Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session
The Last 24
Good Monday evening. A controversy about possibly phony job figures is brewing, and yet another specialty tag could be created to benefit Orlando City Soccer. Sixty Days wants to know: Do you say “soccer” or “futbol”? Here’s your evening rundown.
Fake numbers? Gov. Rick Scott is calling for the board of directors at the Tampa Bay area’s two regional job centers to address allegations that the agencies inflated their number of job placements.
‘Kick’ plate: A proposal to create a specialty license plate commemorating Orlando City Soccer now has cleared two of its three review committees.
Just say no: Released daily in batches of 10 starting last week, the Florida Supreme Court now has turned down 50 appeals from Death Row inmates seeking new sentences.
Unity blues: Pinellas County Republicans want reassurance that students at the University of South Florida’s two sister campuses will benefit under a proposed consolidation.
Third wheel: A Senate panel advanced a bill requiring a three-fifths vote before the Legislature can pass any tax or fee hike. But the House and governor back a measure requiring two-thirds.
Long list: The governor announced 15 reappointments and 16 appointments to a range of state boards and panels.
Quote of the Day
“If there is a (funding) emergency, we are going to pass something easily.” — Sen. Kelli Stargel, speaking Monday on a measure that would require a three-fifths vote (60 percent) for lawmakers to raise taxes. The House’s proposal requires two-thirds (66.6 percent).
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
The Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus — representing the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as an arm of the Florida Democratic Party — has released its priorities for the 2018 Legislative Session. The caucus announced that the group would provide letter grades to lawmakers. It’s the first time the Caucus is tracking legislative activity and rating lawmakers on their support of bills in the legislative process.
Q: What’s the goal of this effort?
A: “Too many elected officials in the Legislature spend time advancing bills, issues and causes that are out of step with the majority of Floridians,” said Terry Fleming, president of the Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus. “We want to encourage movement on issues that matter to our members, as well as to Floridians all across the state. This report card tracks common-sense measures that will improve life in Florida.”
Q: What are some bills that the caucus considers a priority?
A: ‘Prohibited Discrimination’ (HB 347/SB 66), which provides sexual orientation and gender identity are impermissible grounds for discrimination in public lodging establishments and public food service establishments; ‘Marriage Equality’ (HB 6027/SB 130), which repeals provisions of Florida law declared unconstitutional by state and federal courts; ‘Conversion Therapy’ (HB 717/SB 696), which prohibits a person who is licensed to provide professional counseling … from practicing or performing conversion therapy, a treatment program usually to change one’s orientation from gay to straight, on those under 18.
Q: How does the grading system work?
A: Democratic members will be assigned a letter grade of A through F for their sponsorship or cosponsorship of these bills. Grades are assigned to sponsorships because there’s no guarantee a bill will come to a vote. Additionally, the Caucus may adjust grades based on other activities lawmakers make in support of these bills and LGBTQ Floridians … Final grades will be issued at the end of the Legislative Session in March.
Lobby Up
A Philadelphia-based watchdog of free speech on college campuses registered three of its employees to lobby the Legislature.
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) registered Joe Cohn, its Legislative and Policy Director; Tyler Coward, its Legislative Counsel; and Robert Shibley, its Executive Director, as legislative lobbyists for 2018.
(Disclosure: Cohn and Florida Politics’ Jim Rosica used to work together at the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal assistance to people living with HIV and AIDS.)
The foundation is “a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending liberty, freedom of speech, due process, academic freedom, legal equality, and freedom of conscience on America’s college campuses.”
Their interest? Legislation introduced this Session seeks to prevent college campuses from restricting free speech to certain designated areas, often called “free speech zones.” Nebraska and South Dakota are among several states that currently are looking at similar measures.
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
Palm Beach County voters will decide between state Rep. Lori Berman and Arthur Morrison in the Democratic primary for the open SD 31 seat. Polls will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
The House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee will consider a proposal to bar state universities and colleges from restricting activities such as guest speakers to particular areas of campus and designating free-speech zones. That’s at 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.
The House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill to create the “Hope Scholarship” program, offering voucherlike scholarships to students who have been bullied or suffered other abuses in public schools. That’s at 8 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.
A media roundtable will be held to highlight the Tobacco 21 Act being considered in the Florida Legislature. The legislation would increase the minimum legal sale age for tobacco and electronic smoking devices from 18 to 21. That’s at 8:15 a.m., 229 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
Legislation detailing the “Florida Guide to a Healthy Marriage” will be considered by the House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. That’s at 8:30 a.m., 12 House Office Building, The Capitol; and 2 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
A bill providing workers’ compensation benefits to first responders who suffer from mental health injuries, such as PTSD, will be considered by the House Oversight, Transparency & Administration Subcommittee. That’s at 8:30 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, The Capitol.
A proposed committee bill (PCB) addressing the state’s agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida and other gambling-related issues will be discussed by the House Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee. That’s at 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, The Capitol.
The Revenue Estimating Conference will take up what is known as a general-revenue “outlook.” That’s at 9:45 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.
The Senate Community Affairs Committee is expected to consider a proposal that would combine two bills dealing with the regulation of vacation rental properties. That’s at 10 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.
The Florida Trucking Association will host a daylong event at the Capitol, where the organizations’ initiatives will be discussed. That begins at 11 a.m. in front of the ‘Share the Road’ Truck, corner of Adams and Jefferson streets, downtown Tallahassee.
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will kick off the “Taste of Florida Agriculture” reception, highlighting the importance of Florida agriculture. It’s free and open to the public. Vendors will serve dishes that feature fresh Florida oysters, honey, fruits, vegetables and more. That’s at 4:30 p.m. in the Capitol Courtyard.
