♪
>> HELLO I'M THERESA MARSENBURG
WITH A LOOK AT STATE GOVERNMENT
HEADLINES.
ENTERPRISE FLORIDA WOULD BE
WIPED OUT IN VISIT FLORIDA
SHARPLY SCALED BACK AFTER
LEGISLATION WHICH CLEARED THE
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY.
>> THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT THE
RIGHT WAY TO DO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT SO WE HAVE HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MONEY
THAT IS GOING TO A PRIVILEGED
FEW THAT CAN BE USED TO BETTER
PURPOSE, AND WE DO THAT WE TAKE
THIS MONEY AND PUT IT TOWARDS
BROAD-BASED TAX RELIEF PRODUCER
TAXES AND REDUCE THE REGULATION.
FLORIDA BECOMES A PERMANENT
INSTEAD OF ONE THAT DOESN'T STOP
ATTRACTING BUSINESSES WHEN THE
SUBSIDIES GO AWAY.
>> THE COMMITTEE VOTED 18-12
TO-- ENTERPRISE FLORIDA AND A
HOST OF INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
BRINGING MORE THAN $100MILLION
THAT COULD BE STEERED INTO OTHER
SPENDING AREAS.
THE BILL WAS AMENDED TO KEEP
VISIT FLORIDA BUT THE TOURISM
AGENCY'S BUDGET WOULD BE CUT
FROM 76MILLION TO $25MILLION.
GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT IS LOBBYING
HARD TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM
SAYING IT'S CRITICAL TO OUR
ECONOMY.
>> THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION
GOES WELL BEYOND ADDRESSING THE
CONCERNS I'VE HEARD FROM YOU
ABOUT INCENTIVES.
THIS IS A PIECE OF JOB-KILLING
LEGISLATION.
>> THE LEGISLATION IS A PRIORITY
OF HOUSE SPEAKER RICHARD
CORCORAN WHO SAYS THE STATE IS
PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS WITH
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES AND IT'S
WRONG TO CREDIT A SPIKE IN
TOURISM TO VISIT FLORIDA'S
EFFORTS.
AND BUSINESS TESTIFIED THE BILL
WOULD CRIPPLE FLORIDA.
>> I RESPECTFULLY HOPE WE DO NOT
PUT UP A SIGN THAT COMES ON THE
NATIONAL NEWS THAT FLORIDA'S
CLOSED FOR BUSINESS.
>> REPRESENTATIVES OF AMERICANS
FOR PROSPERITY AN ORGANIZATION
THAT-- MOST GOVERNMENT
INCENTIVES FIGHTS THAT IT'S
UNFAIR.
>> IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE
WE STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY IS
CONSISTENTLY OPPOSED THE USE OF
TARGETED INCENTIVES AND
SUBSIDIES ACROSS-THE-BOARD.
AND WE HAVE ALWAYS CALLED FOR
REDUCING THE DISCRETION OF
GOVERNMENT TO PICK WINNERS AND
LOSERS IN THE MARKETPLACE.
>> WITH THE COMMITTEE'S APPROVAL
OF THE BILL MOVES TO THE FULL
HOUSE.
AND MEANTIME SENATOR JEFF
BRANDES TODAY FILED HIS OWN
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES BILL.
HE WOULD KEEP ENTERPRISE FLORIDA
AND PLACE BUT SHIFT THE FOCUS OF
AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO SMALL
BUSINESSES RURAL AREAS AND OTHER
UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.
HE WOULD ALSO TOUGHEN OVERSIGHT
ON CONTRACTS AND ENTERPRISE
STAFFING.
BEFORE THE HOUSE DURING VISIT
FLORIDA CEO RECEIVED AND
RETURNED A FRIENDLY WELCOME FROM
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
>> WE AT VISIT FLORIDA THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP BECAUSE
WITHOUT THE SENATE WE WOULD BE
IN A TOUGH FIGHT AND I'M
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> KEN LAWSON WITH THE SENATE
COMMERCE AND TOURISM SHARING
WITH THE AGENCY HOW IT'S AND
TALKING ABOUT SPENT ON HIRING
CELEBRITIES TO MARKET FLORIDA
BUT THAT'S A BUDGET CHAIR JACK
LATVALA BROUGHT UP THE 1970S
ORANGE JUICE CAMPAIGN FEATURING
THE SINGER IN BEAUTY PAGEANT
WINNER TURNED ANTI-GAY
ACTIVISTS.
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF CRITICISM
BY A CERTAIN ELEMENT OR USE OF
ANITA BRYANT BECAUSE SHE WAS TOO
FAMILY-ORIENTED AND NOW WE HAVE
AN ELEMENT CRITICIZING USING
PITBULL BECAUSE HE WASN'T
FAMILY-ORIENTED ENOUGH.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE
MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKS.
