President Joe Biden signed a spending bill this weekend to raise the national debt ceiling by as much as $4 trillion. But the officials representing the Sarasota-Bradenton area all spoke against the deal.

Both U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, and Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, voted in April in favor of a spending deal passed by the Republican-controlled U.S. House that would have hiked spending by about $1.5 trillion. But that wasn’t acceptable to the Democrat-controlled Senate or the White House. That set off weeks of negotiations between Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Biden to the deal ultimately signed into law.

Buchanan said the deal falls short of needed reductions in federal spending.

“Nobody wants to default on our debt, but neither can we afford to keep spending money we don't have,” he posted on social media. “Very disappointed to see this bill increase the national debt by $4 trillion in half as many years and do very little to actually get our fiscal house in order. A vote for this bill is a vote for reinforcing Washington’s wasteful spending habits.”

Steube also said he couldn’t support the legislation.

“While I was originally optimistic about some of the conservative wins found in the negotiated debt ceiling package, I have read the bill, heard from hundreds of my constituents, and ultimately cannot in good conscience vote for this legislation,” Steube said.

“House Republicans acted responsibly weeks ago by passing a plan to address America’s fiscal crisis and Speaker McCarthy successfully forced President Biden to the negotiating table. I supported that plan, and I was prepared to support a good-faith compromise. But this bill does not go far enough to address Washington’s spending problem.”

The bill passed in the House 314-117. Buchanan and Steube were among 71 Republicans in the House to vote against the final deal. The Senate passed the package on a 63-36 vote. Both U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, and Rick Scott, R-Florida, voted against it as well.

Biden defended the deal as testament to the power of compromise.

“This is vital because it’s essential to the progress we’ve made over the last few years — is keeping full, faith, and credit of the United States of America and passing a budget that continues to grow our economy and reflects our values as a nation,” Biden said in a televised address. 

Photos: Vern Buchanan, Greg Steube.

ESTABLISHED IN 1924, THE OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY is home to more than 800 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The school offers an innovative program focused on educating the whole child in a caring, supportive community. Out-of-Door continually implements new programs and strategies to meet the emerging educational needs of the next generation. Through its evolution, ODA has honored the legacy of its visionary founders who established a school where important lessons would be learned “out-of-door,” or outside the classroom. Central to that vision was a belief that education should integrate hands-on learning experiences, physical activity, and the arts. Two campuses boast space for visual and performing arts opportunities, as well as 12 interscholastic team sports. More than 50 student-run clubs and activities, including cultural, arts, and service organizations are offered. The Out-of-Door Academy remains dedicated to its longstanding commitment to the development of self-confident, well-rounded graduates who become responsible, contributing members of the global society.

School's Mission

The Out-of-Door Academy is an independent, college preparatory school with campuses in Siesta Key and Lakewood Ranch. Students in preschool - grade 12 achieve high academic goals and build character through a balanced program of academics, athletics, and the arts. Using a student-centered educational philosophy, ODA prepares students for college and for life. 

LOWER SCHOOL HISTORIC SIESTA KEY CAMPUS444 REID STREET, SARASOTA941-554-3439 | PRE-K – GRADE 5MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL UIHLEIN CAMPUS IN LAKEWOOD RANCH5950 DEER DRIVE, SARASOTA941-554-5950 | GRADES 6-12

Check out more on this feature!

Pulte Homes, one of the nation’s most recognized and trusted brands in homebuilding for over 70 years, has finalized the purchase of homesites in Lakespur, a new gated neighborhood in the sought-after Wellen Park master-planned community in Venice. Pulte will offer single-family homes nestled along the gated neighborhood’s large lakes, wetlands and preserves. Pulte is expected to begin construction of the professionally designed model homes in early summer 2023. The first phase of Lakespur will offer 137 new single-family homes. The neighborhood will also feature a resident-only amenity campus with a pool, cabana, patio, outdoor kitchen, office, fire pit, playground and dog park. Lakespur is located convenient to South River Road and U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail, and just 14 minutes to I-75 and 40 minutes from the Punta Gorda Airport. Lakespur is also conveniently located to top A-rated schools and just south of a new K-8 charter school opening for the 2023-24 school year, as well as a future Sarasota County high school. With a focus on health, wellness, community connections and nature, Wellen Park was named the eighth fastest-selling community in the U.S. in 2022 by John Burns Real Estate Consulting. The first phase of Downtown Wellen includes an 80-acre lake for paddle sports, a 3-mile lakefront trail, parks, and unique outdoor gathering areas, plus restaurants, boutiques, medical offices, beauty, and professional services. For exclusive monthly updates as the community progresses, join the VIP List for Pulte Homes at Lakespur by visiting www.Pulte.com/Lakespur. 

