Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days — A prime-time read of what’s going down for Florida’s 2018 Legislative Session.
The Last 24
Annette Taddeo was sworn into office following her victory last month in District 40. Her fellow Senate Democrats sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott urging him to waive KidCare health insurance premium fees in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. A Senate committee approved a bill that could spur the use of “direct primary care” agreements in Florida.
The House Committee on Government Accountability advanced Reps. Bryan Avila and Manny Diaz’s bill prohibiting sports franchises from constructing or renovating a facility on leased public land. The House Appropriations Committee gave the green light to Avila’s bill that would repeal the use of red light cameras.
The House Commerce Committee cleared a bill to remove regulations on hair braiders and labor organizations, among others.
Florida might have to divest from companies doing business with the Venezuelan government under a new bill filed by Bill Hager.
Sen. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican, proposed a measure that would create a President Ronald Reagan specialty license plate.
Quote of the Day
“We should put science first.” —Sen. Keith Perry, a Gainesville Republican, speaking Tuesday in support of a fracking ban filed in the Legislature.
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
Here’s an odd couple: Florida Conservation Voters on Tuesday joined with legislative Republicans to oppose fracking in the state. Sen. Dana Young of Tampa and Rep. Kathleen Peters of South Pasadena are sponsoring this year’s ban, which would prohibit the drilling technique used for extracting oil or natural gas from deep underground. Aliki Moncrief, executive director of Florida Conservation Voters, said passing a ban this year is vital.
FP: Isn’t fracking safe?
AM: Fracking poses too big of a risk for the millions of Florida families and visitors who trust that our groundwater is safe and clean … Protecting Floridians from hazardous activities like fracking is the right thing to do, and no one should be intimidated by unsubstantiated claims that this good bill interferes with existing property rights. It simply doesn’t.
FP: Who is pushing fracking here?
AM: Those who speculate in the oil and gas process, but it’s not limited to any one company. Also interested are “wildcat” operators from outside the state.
FP: What’s the worst that could happen?
AM: For those who live near a fracking site, their drinking water will be at risk of contamination … we need to be forever protecting our sources of water.
Lobby Up
The Florida Municipal Electric Association said Tuesday that Nicole Stookey Albers is taking over as the trade group’s head of public affairs.
The new job makes Albers the point woman on not only FMEA’s social media and public outreach, but it’s legislative affairs as well, which is familiar territory considering her previous job was serving as deputy director in the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Legislative Planning.
To that end she’ll be working side by side with FMEA’s contract lobbying team, which includes former House Speaker Dean Cannon, Kirk Pepper, and Joseph Salzverg, of GrayRobinson; Bill Peebles and John Smith of Peebles & Smith; and Eduardo Gonzalez of Sun City Strategies. FMEA Executive Director Amy Zubaly, who ditched the “interim” tag over the summer, is also registered to rep the public power group in Tallahassee.
FMEA represents a consortium of public utilities in the Sunshine State and says its membership provides power to 3 million Floridians.
While the team is large, FMEA and other utility groups have a lot on their plate going into the 2018 Legislative Session, especially in the wake of Hurricane Irma which raised questions about how prepared utilities were for storms as well as their power restoration priorities after the winds die down.
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
Aides to Gov. Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis will discuss issues in advance of an Oct. 17 Cabinet meeting. That’s at 9 a.m., in the Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.
The Task Force on Involuntary Examination of Minors will discuss issues related to the use of the state’s “Baker Act” for minors. It begins 9 a.m., Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 2500 West Colonial Dr., Orlando.
The Florida Commission on Offender Review is scheduled to meet in Manatee County and discuss numerous parole cases related to crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. The meeting should begin at 9 a.m., Manatee County Sheriff’s Office District III Location, 616 67th St. Circle East, Bradenton.
The Central Florida Regional Planning Council is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m., Okeechobee County Courthouse, 304 N.W. Second St., Okeechobee.
Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, Rep. Nicholas Duran, other members of the Legislature and health care professionals hold a press conference to discuss changes to this year’s open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act. That’s at noon, outside the House Chamber, 4th floor Rotunda, The Capitol, Tallahassee.
Get Out Your Checkbooks Dep’t
Lawmakers are prohibited from raising campaign cash during legislative sessions but can do so during committee weeks. Several fundraisers are set for Wednesday, all in Tallahassee.
— 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Reps. Bob Cortes, Tom Leek, David Santiago at Governors Club.
— 12 noon-1 p.m.: Rep. Rick Roth at Governors Club.
— 5-6 p.m.: Reps. Randy Fine, Sam Killebrew, Ralph Massullo at Governors Club.
— 5-7 p.m.: Sens. Dorothy Hukill, Kathleen Passidomo at Governors Club.
— 5:30-8:00 p.m.: Candidate James Buchanan, running for HD 72, at 115 East Park Ave., 2nd floor.
— 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Senate Democrats’ Welcome Back Party at Governors Club, in the Plantation Room.