THERE ARE IS GOING TO BE PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO USE ISSUES LIKE THIS
TO GET POLITICAL POINTS ON A
DAILY BASIS.
AND IT'S OUR JOB TO TRY FATHOM
THROUGH THAT AND DO WHAT'S BEST
FOR THE STATE AS A WHOLE.
>> LATVALA SAID THE PUBLICITY
OVER VISIT FLORIDA AND
ENTERPRISE FLORIDA RECENTLY
COULD RESULT IN ECONOMIC DECLINE
IF FLORIDA ISN'T CAREFUL AND
SAID THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IS
SCARED AND BUSINESSES ARE
HOLDING OFF ON EXPANSION AND
OTHER PROJECTS TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT.
A HOUSE COMMITTEE IS SINGLED OUT
MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS TEAMS IN
WHAT SUPPORTERS SAY IS ANOTHER
EFFORT TO PROTECT TAXPAYER
DOLLARS.
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
COMMITTEE PASSED A BILL THAT
WOULD PROHIBIT TEAMS FROM
BUILDING NEW FACILITIES ON
PUBLICLY LEASED LAND.
>> AS SPORTS FANS WE TEND TO
FORGET THAT OUR FAVORITE TEAMS
ARE ACTUALLY SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSES SO SPORTS FRANCHISES
I BELIEVE ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE
OF RAISING THE PRIVATE CAPITAL
TO BUILD THESE FACILITIES AND TO
PURCHASE THE PROPERTY NECESSARY
FOR THEM TO DO SO.
>> THE BILL PASSED BY A VOTE OF
14-5 WITH SOME CITING A NEW
MIAMI MARLINS STADIUM THAT COULD
END UP COSTING TAXPAYERS NEARLY
$2BILLION BUT EVEN SOME WHO
SUPPORTED THE BILL SAID THEY HAD
RESERVATIONS FOR SOME SUCCESSFUL
PARTNERSHIPS AMOUNT COMMUNITIES.
>> I WILL USE THE EXAMPLE OF THE
DAYTONA SPEEDWAY WHERE I LIVE
THAT WAS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC
ENGINE FOR ALL OF DAYTONA AND
VOLUSIA AND THEY DID IT RIGHT
WHEN THEY DID THAT PROGRAM.
COUNTY LANDS AND I WOULD HATE TO
SEE THAT OPPORTUNITY AFFORDED TO
ANOTHER PART OF MY COUNTY OR
ANOTHER COUNTY IN THE STATE BE
HAMPERED BECAUSE OF A BAD DEAL
THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED IN SOUTH
FLORIDA.
>> THE BILL HAS ONE MORE
COMMITTEE STOP AND OTHER BILLS
PASSED BY THE COMMITTEE TUESDAY
INCLUDE A MEASURE THAT CREATES
STATEWIDE REGULATIONS FOR
RIDESHARING COMPANIES LIKE UBER
AND A BILL REPEALING RED LIGHT
CAMERAS WAS ALSO APPROVED.
BOTH OF THOSE BILLS ARE READY TO
BE HEARD BY THE FULL HOUSE.
NONTRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
KNOWN AS CHARTER SCHOOLS AND
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGREE
ON AT LEAST ONE THING, THEY BOTH
NEED MORE STATE DOLLARS TO
ACCOMMODATE A GROWING STUDENT
POPULATION AND TO FIX OLD LEAKY
ROOFS.
>> IN FACT A CRISIS IS SO GREAT
THAT IN ONE COUNTY OKALOOSA WHEN
THERE IS RAIN THEY HAVE A BUCKET
DAY AT THEIR SCHOOLS.
>> TUESDAY SENATOR DAVID SIMMONS
RECEIVED SUPPORT FOR A PAIR OF
BILLS THAT WOULD ADDRESS CAPITAL
FUNDING AND MAINTENANCE.
SENATE BILL 376 WILL FOR THE
FIRST TIME REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL
BOARDS TO SHARE THE LOCAL FUNDS
THEY RAISE PROPERTY TAXES WITH
CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
CURRENTLY THE LEGISLATURE GIVES
TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS A SEPARATE
POT OF DOLLARS FOR MAINTENANCE
NEEDS THE DISTRICTS ALSO HAVE
THE ABILITY TO RAISE LOCAL TAX
DOLLARS.
SOME USE THE REQUIREMENT THAT
THEY SHARE LOCAL DOLLARS AS A
WAY TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
ANOTHER SAY WOULD HURT
TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS.
>> MY SCHOOL HAS GONE SIX MONTHS
WITH BROKEN TOILETS AND OTHER
PROBLEMS WITHIN THE SCHOOL.
