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>> HI I'M REBECCA BAER WITH A
LOOK AT YOUR STATE GOVERNMENT
HEADLINES.
FLORIDA'S SENATE SEAL, OVER 40
YEARS OLD, COULD UNDERGO SOME
CHANGES AFTER PANEL OF LAWMAKERS
RECOMMENDED THE CONFEDERATE
BATTLE FLAG HE REMOVED FROM IT.
THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE
RECOMMENDATION THURSDAY.
RIGHT NOW THE CONFEDERATE FLAG
ALONG WITH THE FLAGS OF THE
UNITED STATES, GREAT BRITAIN,
FRANCE AND SPAIN ARE NESTLED IN
THE SENATE SEAL THAT DATES BACK
TO 1973.
THE IDEA TO REMOVE THE FLAG WAS
BROUGHT BY DEMOCRATIC LEADER
ARTHENIA JOYNER.
>> THE FLAG REPRESENTS A PAINFUL
PERIOD IN OUR
HISTORY AND I THOUGHT
THAT IN LIGHT OF THE BLOOD THAT
WAS SHED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND
THE FACT THAT THIS IS
REMINISCENT OF THE TIME THAT
EVOKES A LOT OF PAIN AND A LOT
OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY BLACK
PEOPLE THAT IT WAS TIME FOR US
TO TAKE THE INITIAL STEP OF
REMOVING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG
FROM THE SEAL.
>> LEADER JOYNER WROTE A LETTER
ON THE ISSUE TO THE RULES CHAIR
AND SENATE PRESIDENT ANDY
GARDINER A WEEK AFTER NINE
PEOPLE WERE KILLED AT
A HISTORIC BLACK CHURCH
IN CHARLESTON,
SOUTH CAROLINA.
JOYNER SAID SHE HADN'T THOUGHT
ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD COST TO
CHANGE THE SEAL WHICH CAN BE
SEEN ON SENATOR'S LAPELS,
STATIONERY AND THROUGHOUT THE
SENATE OFFICE BUILDING.
THE RECOMMENDATION TO REPLACE
THE CONFEDERATE FLAG
WITH FLORIDA'S
STATE FLAG IS EXPECTED TO GO
BEFORE THE FULL SENATE WOULD
SESSION BEGINS IN JANUARY.
IT REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE TO
PASS.
HEALTH CARE THE COST OF IT AND
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CONTROL IT.
THAT WAS THE THEME THURSDAY IN
THE SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE AS
LAWMAKERS LOOK TO CURB COSTS IN
THE STATE'S BIGGEST BUDGET AREA.
IN PRESENTATIONS LAWMAKERS.
THE MAIN COST DRIVERS, PEOPLE
ARE LIVING LONGER, THEY ARE A
CHOIR AND MORE MEDICAL CARE AND
TECHNOLOGY ALONG WITH DRUG COSTS
ARE INCREASING.
FLORIDA ISN'T ALONE IN
EXPERIENCING RISING HEALTH CARE
COSTS THAT STATE ECONOMIST AMY
BAKER CLARIFIED THE STATES MOVE
TO MEDICAID MANAGED CARE BILL
PAY OFF EVENTUALLY.
>> BECAUSE WE ARE SO NEW IN THE
MANAGED CARE SYSTEM, THERE IS A
LOT WE DON'T KNOW YET UNTIL WE
GET A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE
ROAD.
WE CAN'T EXPECT SAVINGS.
AS I POINTED OUT EARLIER WHETHER
WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE ARE
EXPERIENCING THEM ARE NOT IT'S A
GOOD QUESTION AND CONVERSATION
ABOUT THINGS WE CAN DO TO SPEED
UP THE SAVINGS IS PROBABLY WORTH
HAVING.
>> LAWMAKERS SHARED CONCERNS ON
WHETHER PATIENTS ARE GETTING THE
CARE THEY NEED AND WHAT THEY SEE
AS A SHIFT IN PREVENTATIVE
MEDICINE.
>> I WOULD CONSIDER TAKING ON
THAT POSITION TODAY IN TODAY'S
MEDICAL ENVIRONMENT ECHOES OF
THE RESTRICTIONS THAT MANAGED
CARE AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE
IMPOSED ON WHAT IS AN ABSOLUTELY
WONDERFUL PROFESSION.
>> WE HAVE HAD A REAL BIG WINNER
UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT,
THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND WE
HAVE HAD A REAL LOSER IN THE
SENSE OF LOSING IN THE SENSE
THAT THERE ARE JUST AN ECONOMIC
INTEREST HAVE BEEN LESS THAN
THEY WERE BEFORE OF PHYSICIANS
WHOSE REIMBURSEMENTS HAVE BEEN
SLASHED AND U.S. SENATOR HAYS
APTLY SAYS ARE LITERALLY ON THE
PHONE TALKING TO PEOPLE SITTING
AT COMPUTERS TRYING TO CONVINCE
THEM TO APPROVE MEDICAL
PROCEDURES FOR WHICH THE PERSON
MAKING THE DECISION HAS ZERO
TRAINING.
