News Clips

WCTV

US budget deficit surges to $134.5 billion in October

The federal government, which ended the 2019 budget year with its largest deficit in seven years, began the new budget year with a deficit in October that was 33.8% bigger than a year ago as spending hit a record. The Treasury Department said Wednesday that the deficit last month totaled $134.5 billion, up from a shortfall in October 2018 of $100.5 billion. The government ran up a deficit of $984.4 billion for the 2019 budget year that ended Sept. 30, 26% larger than in 2018. The Congressional Budget Office is forecasting that the deficit for 2020 will hit $1 trillion and will remain over $1 trillion for the next decade. The country has not experienced $1 trillion annual deficits since 2009 through 2012 following the 2008 financial crisis.

Roll Call

Florida senators want federal help on their red tide problem

As Florida grapples with so-called red tides of algal blooms along its coasts and waterways, the state's senators are pushing the federal government to come up with a plan to help control them. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will on Wednesday mark up a bill sponsored by Republican Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott aiming to find a solution to the toxic algae that cost the state's tourism industry millions of dollars each year.  The House in September passed a companion bill that was introduced by Rep. Brian Mast, R- Fla. 

Naples Daily News

Gov. DeSantis to Vietnam veterans gathered at JetBlue Park: 'Thank you'

Because of domestic controversy kindled by the Vietnam War and the bitter division in the country over it, soldiers often were scorned when they set their boots back on American soil. Unlike veterans from other foreign engagements, Vietnam-era vets were seldom honored as heroes. On Veterans Day, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez and thousands of others gathered inside JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers to rue that neglect and try to make at least partial amends for it. “That was one of the low points in American history,” the governor said Monday morning at the stadium. “So I want to say, ‘Thank you, today.’”