THIS WOULD DEDICATE MORE MONEY
TO CHARTER SCHOOLS WHICH ARE NEW
AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT HAVE
DELAYED REPAIRS TO THE
FACILITIES.
THE CHARTER BILL FUNDING BILL
PASSED.
ANOTHER BILL604 WOULD INCREASE
THE TAXING ABILITY OF LOCAL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS SO THEY CAN
RAISE MORE REVENUE AS NEEDED.
SENATOR SIMMONS TEMPORARILY
POSTPONED A VOTE ON A PROPOSAL
IN ORDER TO ADD MORE DETAIL BUT
HE SAYS HE USED THE TWO BILLS
HAS COMPANION MEASURES.
THE SAME COMMITTEE VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY TO MANDATE THAT ALL
FLORIDA'S PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS DECIDE AT LEAST 20
MINUTES OF FREE PLAY THEY PICK
THE RECESS BILL SPONSORED BY
SENATOR ANITERE FAIRS SAYS THE
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF
ADVOCACY.
>> IF THERE'S ONE THING YOU NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT MIAMI-DADE THE
FOURTH LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT
IS THAT PARENTS WANT RECESS.
I AM A MOM AND HAVE NO
ADVERTISING OR MARKETING
BACKGROUND.
YET I HAVE 10,000 SIGNATURES ON
THESE LOCAL PETITIONS.
>> IT IS CLEAR.
PARENTS SEE THE VALUE OF RECESS
AND WANT IT TO BE INCLUDED IN
THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL DAY.
THE FLORIDA PTA IS ASKING FOR
YOUR SUPPORT ON SENATE BILL78.
>> THE RECESS BILL HAS TWO MORE
STOPS IN THE SENATE.
THE HOUSE COMPANION SCHEDULED
FOR THREE COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
WHILE THE MEASURE MAY BE AIMED
AT STAFFING A FOOD FIGHT OF
SORTS BETWEEN DRUG COMPANIES AND
INSURANCE PROVIDERS THE SENATE
SPONSOR OF THE TOY ABOUT THE
PEOPLE SHE IS HEARD FROM WHO ARE
LEFT WITHOUT COSTLY MEDICATION
BECAUSE IT'S NO LONGER COVERED
BY INSURANCE.
>> THEY ARE ONLY LOOKING AT ONE
SIDE OF THIS COST ON THE DRUG
SIDE.
THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER SIDE OF
HEALTH CARE EMERGENCY ROOMS THAT
PEOPLE HAVE TO GO INTO BECAUSE
THEIR DRUGS HAVE HAD TO BE
CHANGED.
THE CO-PAYS THEY HAVE TO GO BACK
AND PAY AGAIN AND THE INSURANCE
COMPANY HAS TO PAY FOR THE
DOCTORS VISIT BACK AND FORTH
UNTIL THEY ARE STABILIZED ON
ANOTHER DRUG.
SENATE SENATOR MAYFIELD SAYS THE
CONSUMER LOSES WHEN A DRUG
COMPANY CHASES THE PRICE OF
MEDICATION AND THE INSURANCE
COMPANY NO LONGER COVERS THE
DRUG.
SENATE BILL180 TRIES TO ADDRESS
THE ISSUE BY ADDING SOME
PROTECTIONS TO FLORIDA'S
INSURANCE CODE LIMITING WHAT
INSURANCE CAN MOVE DRUGS FROM
THEIR LIST OR MOVE INTO A MORE
RESTRICTED TIER.
THE MEASURE PASSED THE SENATE
HEALTH POLICY COMMITTEE TUESDAY
AFTERNOON.
SO DOES SENATE BILL240 BY
FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT TOM LEE.
THAT BILL MAKES WAY FOR PATIENTS
AND DOCTORS TO SET UP A DIRECT
PRIMARY CONTRACT WITHOUT THE
USUAL INSURANCE REGULATIONS AND
THE COST OF FULL COVERAGE.
AN AMENDMENT ADDED TUESDAY WOULD
APPLY TO THE PRIMARY CARE
CONCEPTS THE MEDICAID PROGRAM AS
LONG AS FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS
SIGNED OFF ON IT.
BOTH BILLS HAVE TWO MORE
COMMITTEE STOPS.
SENATE COMMITTEE ADVANCED
LEGISLATION AIMED AT KEEPING
MORE NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS OUT OF
STATE PRISONS.
THE MEASURE WOULD SOFTEN SOME OF
THE MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING
LAWS ENACTED TWO DECADES AGO BY
STEERING LOW RISK DRUG OFFENDERS
TO PRISON DIVERSION PROGRAMS.
>> PRISON DIVERSION IS A
NONVIOLENT OFFENSE.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND COST SAVINGS
ARE SIGNIFICANT AND THIS IS A
GOOD STEP FORWARD.
