Important! Call to Support HB0879 and SB1656 to Fund Newsline Greetings all,   This is Sherri Brun, your Newsline chair with an important message about your Newsline service. Several of us who are involved with helping with Newsline of Florida have been working diligently for the past few weeks to have sponsored legislation presented in Tallahassee to allow dedicated funding of Newsline. The house and senate bills are identical. They are now in the Energy & Utilities Policy Committee in the house and the Committee on Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities in the senate. It is imperative to have these bills heard and passed before the legislative session ends in a few weeks. They have been introduced by Representative Ronald Brisé of Miami and state Senator Dan Gelber of Miami as well. Below is a complete committee list with phone numbers for each member. I would like everyone to call particularly the committee chairs, which are the numbers listed at the top of the list. Please urge them to present the bills HB0879 and SB1656 and recommend passage of the bills. Tell them about your positive experiences with Newsline and how using Newsline affects your life. The more positive you can be, the better. If possible, I would also like you to call any representatives and senators in your local area to urge them to co-sponsor the bill and to vote for it when it is introduced. 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 helping see that these bills pass. Please call Sherri Brun at 8 0 0, 6 0 3, 8 5 7 8 if you have any questions. Thank you so much for doing your part to help to keep Newsline growing in Florida.   House Energy & Utilities Policy Committee: Chair Rep. Stephen Precourt Orlando, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 8, 0 2 5 6 Senate Committee on Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities Chair: Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Miami, FL 8 5 0 4 8 7 5 1 0 9 The representatives on the House Energy & Utilities Policy Committee are: Rep. Clay Ford Pensacola, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 8 0 8 9 5 Rep. Joseph Gibbons Pembroke Park, FL 8 5 0 4 8 8 0 8 9 5 Rep. Esteban Bovo, Jr. Hialeah, FL 8 5 0 4 8 7 2 1 9 7 Rep. Jennifer Carroll Jacksonville, FL 8 5 0 4 8 8 5 1 0 2 Rep. Mike Horner Kissimmee, FL 8 5 0 4 8 8 8 9 9 2 Rep. Matt Hudson Naples, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 8, 1 0 2 8 Rep. Seth McKeel Lakeland, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 8 9 8 9 0 Rep. Dave Murzin Pensacola, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 8, 8 2 7 8 Rep. Maria Lorts Sachs Tallahassee, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 8, 1 6 6 2 Rep. Robert C. Schenck Spring Hill, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 8 6 6 4 1 Rep. Darren Soto Orlando, FL 8 5 0 4 8 8 9 2 4 0 Rep. Charles E. Van Zant Palatka, FL 8 5 0 4 8 8 0 6 6 5 Rep. Alan B. Williams, Tallahassee, FL 8 5 0 4 8 8 1 7 9 8 The members of the Senate Committee on Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities are: Vice Chair: Senator Arthenia L. Joyner , Tampa, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 7 5 0 5 9 Senator Mike Fasano, New Port Richey, FL 8 5 0 4 8 7 5 0 6 2 Senator Dan Gelber Miami Beach, FL (Bill sponsor) 8 5 0, 4 8 7 5 1 2 1 Senator Mike Haridopolos Melbourne, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 7 5 0 5 6 Senator Joe Negron Palm City, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 7 5 0 8 8 Senator Steve Oelrich Gainesville, FL 8 5 0, 4 8 7, 5 0 2 0 Senator Garrett S. Richter Naples, FL 8 5 0 4 8 7 5 1 2 4 Senator Christopher L. Smith West Palm Beach, FL