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Bill Would Eliminate Daylight Saving Time In Florida

Alex The Shutter, Flikr

A Florida lawmaker has filed a bill that proposes eliminating the observance of Daylight Saving Time.

Floridians would not have to set their clocks an hour forward each spring and an hour backward each fall if the bill passes.

Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) said it’s an unnecessary holdover from a bygone era.

"The reason why we as a country did the turning forward and back of the clocks, was in World War I to save fuel, which is why it was originally instituted,” Steube said. “Obviously we don't have those constraints now - it's been over 100 years. And there's a lot of people that don't like it."

Some historians also argue it was a way to convince people during the extended daylight hours to shop, attend sporting events and spend time outdoors.

“When we spring forward in March, when we move the clocks forward that one hour, we would stay in that daylight time, the summer time hours is what we would stay in,” Steube said.

Two other U.S. states - Arizona and Hawaii - and several territories do not observe Daylight Saving Time. 

As WUSF’s multimedia reporter, I produce photos, videos, audiograms, social media content and more to complement our on-air and digital news coverage. It's more important than ever to meet people where they're at.
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