SENATE ANALYSTS SAID THE CHANGE
WOULD REDUCE THE NEED FOR
ANOTHER 3000 PRISON BEDS OVER
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS SAVING THEM
MONEY.
THE BILL WAS APPROVED BY THE
JUSTICE COMMITTEE INCLUDED ONE
THAT GIVES RESTRICTIONS ON
FORMER INMATE SEEKING MONEY FOR
WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT.
CURRENTLY ANYONE WITH ANOTHER
FELONY CONVICTIONS BARRED FROM
SEEKING COMPENSATION BUT A
MEASURE APPROVED TUESDAY WOULD
LEAVE THE CLEAN HANDS PROFICIENT
ONLY PROHIBIT THOSE THAT STAYED
SILENT FELONY.
>> WE CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION
ABOUT REMOVING THE PROVISION
FROM STATUE.
I THINK IF THE STATE AND THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE GET IT WRONG
THAT IT SHOULD MATTER WHAT
INDIVIDUALS HAVE DONE IN OUR
PASTS.
WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO STAND UP
AND SAY WE MADE A MISTAKE AND WE
ARE GOING TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT
MISTAKE.
>> BRANDES SAID HE HOPES TO BE
ABLE TO CONVINCE THE HOUSE TO GO
ALONG WITH ELIMINATING THE CLEAN
HANDS STANDARD.
PASTORS AND PRIESTS LAWMAKERS
VICTIMS AND THE EXONERATED ALL
STOOD SIDE-BY-SIDE TUESDAY TO
SHOW OPPOSITION TO THE STATE'S
DEATH PENALTY.
>> WE HAVE OUTGROWN THIS.
WE ARE BETTER AS A SOCIETY THAN
THIS AND THE STATE SHOULD NOT BE
IN THE HOMICIDE BUSINESS.
>> JAMES RHODES IS A PERSON WHO
TOOK MY CHILD'S LIFE AWAY.
JAMES RHODES DID NOT TEAR MY
FAMILY APART.
THE STATE ATTORNEYS OFFICE IS
WHAT TORE MY FAMILY APART.
>> THE SAME JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT
HAS PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT US
IS THE SAME JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT
MADE ME A VICTIM, THE SAME
JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT HAD TO COME
BACK AND CORRECT ITS MISTAKE.
>> THAT CONFERENCE BY THOSE WHO
OPPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY WAS THE
DANCE OF THIS AFTERNOON'S HOUSE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEETING THE
THAT'S WHERE HOUSE BILL527 WAS
HEARD AND SEEKS TO ADDRESS
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES WITH
FLORIDA'S DEATH PENALTY LAW
WHICH WAS STRUCK DOWN BY THE
U.S. AND STATE SUPREME COURT.
THE MEASURE WOULD REQUIRE
UNANIMOUS JURIES ON DEATH
PENALTY CASES A CHANGE FROM
FLORIDA'S PREVIOUS 10-2 JURY
RECOMMENDATION IN ORDER TO SEEK
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
NOW HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE
OTHER BILLS APPROVED BY
COMMITTEES TUESDAY.
♪
>> MEMBERS OF MOMS DEMAND
ACTION WERE AT THE CAPITAL
TODAY.
THE GROUP IS OPPOSING ANY BILL
THAT WOULD EXPANDWHERE PEOPLE
ARE ALLOWED TO CARRY GUNS.
THE PARENTS OF A VICTIM OF THE
ORLANDO PULSE NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING
WERE AMONG THOSE WHO VISITED
LAWMAKERS TODAY.
>> WE ARE JUST ASKING OUR
LEGISLATORS PLEASE, WE NEED
COMMONSENSE.
WE DON'T NEED MORE VIOLENCE.
OUR SON WAS 31 YEARS OLD.
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM WAS
TERRIBLE BUT WE ARE HAVING TOO
MUCH VIOLENCE AND MORE GUNS IN
MORE PLACES AND IN MORE HANDS IS
NOT THE WAY TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.
>> ALSO MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
PLANNED TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST A
BILL THAT WOULD SWITCH THE
BURDEN OF PROOF IN STAND YOUR
GROUND SELF-DEFENSE CASES.
THE HOUSE MEASURE WILL HAVE ITS
INITIAL HEARING ON THE HOUSE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY.
THE SENATE VERSION IS READY TO
BE HEARD BY THE FULL SENATE.
AND FOR MORE INFORMATION WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN STATE GOVERNMENT IS
A CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR
THE NEXT EDITION OF "CAPITOL
UPDATE" AND VISIT US AT
THEFLORIDACHANNEL.ORG. 453 00:14:13,519 ♪