Congressman to brief Port Canaveral board on harbor tax bill

Congressman to brief Port Canaveral board on harbor tax bill    U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., whose district includes Port Canaveral, will provide a briefing Monday on proposed federal legislation that would exempt some cargo ships from the Harbor Maintenance Tax.
      The briefing for the port commissioners and other interested parties will begin at 1 p.m. the commission chambers at the Port Canaveral Maritime Center, 445 Challenger Rd., on the south side of the port.
   Weldon introduced the legislation, which is aimed at making short-sea coastal shipping more feasible. He said Port Canaveral is positioned to be part of that market, which would cover the entire Eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast.
   His proposal calls for the creation of a 'blue water highway' that would shift freight to short sea services, reducing highway congestion and pollution in the process.