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Tuesday's Daily Pulse

EPA gives Florida edict on emissions

The federal government is proposing that Florida cut its carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 38 percent by the year 2030. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced specific targets for all states Monday as part of the Obama administration's effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions nationwide. More from the AP and the Fort Myers News-Press.

See also:
» Florida headed for showdown with EPA over new emissions standards
» Tampa Electric customers could see higher bills with proposed new EPA emissions standards


Do lower taxes actually convince people to move?

Wealth and people are moving in America, from places where local policies inhibit economic growth to places where the tax and regulatory climate is sunnier. The numbers are clear. Between 1995 and 2010 over $2 trillion in adjusted gross income moved between the states. More from Deseret News and the National Review.


Gas prices
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Gas prices drop a little, but bigger decline predicted

Gas prices in the Southeast dropped a little over the past week, and AAA is predicting they’ll drop farther during the summer. The average price for a gallon of regular gas declined 2 cents to $3.60 in Florida and 3 cents to $3.59 in Georgia, AAA reported. Nationally, though, it rose 1 cent to $3.67 .[Source: Florida Times-Union]


Florida Led Nation In Short Sales Of Homes In April

Orlando, Lakeland, Tampa, and Palm Bay had the highest rates of short sales in the nation, according to the research firm RealtyTrac. The rates for those metro areas ranged from almost 15 percent to more than 13 percent of all home sales. [Source: AP]


Tax Investment Survey: 90% say investment income should be taxed higher

WalletHub just released the 2014 Tax Fairness Survey which assesses opinions on tax code complexity, income tax structure, and the fairness of taxes on everything from investment income and corporations to alcohol and tobacco. Full story.


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Entrepreneur says local regulations make it tough to do business
Local regulations are frustrating business owners, costing time and money. Florida’s pro-business climate promises to streamline the process of doing business in the Sunshine State, but local governments continue to pile on the red tape.

› Video games are a big part of film incentive outlook
Filming in Florida produces jobs and economic impact, but incentives for the industry have dried up recently. Here’s a fact that gets left out of the incentive debate sometimes: Video games have gotten a lot of money.

› Tax repeal expected to boost regional manufacturers
Manufacturers in Southwest Florida expect to save tens of thousands of dollars annually from the repeal of a sales tax that economic development officials contend has long put the state at a competitive disadvantage.

› Florida companies make Fortune 500 list
Officially, 16 Florida-based companies made the just-released Fortune 500 list of largest U.S. companies based on 2013 revenue. But the real number should be 17 because rental car giant Hertz is relocating its headquarters from New Jersey to tiny Estero, near Naples.


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› Oceania Cruises reaches a million reservations
Doral-based Oceania Cruises reached its one millionth reservation on Monday. The cruise line, which has established itself as an “upper-premium” option with a focus on destinations and cuisine, called the booking a “significant milestone.”

› The smell of crop disaster: UF research on citrus greening
Insects that carry the devastating citrus greening disease are attracted by an odor that sick trees give off, researchers at University of Florida found. The research advances understanding of the costly disease, which is damaging Florida’s $9 billion citrus industry.

› Startups will vie for $150,000 in CAT5 awards
Big corporations and startup companies alike are planning to mix it up this week at a unique business event at the Hyatt Regency near Orlando International Airport. The event is called the ICSE, or Innovation Concourse of the Southeast.

› 7-Eleven puts 31 Florida stores up for sale
7-Eleven Inc. has put 31 Florida gasoline stations and/or convenience stores on the market as part of 75 nationwide that are up for grabs, Convenience Store Decisions reports.