>> THERE IS A REAL, REAL PROBLEM
OUT ON THE HORIZON FROM OUR
STATE BUDGET STANDPOINT AND WE
HAVE AN OBLIGATION I THINK TO
MANAGE IT BEFORE IT BECOMES A
CRISIS.
>> THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE
BUDGET COMMITTEE WANTS THE
COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT PROPOSALS
THAT COULD HELP CONTROL COSTS
SUCH AS EASING SOME REGULATIONS,
REQUIRING RATE SHIFTING IN
CHANGES TO GROUP HEALTH
INSURANCE.
A HOUSE COMMITTEE PREPARES FOR
THE 2016 SESSION BY POSING THE
QUESTION OF WHAT GOVERNMENT
SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BE DOING.
IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY DO, THE
STATE ECONOMIST TELLS THEM
NEARLY EVERYTHING IMPACTS
ECONOMIC GROWTH BUT SCHOOL
FUNDING TO ROAD BUILDING TO
BUSINESS REGULATION.
USING THAT BROAD DEFINITION SHE
SAYS THE STATE INVESTED
$5.7BILLION TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
TAX PREFERENCES VERSUS ACTUAL
SPENDING.
WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESS
INCENTIVES SPECIFICALLY MEMBERS
WERE TOLD STUDY SUGGESTS RETURN
ON INVESTMENT CAN BE IMPROVED.
>> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
IN TERMS OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT
FOR THE STATE IT LOOKS LIKE A
BROADENED FOCUS THAT INCLUDES
GROWING IN STATE AS MRS.RATHER
THAN TRADITIONAL ATTRACTING AND
RECRUITING BUSINESSES.
>> ECONOMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
ALSO HEARD ABOUT WHAT THEY
SHOULDN'T BE DOING IN TERMS OF
REGULATION.
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE AS
LAWMAKERS SHOULD REPEAL OR
REFORM LAWS SELECT EASIER TURNER
TO EARN HER LIVING IN FLORIDA.
FROM MID-WIFE'S MOVERS A STUDY
BY THE GROUP SAYS THE STATE
RANKED THE WORST IN THE NATION
WHEN IT COMES TO OCCUPATIONAL
LICENSING BURDENS.
REPRESENTATIVE IRV SLOSBERG
TURNED TO A REGULATION ISSUE
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE NEXT
SESSION REGARDING THE
RIDESHARING SERVICE UBER.
>> OBVIOUSLY I THINK WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN IS THERE IS
GOING TO BE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
JOBS LOST.
>> IN SOME OF MY CONVERSATIONS
WITH TAXI COMPANY OWNERS THEY
HAVE INDICATED TO ME THEY
UNDERSTAND THEY ARE IN THE HORSE
AND BUGGY BUSINESS AND WHEN THE
TIME HAS COME IN A GIVEN
ECONOMIC MODEL HAS RUN ITS
COURSE IT'S NOT THE RULE OF
GOVERNMENT TO PROP THEM UP AND
SUSTAIN THEM.
>> MEMBERS WERE ADVISED TO LOOK
AT SHIFTING THEIR FOCUS TO
INCLUDE NOT ONLY WHAT THEY CAN
DO BUT WHAT THEY CAN UNDO.
WHILE THERE ARE FEW CONFIRMED
CHILD ABUSE DEATHS THAT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES SAYS ITS AGENCY HAS NOT
REDUCED THE OVERALL NUMBER OF
CHILD DEATHS IN FLORIDA DESPITE
EFFORTS TO IMPROVE.
SECRETARY MIKE CARROLL SAYS
THERE HAVE BEEN 369 CHILD DEATHS
SO FAR THIS YEAR.
HE SAID THAT PUTS THE STATE ON
TRACK TO INDIA WAS CLOSE TO AN
AVERAGE OF 438.
HE TOLD THE SENATE COMMITTEE HE
WAS DISAPPOINTED BY THOSE
STATISTICS.
>> I QUESTION MYSELF SOMETIMES
WHETHER I'M HAVING THE IMPACT
THAT I AM THINKING OUT TO BE
HAVING AND WHETHER WE ARE MAKING
PROGRESS WE SHOULD BE MAKING.
THE ONLY WAY NO HOW TO DEAL WITH
THIS IS TAKING SMALL BITES OF
THE APPLE MOVING FORWARD.
I DO THINK WE HAVE MOVED
FORWARD.
I STILL THINK THERE ARE TOO MANY
TRAGIC OUTCOMES AND WE HAVE SO
FAR TO GO BUT I JUST WANT YOU
FOLKS TO KNOW IT'S NOT FOR THE
LACK OF TRYING.
