Bill Proposes Forcing Young Drivers To Put Away Phones
A proposal filed Thursday would bar drivers under age 18 from using wireless phones or other communications devices while they are behind the wheel.
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A proposal filed Thursday would bar drivers under age 18 from using wireless phones or other communications devices while they are behind the wheel.
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Much of the talk over the next week will not center around the New Year or football, but instead on the so-called "fiscal cliff." It's a catch-all term that's being applied to a massive round of austerity and tax increases set to go into effect on January 1, 2013. But what exactly makes up the fiscal cliff? It starts with the so-called "Bush Tax Cuts" passed in 2001 and 2004. At the time, then-President George W. Bush pushed through two major tax hikes immediately after the government began running surpluses at the end of the Clinton administration. Bush's tax cuts dropped the rates for all Americans, though Democrats argue they disproportionately helped the wealthiest Americans the most. The tax cuts were set to sunset, or end, in 2010, but another deal between President Barack Obama and Republicans in Congress extended them to December 2012. If both parties can't agree on what to do about the tax cuts, the overall tax rates will revert to what they were in 2000 under President Clinton. According to CBS News, this would impact 88 percent of taxpayers with their taxes rising by an average of $3,500 a year. For a family making between $50,000 and $75,000 a year, the average tax bill would jump by $2,400. The loss of the extra revenue for the families would impact their spending power, which then would hamper businesses, which would turn and cut jobs to continue making profits. But the tax hike in overall rate isn't the only tax that will be impacted. A payroll tax cut was enacted in 2010 to help give the economy some stimulus, but both sides appear willing to let that tax cut expire and let payroll taxes rise by 2 percent in 2013. Tax hikes make up only half of the fiscal cliff. The other half is made up of deep spending cuts/austerity that could cripple the government and contractors nationwide. During the 2011 national debt crisis started by Congressional Republicans, a deal was finally struck to increase the nation's debt limit, but a sequester was put on the military and domestic spending. The sequester was put in place to try and spur government action. As part of the deal, both Republicans and Democrats put together a joint committee to seek trillions in deficit reduction. Republicans refused to allow any tax/revenue increases and Democrats balked at major changes to Social Security and Medicare. When both sides declared failure, the sequester kicked in. It imposes deep spending cuts to domestic discretionary spending as well as deep defense department cuts for military spending. Democrats oppose the discretionary spending and Republicans oppose the defense cuts. According to CBS News, budget cuts of 8-9 percent would hit most of the federal government, from law enforcement to the military to weather forecasting. Only a few areas, like Social Security benefits and Veterans affairs, will be spared the deep cuts. Still, the cuts would be phased in slowly over the next decade, which could help minimize the damage if they are not repealed in early 2013. Even if the nation goes off the "fiscal cliff," Congress can pass tax cuts in early 2013 and make them retroactive to any date they so choose. Congress can also choose to delay or cancel any spending cuts they wish. Some pundits believe this is the likeliest scenario to happen. Because Republicans refuse to allow any tax increases, the belief is that both parties will allow the country to go off the "fiscal cliff." At that point, President Obama can put together a massive tax cut package and send it to Congress. Neither party is likely to oppose a tax cut package, but Obama would have the ability to call for the cuts to be applied to only those making less than $250,000 or another similar level. Republicans and Democrats could quickly pass that measure and both sides could declare victory over the other. The tax rate damage would be averted, but both sides would have to deal with the spending cuts in the sequester. The depth of the spending cuts will likely depend on how much revenue is gained from the tax cuts. Cutting taxes for those below $250,000 and letting the others rise will generate significantly more revenue, which can help minimize the cuts to some degree. However, in exchange for allowing the cuts, Republicans may demand other cuts to programs to offset the overall cost of the cuts. It would create a problem because if Democrats balked at other cuts, Republicans may have to choose between voting against a tax cut, or allowing the cuts to go through without any offsets. One key element of any deal will be the debt ceiling. The last time Republicans wielded the debt ceiling as a weapon, the nation's credit rating was dropped for the first time in history and hit the economy hard. Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner said Wednesday the nation will hit its borrowing limit on December 31. Geithner and the Treasury Department will take "extraordinary" measures to allow the government to keep functioning for a few months. However, at a certain point, Geithner will run out of options. If Congress doesn't authorize a hike in the debt ceiling, the U.S. will default on its bills. This could cripple not only the U.S. economy, but also the global economy. President Obama wants a grand deal on tax cuts and everything to include a two-year automatic extension on the debt ceiling. Republicans have balked at this proposal and another showdown could be in the works in 2013. Republicans will want massive offsets in exchange for any hike in the debt ceiling, which Obama and Democrats are likely to oppose. It all sets up for a very hectic end of 2012 and beginning of 2013. In the middle of it all, a brand new Congress will be sworn in and have to deal with all of the issues immediately if no deal is struck before then, which is looking increasingly less likely. But what exactly makes up the fiscal cliff?
The state's crackdown on pill mill operations has led to the same types of clinics popping up in Georgia. The presence of painkillers and prescription drugs in the deceased declined in Florida last year, prompting state officials to declare victory.
The number of people asking for unemployment benefits last week dropped to the lowest level since March 2008, according to the Labor Department.
While much of the focus with the ongoing austerity crisis on Capitol Hill has been overall tax rates, both President Barack Obama and Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner have agreed on one tax principle: ending the payroll tax holiday.
