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Bill: Gas price,sign must match

State Sen. Jim Norman,R-Tampa, is spon-soring a bill to help consumers know theprice of gas before they pull into a station.

Senate Bill 476 would require retail sta-tions charging different prices for cash orcredit card sales to display the highest price“on all signage displaying gasoline andmotor fuel prices visible from the main-trav-eled”roads.

“This is about truth in pricing,”Normansaid in a release.“In present practice, individ-uals are only seeing the cash price whenthey go to the gas station.This bill will en-sure they know the credit price before they

take out their card.”Norman added Floridians deserve a

break from gas prices.“When the price of oil is reduced, gas

prices often remain the same,making for fatbonuses for CEOs at the expense of the con-sumer,”Norman continued.“SB 476 bringsattention to a long-standing practice thatdoes not provide full disclosure.”

The next step for the bill is the SenateCommerce and Tourism Committee. StateRep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, has spon-sored an identical bill,House Bill 391,whichis also moving through the FloridaLegislature.

For more information on the bill or otherlegislation moving toward becoming a lawin the Florida Senate, visitwww.flsenate.gov.

--Kyle LoJacono

Transit board gets $1.1 millionfor information center

By Kyle LoJaconoklojacono@cnewspubs.com

The Tampa Bay Area RegionalTransportation Authority (TBARTA) recent-ly received a $1.1 million federal grant tocreate the region’s first transit informationcenter.

“This is a very exciting opportunity forTBARTA and for our region,”said TBARTAexecutive director Bob Clifford.“We knowthere is a need for consistent, accurate in-formation on transportation programsthroughout our region.We are pleased tobe able to offer this service in an easy,one-stop location for the public.”

The final site for the center will be cen-trally located within TBARTA’sseven-county jurisdiction, which includesPasco, Hillsborough, Citrus, Hernando,Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.Spokeswoman Amy Ellis said the exact lo-cation will be decided in a few weeks.

“The good thing about this is peoplecan visit the center, but they can also getthe same information by calling or by visit-ing us online with their computers ormobile device,”Ellis said.“It won’t matter

where people live or if they are alreadytraveling down the road.”

The project is scheduled to take 12-18months to finish. Once completed, resi-dents will be able to access informationabout transportation programs and servicesthroughout the region.

The grant was awarded less than sixmonths after TBARTA had its budget cut by$950,000, down to $1.75 million for thecurrent fiscal year. Chairman RonnieDuncan said public support for the organi-zation helped it land the grant.

“We are truly honored to have receivedsuch outstanding community support inseeking these funds,”Duncan said.“By con-tinuing to work with our partnersthroughout the region,we’ll be able to ex-pand transportation options for the citizensof the region.”

TBARTA,which was established in 2007to handle transist planning for the region,estimates traffic congestion will double by2035 in its seven-county area and triple by2050.

The information center project is one of55 similar jobs being done across the coun-try by the Fedearl Transit Administration ata cost of $34.6 million.

For more information on TBARTA, visitwww.tbarta.com.

TBARTA gets big boost

By Kyle LoJaconoklojacono@cnewspubs.com

State Sen. Jim Norman got an earlyChristmas present from the U.S.Attorney’sOffice.

The Republican, who is in his first termat the post,was under investigation for po-tentially violating federal law for notdisclosing a house in Arkansas owned by hiswife,Mearline,as an asset.

U.S.Attorney Robert O’Neill said the in-vestigation was unable to find any evidencethat Norman had anything to do withMearline accepting half a million dollarsfrom deceased conservative activist RalphHughes. Mearline used the money to buyand renovate the lakefront house.

O’Neill said the investigators “were look-ing at the house and the loan from Mr.Hughes,” but said the investigation, whichstarted more than a year ago, was nowclosed.He declined to comment on the de-

tails of the probe.“A diligent investigation by federal inves-

tigators failed to uncover evidence of aviolation of federal criminal law by StateSen. Norman,”O’Neill said.“As a result, thisoffice is closing the current investigation.”

Norman did not return repeated inter-view requests for comment, but hisattorney,Frank Winkles,said his client appre-ciated O’Neill’s “straightforwardness”withthe investigation.

“While they have always believed thatSen.Norman would be exonerated, the cou-ple wishes to thank all who havecontinuously offered their friendship andsupport during this difficult time,”Winklessaid.

Norman is not completely clear of anypenalty for not disclosing the house.He stillfaces an investigation from the FloridaCommission on Ethics, but such violationswould carry only a fine and no prison time.The commission would not comment on

the status of its probe.The gift from Hughes,who died in 2008,

came while Norman was on theHillsborough County Commission, a posi-tion he had for 18 years.

Norman ran for the state Senate District12 seat after being term limited in the coun-ty commission. He opposed former stateRep. Kevin Ambler in the Republican pri-mary for the post.

Ambler filed a lawsuit seeking to disqual-ify Norman after losing the primary.A LeonCounty circuit judge did disqualify Norman,but the ruling was overturned on appeal.

Norman went on to win the general elec-tion against two write-in candidates lastNovember. The District 12 seat coversWesley Chapel,Land O’Lakes,Lutz,Odessa,New Tampa,Dade City, St. Leo,San Antonio,Northdale and North Tampa.

Ambler was disappointed in O’Neill’sfindings,but did understand it is difficult toprove Hughes’ gift was made in exchange

for political influence.“It’s hard without showing the direct ex-

change of something for something,”Amblersaid.“That’s a hard thing to prove unless youcatch someone in the act of engaging in thetrade.”

Ambler maintains Norman did knowabout the about the house and the “loan”given by Hughes.He said Norman told him,and “most other people around him,”aboutthe couple’s “dream home” on a lake inArkansas.

Ambler said he still believes Normanbroke state laws banning public officials andtheir spouses from accepting such gifts likethe one between Mearline and Hughes.

“But that’s up to the state attorney to de-cide,”Ambler said.

Charges dropped against NormanKevin AmblerJim Norman

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