>> I BELIEVE ALL OF US AS
ELECTED OFFICIALS WE ARE TRYING
AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR
SOLUTIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.
WE DON'T WANT TO READ ABOUT THIS
AND I BELIEVE WE ARE IN THIS
JOURNEY TOGETHER.
>> SECRETARY CARROLL SAID MANY
DEATHS ARE RELATED TO UNSAFE
SLEEP UNSAFE SLEEP OR DROWNING
IN THIS DEPARTMENT IS WORKING
WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS TO EDUCATE PARENTS
ABOUT THOSE RISKS.
HE SAID A FEW A FEW DEATHS ARE
EXCELLENT CAUSED BY CHILD ABUSE.
INFLICTED TRAUMA WAS DETERMINED
TO BE THE CAUSE IN 19 CASES.
CARROLL'S VOWS TO WORK WITH
LAWMAKERS IMPROVE OUTCOMES.
HE IS ASKED FOR THEIR HELP IN
DEVELOPING A MINIMUM LEVEL OF
SERVICES FOR FAMILIES THAT WOULD
BE AVAILABLE IN EACH REGION OF
THE STATE.
LAWMAKERS HEAR MORE TESTIMONY
BACK DRIVER'S LICENSE
SUSPENSIONS IN FLORIDA AND ITS
IMPACT ON PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD
TO PAY THE FINE.
2013 STUDY SHOWED THAT 167,000
PEOPLE HAD THEIR DRIVING
PRIVILEGES REVOKED FOR REASONS
NOT RELATED TO DRIVING.
THAT'S OUT OF A TOTAL OF
1.3MILLION SUSPENSIONS THAT
YEAR.
IT COSTS ANYWHERE FROM $45 TO
$130 TO REGAIN DRIVING
PRIVILEGES BUT THAT'S JUST A
PORTION OF THE FEES A DRIVER MAY
BE REQUIRED TO PAY.
>> IF THEY WERE TO PAY FINANCIAL
OBLIGATIONS WHERE THEY PERSON
OWES FINES AND FEES AND
RESTITUTION AND, WHEN WE GET THE
SUSPENSION BILL WE ARE ADDING AN
ADDITIONAL FEE THAT THEY ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO PAY EVERY
STATEMENT YOU TO GET THEIR
DRIVER'S LICENSE BACK SO IT'S AN
ADDITIONAL THING.
FOR SOME IT CAUSES THEM TO
COMPLY .5% WITHIN SIX MONTHS BUT
FOR MANY THEY DO THAT DO NOT
COMPLY AND IT TAKES A WHILE AND
IT APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER THING
THAT'S ADDED ON TO THEIR CASE TO
THINGS THEY OWN THAT THEY HAVE
TO RESOLVE.
SO WE ARE AT THE MINDSET THAT
THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN
EFFECTIVE USE OF THE
SUSPENSIONS.
>> LEON COUNTY JUDGE AUGUSTUS
AIKENS GAVE SOME REAL-LIFE
EXAMPLES.
HE TOLD THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE THAT PEOPLE WHO WENT
UP IN CRIMINAL COURT BECAUSE
THEY WERE CAUGHT DRIVING WITH A
SUSPENDED LICENSE.
HE SAID THESE ARE PEOPLE WHOSE
LICENSES WERE SUSPENDED FOR
FAILURE TO PAY A $500 FINE
FOR ANOTHER OFFENSE.
>> THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO GET
TO WORK.
THEY COULDN'T PAY THE COST OF
THE FINES.
THERE IS NO BUSINESSPERSON ON A
LICENSE AND PEOPLE FEEL THE
PAIN.
SO THEY JUST LUCKED OUT IN TERMS
OF THEIR ABILITY TO DRIVE.
>> AND WHATEVER TO THE
LEGISLATURE PASS REFORMS THAT
GAVE JUDGES SOME DISCRETION WHEN
IT COMES TO LICENSES FOR PEOPLE
GUILTY OF WRITING BAD CHECKS AND
THOSE CONVICTED OF DRUG CHARGES.
THE CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE SENATOR JEFF BRANDES
SAID HE WANTS TO LOOK AT WAYS TO
GIVE JUDGES MORE DISCRETION AND
MAKE FURTHER CHANGES TO THE LAWS
GOVERNING DRIVER LICENSE
SUSPENSIONS.
FLORIDA BOATERS CAN DROP ANCHOR
IN THE HARBOR AND STAY PUT FOR
WEEKS, MONTHS OR MORE THAN A
YEAR AT A TIME.
NEARBY RESIDENTS ARE THE VOTERS
CAN BECOME AN INTRUSION INTO
THEIR PRIVATE LIVES AND WANT THE
LEGISLATURE TO DO SOMETHING.
