the place of school boards and the role of teachers unions - have become a focus in the race between DeSantis and Crist.

Ingrid Robledo taught advanced-placement Spanish and worked with Hernandez-Mats for many years - even through her three terms as president of United Teachers of Dade.

Robledo said fellow educators are excited that a teacher could represent them in the governor's office, and touted Hernandez-Mats as a leader.

"She has an active role when it comes to activism and, you know, solving problems," said Robledo. "So it is true that there is a segment of this community that may not know her but at the same token, she is having a personal approach to people."

Janice Poirier, president of the Florida Education Association's retiree chapter, described Hernandez-Mats as "in it to win it."

"Since Charlie Crist chose her, I see her more than I see him," said Poirier. "She is all over the place. She is visiting our local unions. She is visiting the retired local unions, and that's where I see her the most. She is a people person."

The Republican Party of Florida didn't waste time in going after Hernandez-Mats, labeling her as an "extremist" and "a slap in the face to Florida parents."

She attended Miami-Dade public schools, earned a bachelor's degree at Florida International University and a master's degree in business administration from St. Thomas University. If successful, this would be her first time holding public office.

Content for this Post is provided by Florida News Connection, a Bureau of Public News Service.  Public News Service is a member of the The Trust Project.

October 28 Prayer Pod

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 28 Proverbs 25:28
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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October 27 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 27 1 Corinthians 10:24
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Let no one seek his own, but each one the others wellbeing

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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Where is The Economy Going?

October 26 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 26 Romans 15:4
Pray: Lord hear Your words: For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that way through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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October 25 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 25 Philippians 4:11
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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October 24 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 24 Psalm 73:2-3
Pray: Lord hear Your words: But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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Is It Time To Divide The Republican Party?

FLORIDA  

Opinion by:  
E. Eugene Webb PhD

We see it every day and hear it every day in the news, in the electronic media, and in social media. It's the constant drone of the wrestling going on for control of the Republican Party.

The struggle between the Trump inspired alt right, and the effort of the entrenched Republican Party goals and standards that is slowly tearing the Republican Party to pieces.

It's the battle pitting the old white men of the traditional Republican Party against a younger crowd of righteous insurrectionist.

At this point, while it appears to some that the outcome of the midterms is still in question, there is little doubt that the effect of the strong pull toward right wing conservatism, in the Republican Party will have at least some degree of success.

While we're still a few weeks away from the midterm election, the questions loom large: “What will the Republican Party do as it heads toward 2024?”

Should former President Donald Trump form his own version of the Republican Party and work to get on the ballot in all 50 states with a full slate of candidates?

If Trump were to make such a move how many of the current old-line Republicans might follow him?

Is it time for the traditional Republicans to push Trump and all his supporters out of the Republican Party and attempt to survive on their own?

Can our democracy survive the political chaos that is certain to ensue once the midterm elections are complete?

I don't propose to have the answer for that question. And I'm not sure that all of the old white men whom we've relied on for so long to run this country can still do so.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook, follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.

Disclosures:

 

October 23 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 23 Proverbs 15:13
Pray: Lord hear Your words: A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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October 22 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 22 1 John 1: 19

Pray: Lord hear Your words: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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Uncertainty Hovers on Clean Water Act's 50th Anniversary

Florida News Connection

By: Trimmel Gomes

The Clean Water Act turns 50 this week, but parts of it are being challenged in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case, Sackett v. EPA, could allow factories, hog farms and wastewater plants to pollute waters in states that lack strong water-quality protections.

Jim Murphy, director of legal advocacy at the National Wildlife Federation, said the case could result in a cascading effect across the country.

"Could potentially, depending on how the court rules, remove important federal protections from pollution and destruction for up to half of the nation's wetlands and maybe 60 to 70% of the nation's streams," he said, "including many streams that could provide the source waters for people's drinking supplies."

A new report from the National Wildlife Federation said the case, if plaintiffs are successful, would be "disproportionately felt by low-income communities and communities of color that already have inadequate water and wastewater infrastructure and face greater flood risk." Its progress report on Florida's current water quality labels it "in need of improvement."

Florida has implemented some of its own measures to protect water, including a controversial program that pays ranchers to retain runoff on their own land. Critics have said it amounts to "corporate welfare" because the ranchers get taxpayer money for doing very little.

Nationally, Murphy pointed to polls that show 75% of adults are in favor of seeing protections for more waterways, and want the Environmental Protection Agency to take the lead in protecting natural waterways.

"Again, these natural systems provide functions that are very, very hard to replace," he said, "and very expensive to replace through engineering and other means."

This 14-year legal battle has brought the Sacketts to the Supreme Court for the second time. Their first was in 2012, when they were granted the right to sue the EPA. A decision is expected in 2023.

Florida News Service Disclosure: National Wildlife Federation contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species & Wildlife, Energy Policy, Water. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.

