Hump day
It’s the fifth week of the nine-week Session and Wednesday is the midpoint — the ultimate hump day for state lawmakers.
Also, on today’s Sunrise:
— This week’s big issue is the budget; both the House and Senate appropriation committees take up their respective spending plans. Right now, they're about $2 billion apart.
— Another momentous change in vaccination policy. As of Monday, all Floridians aged 40 and up can get COVID-19 vaccinations. And one week from now, the age drops to 16 or 18 … depending on which vaccine.
— A bill limiting lawsuits over COVID-19 passes the House, on its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.
— Representatives also passed HB-1 — the Governor’s bill making it easier to arrest protesters, a proposal inspired by the Black Lives Matter demonstrations last summer.
— Democrats in the Senate are asking the Justice Department to investigate the case of a former state lawmaker accused of running a sham candidate in a South Florida Senate race in order to flip the seat for the GOP.
— Florida's unemployment rate was down last month, but not by much.
— And finally, two Florida Men: one accused of shooting an air rifle at women picnicking at the beach, calling them the N-word with a bullhorn. The other was shot in the ass after breaking into a Motel 6 at 3 a.m.