Former President George H.W. Bush has seen his condition worsen in a Houston, Texas hospital, his spokesman said Wednesday. Jim McGrath said the former president's fever has progressively gotten worse over the last two days and called the fever, "stubborn."
President Barack Obama cut his vacation short Wednesday and returned to Washington to continue negotiations on the rapidly approaching fiscal cliff. But, even with that move, a growing number of Americans believe no deal will be reached and the blame is falling on the GOP.
The Florida Democrat who defeated Janet Reno for the party's gubernatorial nomination in 2002 but lost to Republican Gov. Jeb Bush will be remembered this week in Tampa.
The man who campaigned against Jeb Bush in 2002 for the Governor's Office has passed away. Bill McBride, 67, died Saturday, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Jon Hammar, the 27-year-old former Marine from Palmetto Bay, is now back in the United States after spending almost five months imprisoned in Mexico.
Regardless of what police suspect a driver is guilty of, a Florida appellate court ruled an officer cannot pull over a motorist just because the car has been repainted a different color.
Jon Hammar, the 27-year-old former Marine from Palmetto Bay, was released Friday night from the Matamoros jail.
A little more than an hour after a moment of silence was marked across the nation to remember the 26 lives lost in the Newtown school shootings, the National Rifle Association finally broke its silence on the issue.
A grand jury that convened to examine problems with Florida absentee-ballot voting made 23 recommendations designed to tighten regulations.
While much of the nation has warmed to both gay marriage and legalizing marijuana, the Sunshine State is still lagging behind on both issues, according to a new poll released by Quinnipiac University Thursday.
Extensive sun all morning, combined with high humidity levels, will create triple-digit feels-like temperatures.
Check out how you can watch the match at home, mingle with other soccer fans, and read up on the main storylines for both teams.
Parker Messick had a no-hitter going through five innings before Heriberto Hernández hit a solo home run in the sixth to break it up.
Evelyn Valdes, 28, was fatally shot while in the backseat of a friend's car after an altercation at a nearby nightclub spilled into the street.
From construction workers to fruit vendors, many say the hottest parts of the day have become increasingly difficult to endure, yet stopping work is not an option.
In courtroom testimony, Shandelle Maycock recounted the harrowing night her daughter was abandoned in the Everglades, describing the horrors they endured.
A former prison guard trainee has been sentenced to death for the 2019 execution-style killings of five women inside a Florida bank.
Florida coach Billy Napier is getting a fourth season to try to get the Gators back to their winning ways.
A Florida man has filed a federal lawsuit against Jacksonville sheriff's officers who severely beat him last year after he ran from a traffic stop.
The Marion County Sheriff's deputy told authorities that he accidentally shot and killed his girlfriend while cleaning his gun.
Three-time Olympian David Hearn was indicted July 2, after he was accused of ripping out a portion of the sealant from the bottom of the Reflecting Pool on June 19.
Palm Beach International Airport officially became Donald J. Trump International Airport on Thursday, but the airport's code won't change for another 40 days.
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is suspending his campaign against GOP Sen. Susan Collins, after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her five years ago.
Prosecutors revealed that the roommate of the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk was given "use immunity" in exchange for providing recorded video statements to investigators about the case.
The U.S. military launched another round of strikes against Iran late Wednesday night, U.S. Central Command said, in the second night of attacks as diplomacy between the two countries appears to collapse.
The likely Republican candidate for governor, Congressman Byron Donalds, said he would vote for it, but as he told CBS Miami's Jim DeFede, if it does fail, they will tackle the issue again next year.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has avoided talking about both topics with opponents calling him "the most corrupt attorney general Florida has had."
On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the closing of Alligator Alcatraz, the highly controversial immigration detention center that was the subject of numerous lawsuits as well as allegations of abuse.
The 29-year-old attorney is hoping to stand out from the pack by going after young voters.
More than two decades after voters were promised a new facility to treat people with mental illnesses, rather than warehousing them in the county jail, the Miami-Dade County Commission gave final approval on Tuesday to open the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery.
A recall has been issued for frozen blueberries sold at Publix stores in Georgia, Florida and other Southern states after 12 people became sick, the FDA says.
A new Florida law requires drug prescribers to complete sickle cell training, aiming to improve care and address stigma faced by patients.
Former NFL running back Chris Johnson announced that he was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in a "Good Morning America" interview.
Gallup found that only 49% of Americans were "cost-secure" last year, with concerns about medical bills and prescription costs rising across income groups.
Dr. Peter Stafford was working with a missionary group in the Congo when he came down with the virus last month.
AARP is sounding the alarm because it is so easy to fall for these schemes, but there are simple things everyone can do to protect themselves.
A lawsuit filed late last month took Chicago-based McDonald's to task over the McRib sandwich, calling its name a form of false advertising.
Florida insurance policyholders could be seeing some form of relief in their wallets thanks to market reforms made statewide, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
The company said Tuesday that 85% of its retail products and "nearly all" of its school offerings are already made without "certified colors."
Less than two days after Delta Air Lines offered $30,000 to each passenger on board the flight that crashed and flipped in Toronto on Monday afternoon, the company is facing its first two lawsuits in the incident — and they likely won't be the last.
Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh pop star best known for singing the chart-topping power ballad "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1983, has died. She was 75.
The nominations for the 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced Wednesday morning in Los Angeles, with the final season of HBO Max's "Hacks" setting a new record for the most nominations in a single year for a comedy series.
The Empire State Building lit up in blue for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding Friday night.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were married as they celebrated their wedding with hundreds of guests Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donated to 20 local and national charities ahead of their wedding Friday.