Content for this Post is provided by Florida News Connection, a Bureau of Public News Service.  Public News Service is a member of the The Trust Project.

October 21 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 21 Psalm 103:19
Pray: Lord hear Your words: The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his Kingdom rules overall.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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October 20 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 20 Romans 11:36
Pray: Lord hear Your words: For of him and through him and to him are all things common to him be glory forever. Amen.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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2022 MIDTERM RACE

 

October 19 Prayer Pod

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 19 Joshua 1:9
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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Medicare, Social Security Called Essential to FL Seniors

Florida News Connection

By: Edwin J. Viera

As the midterm elections approach, Medicare and Social Security are top-of-mind issues for Florida seniors.

A recent AARP poll found just 12% of Florida seniors feel these two programs are prominent issues at the ballot box, after rising prices and inflation. But a few of the state's high-ranking elected officials have shown they're no fans of these programs.

Part of Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott's 12-point "Plan to Rescue America" includes sunsetting federal programs and taxing Social Security checks.

Monique Morrissey, an economist with the Economic Policy Institute, explained why the program is regularly on the chopping block.

"Social Security is going to need to be rebalanced," said Morrissey. "There hasn't been an increase in Social Security revenues or anything in over 40 years - and every once in a while, you do need to tweak these programs to put them in balance."

In this rebalance, Morrissey said new ways of financing Social Security must be considered. One option is to raise the cap on the amount of wages subject to Social Security taxes, although she said she finds many Republican policymakers are unwilling to do that.

The Social Security Administration has announced an 8.7% increase in benefits, starting in 2023.

Morrissey said misconceptions about Medicare and Social Security have done nothing but fuel the fire among groups that went to cut them. One element of Scott's plan would require that Congress write an annual report for what it would do if Medicare and Social Security go bankrupt.

Morrissey said based on how these programs work, that isn't likely to happen anytime soon.

"It's never going to run out of money, because it's mostly funded in a 'pay-as-you-go' system," said Morrissey. "So, this is because the first generation of beneficiaries, during the Depression era, they hadn't had a chance to pay in. So, it's always been funded by current workers' contributions going directly to current retirees, which is no different than a lot of other programs."

Last year, Florida's other U.S. senator, Republican Marco Rubio, co-sponsored the Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act, which would rescind the Social Security Retirement Earning Test. This would allow Social Security recipients who haven't reached full retirement age to earn private income without losing benefits.

As inflation hits new highs and prices continue to rise, Florida seniors will no doubt make their voices heard at the ballot box.

Content for this Post is provided by Florida News Connection, a Bureau of Public News Service.  Public News Service is a member of the The Trust Project.

October 18 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 18 Romans 5:8
Pray: Lord hear Your words: But God demonstrates his own love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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October 17 Prayer Pod

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 17 Romans 10:9
Pray: Lord hear Your words: That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in all your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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October 16 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 16 James 1:2-4
Pray: Lord hear Your words: My brethren, counted all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let the patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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October 15 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 15 Psalm 138:8
Pray: Lord hear Your words: The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, oh Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of your hands.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

      
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AFT's Special Interests Donors Call In Their Chits But Judge's Ruling Taints AFT Tax Hike So Take NO Risk and VOTE NO!

 

Tampa, 

From: Eye On Tampa Bay

Posted by: Sharon Calvert

 

Monday the All for Transportation supporters struck out again. Circuit Court Judge Gaylord Moe ruled the All for Transportation (AFT) Sales Tax Hike ballot language is misleading and confusing to voters and struck the referendum from the November ballot. 

Now AFT's wealthy special interests donors are calling in their Chits.  

AFT's rich monopoly men, with money bags in tow, are wanting their donor favors returned and a "return on investment" of the donor dollars they have waged on Overman, Cohen, Smith, Myers and All for Transportation.

AFT Monopoly Men 

Yesterday Hillsborough County commissioner Gwen Myers told the Tampa Bay Times  the County will appeal the judge's ruling. 

We’re going to appeal this and ask voters to keep voting for this while it’s on the ballot now,” said Myers.

Myers, who has championed the tax referendum since her 2020 election to the commission, initially said she would consider scheduling a special election if an appeal is successful.

But Gwen Myers does not speak for all 7 commissioners. The county commissioners have not met yet to discuss the appeal issue and Florida Statute 212.055 requires all local sales surtax referenda must be held in a general election.

BOCC Chair Kimberly Overman released a statement yesterday calling for a special BOCC meeting for Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 5pm. Her statement yesterday, October 11, 2022, was incompetently dated August 4, 2022. 

Read the Full Post Here: EYE ON TAMPA BAY

Posted by Sharon Calvert at 12:32 PM 

This post is contributed by EYE ON TAMPA BAY. The views expressed in this post are the blog publisher's and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher of BayPost Internet.

 Cross Posted with permission from: Eye On Tampa Bay