Latest Headlines
- One Injured, Dozens Left Without Power In Cantonment Rollover Crash
- Application Pending For Borrow Pit On Highway 95A In Molino
- Two Injured In Molino Crash Involving Significant Fuel Spill
- Motorcyclist Critically Injured In Highway 29 Crash Near Cantonment Post Office
- Bicyclist Hit, Killed On Chemstrand Road
- Tate Aggies Volleyball Gears Up For Season With New Jerseys
- Woman Wanted In Alabama Apprehended After Four-Hour Manhunt Near Bratt
- Kids’ Votes Count — Kids Can Vote For Their Fav Literary Character At The Library
- Longtime Atmore Physician Dr. Sheldon Harigel Moving Out Of State
- Cantonment, Century Lodges Support Local Bratt, Byrneville, Jim Allen Elementaries
Year Round Daylight Saving Could Become Law
March 7, 2019
Florida residents will join most of the nation in setting clocks forward and returning to daylight saving time this weekend.
But why did we “fall back” last year?
During their 2018 session, the Florida Legislature passed a bill to keep daylight saving time year round that was signed into law by then-governor Rick Scott. But the change ultimately required Congressional approval, which did not happen.
Wednesday, now Senator Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio and Rep. Vern Buchana introduced the Sunshine Protection Act which would make daylight saving time permanent across the entire country.
The legislation, if enacted, would apply to those states who currently participate in DST, which most states observe for eight months out of the year. Standard Time, from November to March, is only observed for four months out of the year. The bill would simply negate the need for Americans to change their clocks twice a year. Many studies have shown that making DST permanent could benefit the economy and the country
“Studies have shown many benefits of a year-round Daylight Saving Time, which is why Florida’s legislature overwhelmingly voted to make it permanent last year,” Rubio said. “Reflecting the will of the State of Florida, I’m proud to reintroduce this bill to also make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationally.”
“I was glad to sign legislation as Governor to continue Daylight Saving Time year-round for Floridians, and now join Senator Rubio to lead this effort in Congress,” Scott said. “The Sunshine Protection Act will allow Floridians and visitors to enjoy our beautiful state even later in the day, and will benefit Florida’s tourism industry, which just celebrated another record year.”
Comments
13 Responses to “Year Round Daylight Saving Could Become Law”
Reading most of these comments reminds me how backwards NWFL is at times. I love my home and have missed it dearly since moving away 16 years ago for work. However, the constant aversion to and fear of change is a hallmark of the area. What’s next, diatribes regarding the evils of a solar eclipse? “Hide the kids, Mabel, the sun god is angry again!”
This is simply the changing of a clock. Time will go on, literally, and nothing changes other than our arbitrary naming of each hour of the passing sun.
“referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.(S.2537 03/12/2018 ) ”
Wrong bill….it was just filed Wednesday for 2019. You found the 2018 bill that did stall.
@Ken Johnson,
Your comment makes no sense. If it shouldn’t require Congress approval, as you say, why must he file a bill to be voted on? Is that not the definition of Congressional approval?
I do not think this is going to happen any time soon as it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.(S.2537 03/12/2018 ) Nothing since then. Same with H.R.6202 referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce 06/22/2018.
*Multiple studies have since concluded that daylight-saving time has no or negligible benefits when it comes to energy conservation.
*It’s a common misconception that farmers pushed for daylight-saving time in the US to get more time to work outside in the fields.
*Because farmers’ schedules revolved around sunlight and not the clock, a change in the amount of sunlight threw their entire workday out of whack. Agricultural groups were behind the effort to repeal daylight-saving time in 1919.
*Hawaii, most of Arizona, and a number of US territories do not, however, recognize daylight-saving time — largely because nighttime brings cooler, more bearable temperatures.
*Some studies have linked the decrease in sleep associated with daylight-saving time to negative health effects, such as increases in heart attacks, car accidents, and workplace injuries.
*Lawmakers in several states, including Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Idaho, have introduced legislation this year to end daylight-saving time in their states.
What gives any of these men the right to play God with time? There is a reason the sun rises and sets at different times throughout the year. Watch the moon, sun, stars and tides too.
Reflecting the will of the State of Florida- will of the state meaning politicians shoving it down the citizens throats – like it or not..As usual, people are idiots for believing everything they’re told. Leave it alone – tourism is fine
Rubio’ positions are just AWFUL. They badly need to be primaried and replaced with candidates OF the People, BY the People, and FOR the People.
Forget Daylight Savings Time… we need Metric Time. Metric Time will have 100 hours in a day. You’ll get a good 30 hours of sleep, work done in 30 hours, leaving you with a full 40 hours left to have fun.
Gman, that is an excellent idea, would our legislators have the good sense to see the wisdom in your idea? We can only hope so.
Dear God! Scott is a bigger, useless idiot than Rubio!
Look, Rubio has already failed twice. The task given to him was simple, Florida wants year round Daylight Savings Time. The standing federal law says any state can pull out of DST with no approval needed from Congress. He just needs to put a bill forth saying Florida requests to stay permanently in DST and then let Congress make the vote.
Not surprisingly, you don’t see Gaetz’s name involved in this. He could make a bigger name for himself in Florida if he show up the ineffectual senators and proposed a bill stating exactly what the voters of Florida demanded.
Bring on the higher electric bills. Besides the politicians, the electric companies are the biggest beneficiaries of year round daylights “savings”. As usual, people are idiots for believing everything they’re told.
Split the difference nation wide and adjust the clocks 30 mins and never fool with them again.