A.G. Gancarski
On Wednesday morning, the House Transportation and Tourism Subcommittee took a preliminary look at a group of departmental budgets.
Of particular interest are the Department of Economic Opportunity and the Department of State, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the Department of Transportation.
DEO, which houses Visit Florida, Enterprise Florida, and the Job Growth Grant Fund, has historically been controversial, with the House often agitating to cut the incentive programs.
Director Ken Lawson offered a familiar presentation (or “spiel,” as one committee member asserted), noting the Job Growth Grant Fund has more local demand than cash, asking for $85 million for it. No one objected
Visit Florida, a $50 million ask, was a different matter.
When asked if the $50 million was a “thoughtful determination,” Lawson said he “believes in Visit Florida.”
One will see if his belief is challenged during the Session.
There are, however, proposed cuts: including $420,000 for the “underutilized” SNAP Transportation fund and cuts to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Cuts to the noncustodial parents’ program and the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund concerned Rep. Anthony Rodriguez.
For the Department of State, Secretary Laurel Lee noted cybersecurity asks related to elections.
The Joint Election Security Initiative, described as “extremely successful,” is intended to shore up the vote. The cybersecurity bureau ask is just under $1.3 million.
Also requested: a placeholder $1 million for support, and another $1.3 million for joining ERIC, the nonprofit Electronic Registration Information Center, a move made by Gov. Ron DeSantis that his predecessor rejected.
“The vast majority [all but $75,000] of that expense goes to a mail-out,” Lee said, “outreach from the Department of State to every potential voter who is not registered.”
Asked what specific concerns there were about cybersecurity, Lee noted that while Florida’s vote tabulation is “extremely secure,” the statewide election infrastructure runs deeper.
“Our assessment … involved many issues beyond the voting machines,” Lee said, saying it was “important and necessary” to shore up.
A million dollars is also asked to replace the outmoded campaign finance database, a move that Lee said would increase transparency. For political reporters who encounter site errors routinely, that investment would be timely.
Lee’s hope: that the renovation is done by 2020.
“It is cumbersome and … poses a security risk,” Lee said of the creaky database. “It has exceeded its operable life and needs to be replaced.”
The advertising of Constitutional amendments, at $1.28 million, was also a talking point in committee.
As well, $10.3 million is requested for an artifact curation facility, framed as a measure of “preservation” for objects from the Paleo-Indian era forward.
