TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Republicans have added an
anti-union provision to a bill giving Florida businesses tax breaks
totaling $121.1 million a year.
      They actually added the provision multiple times during House
floor debate Tuesday to quash Democratic amendments to the measure
(HB 7087).
      The tit-for-tat was a prelude to a final vote set Wednesday.
      Most of the Democratic proposals would have let businesses
benefit from an increased exemption to Florida's corporate income
tax only if they met certain criteria.
      Those included providing employee health insurance for same-sex
partners, proving they don't discriminate against veterans and
using a federal database to screen out illegal immigrants when
hiring.
      In each case, Republicans substituted a provision allowing
companies to get the tax break only if they have no union
employees.

     
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