Pictured: With homesites overlooking lakes and preserves, Lakespur will offer a collection of 137 stunning new single-family home designs in the sought-after Wellen Park master-planned community in Venice.

SRQ and Dolphin/Hawthorne Aviation will be supporting the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) from June 4 – June 14. ATAC is the world’s largest outsourced civilian tactical airborne training organization. They maintain a versatile and highly capable fleet of transonic and supersonic aircraft to support the US Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. ATAC is contracted by the military to engage in various training missions such as fighter intercepts, basic fighter maneuvers, offensive and defensive counter-air tactics, and advanced electronic attack. The Sarasota/Bradenton community can expect to see a variety of fighter jet aircraft arriving and departing the SRQ airport from June 4 – June 14. The fighter jets include the F-21 Kfirs and the Mk-58 Hawker Hunters. Additional information about ATAC can be found here: www.atacusa.com. 

Christopher Alan Homes’ commitment to its employees, a culture centered on work-life balance, volunteerism and a positive, collaborative work environment is recognized by Gulfshore Business as one of the Best Places to Work in 2023. The builder-owned company is featured in the magazine’s June 2023 issue honoring Southwest Florida’s top businesses for employee satisfaction. The magazine’s independent selection process is weighted largely by in-depth employee statements. Top companies are chosen by an independent research firm that specializes in identifying and recognizing the area’s greatest places to work. The firm analyzes applicants’ company policies, practices, benefits and demographics, along with employee statements. To optimize the work experience, the company formed an employee culture committee that focuses on application of core values, mission and purpose. The cross-departmental sessions put the company philosophies into practice through group activities, outings and community outreach projects. Philanthropic service is supported by Christopher Alan Homes and the team enthusiastically participates in projects on behalf of Lee County BIA’s Builder’s Care, the Community Cooperative, and local schools. Schmoyer also attributes employee satisfaction to the organization’s fast growth, coupled with Christopher Alan Homes’ strong company values and a commitment to providing homeowners with the highest quality single-family homes at attainable prices. It is the only local homebuilder among Southwest Florida’s top five builders for single-family residential permitted units in 2022, ranking fourth against a field of national companies. 

Pictured: Part of Christopher Alan’s success is attributed to a company culture centered on work-life balance, volunteerism and a positive, collaborative work environment.

Community members are invited to participate in the newly-launched Resilient SRQ survey to provide feedback for the forthcoming public action plan and potential use of funds to support recovery efforts countywide from the impacts of Hurricane Ian. The survey is available at scgov.net/ResilientSRQ from June 2 through June 28. Paper copies are also available at county libraries, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension and Sustainability Sarasota office, and several community centers and parks. In addition to the survey, community members may also provide feedback during one of the Resilient SRQ public meetings at the following locations and times: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., June 21, at Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice, 6 to 8 p.m., June 22, at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd, Sarasota, 2 to 4 p.m., June 24, at Shannon Staub Public Library, 4675 Career Lane, North Port. The county will use information from the survey, public meetings along with data from federal, state, and local sources to develop an action plan over the next several months, detailing projects and programs to best meet the unmet needs identified in Sarasota County. Projects will be designed to primarily assist low to moderate income households within the categories of housing, restoration of infrastructure, economic revitalization and mitigation. The Resilient SRQ program was created for an anticipated $201,535,000 allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR). As part of the program, the county will submit an action plan outlining the use of CDBG-DR funds. The plan will require approval from the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners and HUD prior to the county taking receipt of the funds. To learn more or be notified about program updates, events and information, visit scgov.net/ResilientSRQ or call 311. More information on future participation will be released as additional opportunities are finalized. 

Join BookStore1 Bookseller and Film Critic Roxanne Baker to watch and discuss the 2022 Palme D'Or Nominated Film Eight Mountains. Eight Mountains explores the life long friendship between two very different men, one who is apathetic to his father's Alps hiking and the neglected boy who thrives on climbing endurance. The novel, Eight Mountains by Paolo Cognetti, was adapted to the screen by husband and wife team Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch. The book is available at BookStore1 Sarasota 117 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota (www.sarasotabooks.com) and the film showing and talk takes place at Burns Court Theater and tickets are available at www.filmsociety.org or at the box office at 506 Burns Lane Sarasota. 

New Boss For New College | Skepticism and anxiety greeted Richard Corcoran's hire. Can the school's new hire convert his critics? May/June 2023. 

Read Here!