Jim Rosica
Incoming Senate President Bill Galvano on Tuesday questioned whether Gov. Rick Scott overstepped his constitutional bounds in opening “disaster relief centers” for Puerto Rican residents displaced by Hurricane Maria.
“I think the governor is acting in good faith,” said Galvano, who was designated the 2018-20 Senate President to succeed current president Joe Negron. “But that’s something the Legislature needs to deal with.”
A spokesman for Scott later Tuesday told Florida Politics “the federal government has agreed to pay 100 percent of the emergency management costs of the state’s three disaster relief centers.”
Nonetheless, the Bradenton Republican added he was “not convinced the executive (branch) has the authority” to open such centers by executive order.
Earlier this month, Scott announced he was opening the centers “at Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport and the Port of Miami” to “ensure those entering Florida are provided with all available resources from the state.”
State colleges and universities also waived out-of-state tuition and fees for students from Puerto Rico.
“We will continue to work collaboratively with our state, local and federal partners to support Puerto Rico’s recovery efforts and do everything we can to help those coming to Florida,” Scott said in an Oct. 2 statement.
The number of deaths in Puerto Rico blamed on Maria increased to 51 this week after officials said two more people died from bacterial infections.
Nearly 30 percent of people across the island nation remain without water after Maria hit the island on Sept. 20 as a Category 4 storm with 155 mph winds.
The need to open the centers was not from an “absolute direct impact” on the state, Galvano said. “I would like to see us slow down and have that discussion.
“I would like to have some more analysis of the centers and their effectiveness, and how they should be prioritized,” he added.
Gov. Scott “will continue to do everything within his executive authority to protect lives and help those recovering from these terrible disasters,” spokesman McKinley P. Lewis said in an email Tuesday afternoon.
“This includes appropriating emergency funds to help Florida families recover from Hurricane Irma and aid our neighbors in Puerto Rico as they recover from Hurricane Maria,” he said. “Through the Host State Agreement granted by FEMA at the Governor’s request, the federal government has agreed to pay 100 percent of the emergency management costs of the state’s three Disaster Relief Centers.
“We are glad to provide additional information to the Florida Senate on the great work being done to aid these families.”
Background from The Associated Press, republished with permission.