THE FLORIDA CHANNEL'S MIKE
LICQUIA HEARD TESTIMONY FROM
BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.
>> SUMMER WATERFRONT HOMEOWNERS
DON'T LIKE TO SEE THE SAME BOAT
ANCHORED OFF THE DOCKS MONTH
AFTER MONTH.
SOME DESCRIBE THEM AS BOATING
HOMELESS SHELTERS.
>> OUR WATERWAYS BECOME A
SHANTYTOWN AND A PARKING GARAGE
WHERE PEOPLE TAKE THEIR BOATS
AND THEY LEAVE THEM THERE AS
THIS GENTLEMAN SAYS FOR A YEAR
OR TWO WHILE THEY ARE DECIDING
TO FIX THEM ON THE WATER.
THEY ARE REFURBISHING THEIR
BOATS ON WATER.
>> STATE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW
CITIES AND COUNTIES TO PASS
ORDINANCES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE
AND THAT'S WHY IT BOATERS AND
PROPERTY OWNERS CAME TO
TALLAHASSEE TO TESTIFY BEFORE
THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE.
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE MORAITIS
SAID THE ANCHORED BOATS HAVE
MADE IT DANGEROUS FOR WATER
SKIERS.
>> THE AREA HAS BECOME UNUSABLE
FOR WATER SKIERS.
>> WHILE IT'S ILLEGAL TO DUMP
SEWAGE, LOCAL POLICE FEAR IT
COULD BE HAPPENING PARTICULARLY
IN THE CROWDED WINTER AND SPRING
MONTHS.
>> WHAT'S HAPPENING AT 3:00 IN
THE MORNING IF THEY DON'T DUMP
THE TANK AND NOBODY SEES IT.
>> VARIOUS VOTING GROUPS
ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OF SOUTH
FLORIDA AND SAID RESTRICTIONS
ARE NOT NECESSARY.
>> THERE IS NO STATEWIDE
PROBLEM.
NONE, DOESN'T EXIST.
IT DOESN'T EXIST IN THE
PANHANDLE.
IT DOESN'T EXIST IN TAMPA.
IT DOESN'T EXIST IN SARASOTA
ST. PETERSBURG JACKSONVILLE
ANYWHERE ELSE.
IT DOESN'T EXIST IN THE KEYS.
IT DOESN'T EXIST A MARATHON.
THE ONLY PLACE WITH THESE
PROBLEMS WE ARE HEARING TRULY
EXIST IN OUR ASSOCIATION
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THEY EXIST, WE
SEE IT IN OUR MEMBER STATE
LAWMAKERS THAT AREA IS BROWARD
COUNTY OF MIAMI-DADE.
>> OR PRESENT WERE PRESENT AT
MORAITIS PLANS TO FILE A BILL
THAT WOULD ONLY PUT RESTRICTIONS
ON BOATERS IN BROWARD COUNTY.
THE VISUAL WILDLIFE HAS STUDIED
THE ISSUE IN YEARS.
>> ARE WE IN A POSITION TO TELL
THIS COMMITTEE WHAT WE SHOULD DO
AS AN AGENCY?
>> THE BEST ANSWER FOR THAT IS
NO.
>> STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN MATT CALDWELL WANTS
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO REFLECT ON
THE SUBJECT BEFORE POTENTIALLY
ADDRESSING THE ENSUING
LEGISLATION THAT COULD IMPACT
VOTERS STATEWIDE.
>> THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA
MUST DECIDE WHETHER A DEFENDANT
SHOULD BE RESENTENCED BASED ON
THE STAGE OF THE TIME THEY
COMMITTED SEXUAL BATTERY ON A
CHILD.
MONROE WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN
PRISON PROMOTING YOUNGER PIT HIS
ATTORNEYS SAY THAT MONROE WAS 17
AT THE TIME OF THE CRIME AND
THEREFORE A JUVENILE.
SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS IN
THE CASE THURSDAY.
>> THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF AGE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN MY CLIENT WALKS
AWAY.
MY CLIENT GETS SENTENCE FOR A
VERY SERIOUS OFFENSE.
YOU STILL LOOKING AT A LOT OF
TIME BUT HE WILL BE SENTENCED
FOR THE OFFENSE HE COMMITTED
WHICH WAS AN OFFENSE WHEN HE WAS
A JUVENILE.
HE IS NOT GOING TO BE SENTENCE
TO LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF PAROLE.
>> PROSECUTORS HAVE SAID THE
JURY DID HEAR SOME EVIDENCE ON
MUNRO'S AGE DURING THE TRIAL.
THE COURT WILL RULE ON THE CASE
AT A LATER DATE.
AND FOR MORE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN STATE GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK
CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR
THE NEXT EDITION OF "CAPITOL
UPDATE" AND YOU CAN ALWAYS VISIT
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