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Adjourn to the Gov Membership for those who should, however Wednesday, Jan. 24, the “it” place to be after hours is the Pink Canine Blue Canine fundraiser in CollegeTown.
As they’ve finished since 2015, groups of Republican and Democratic Legislators will probably be behind the bar slinging drinks for ideas at Township bar from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to boost cash for native animal rescue organizations. To make the night time extra fascinating, it’s a contest, with the successful group incomes bragging rights for the subsequent 12 months. Crew Pink has received a Supermajority of previous contests, however there was a Blue Wave final 12 months. The grand whole raised in 2023 was $49,705.
“I’m biased, however I believe it’s essentially the most enjoyable occasion yearly throughout Session,” stated organizer Sara Clements. “It’s utilizing partisan politics for good.”
The occasion will as soon as once more be held within the Township Bar, 619 S. Woodward Ave.
Pink Canine Blue Canine began with only one bartender for every celebration, however as its recognition grew, so did the group dimension. This 12 months, organizers have doubled the variety of every group so visitor bartenders can spell one another throughout the festivities.
“They’re really bartending and it could get tiring,” defined Clements. To not point out giving the volunteer legislators an opportunity to work the group.
On the Pink Crew are Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera, Sen. Jonathan Martin, Sen. Jennifer Bradley, Rep. Michelle Salzman, Rep. James Buchanan, Sen. Alexis Calatayud, Rep. Mike Giallombardo and Rep. John Snyder.
Repping for Crew Blue are Rep. Dan Daley, Rep. Daryl Campbell, Sen. Jason Pizzo, Sen. Lauren Guide, Sen. Tracie Davis, Rep. Allison Tant, Rep. Lindsay Cross and Rep. David Silvers.
The presenting sponsor for the occasion is Lisa Miller & Associates, and the bar sponsor is Rubin Turnbull. Gold sponsors embrace TECO, Moffitt Most cancers Heart, On3PR, Anheuser-Busch and McGuireWoods Consulting.
Uber is that this 12 months’s transportation companion. Utilizing code RDBD24 will get you as much as $15 off rides to and from the occasion.
Township is donating a portion of proceeds from all specialty drinks — together with beer in a bespoke RDBD glass mug — in addition to a brief menu of meals objects which have been added to the night time’s liquid choices.
If you happen to can’t be there, make a tax-deductible donation on-line by way of PayPal at reddogbluedog.org. If you happen to’re bringing a verify, make it out to Animal Shelter Basis. And don’t neglect Humane Foyer Day, set for Monday, Jan. 20.
Arising, the standard assortment of stories, intel, and observations from the week that was in Florida’s capital metropolis by Peter Schorsch, Drew Wilson, Christine Jordan Sexton and the workers of Florida Politics.
However first, the “Takeaway 5” — the Prime 5 tales from the week that was:
—Take 5 —
Cold comfort: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential marketing campaign wager lots on Iowa and misplaced. Although he nonetheless managed to eke out a slender second-place end, the Governor lagged behind former President Donald Trump by 30 factors. His prospects within the subsequent few early states aren’t significantly better — he’s trailing Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in New Hampshire, which votes Tuesday, and in South Carolina, which votes subsequent month. Nonetheless, DeSantis stated he’s prepared for a “lengthy, scrappy marketing campaign” stretching into March.
Passidomo priority passes: The Senate unanimously handed “Dwell Wholesome” the title given to Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s precedence well being care payments (SB 7016/SB 7018). Passidomo’s plan goals to bolster the state’s well being care workforce by growing the amount of cash Florida spends on graduate medical training coaching and mortgage reimbursement applications for medical doctors and dentists. Dwell Wholesome additionally consists of $25 million to encourage community-based clinics to develop residency applications to assist practice medical doctors. The Senate trimmed $116 million in spending from the payments earlier than passing them unanimously and instantly certifying them to the Home.
Keeping it safe: The Home this week unanimously handed laws (HB 385) that requires every county Sheriff to designate no less than one car parking zone as a impartial secure alternate location for fogeys. HB 385 additionally makes clear {that a} courtroom can order the alternate of a kid to be carried out on the designated secure alternate location if there may be proof that one of many mother and father or youngster is susceptible to imminent risk of hurt. The invoice additionally requires that home violence kinds be altered to permit a petitioner to request exchanges be carried out in secure locations. Sarah Kay, chair of The Household Legislation Part of The Florida Bar, recommended the Home for passing the invoice, often known as Cassie’s Legislation, saying it authorized significant laws that may shield youngsters and households, and we’re grateful for his or her good, considerate work on this space.”
Moving forward: The 2 Democratic prosecutors suspended by Gov. DeSantis are persevering with their combat to regain their jobs. Monique Worrell, who has challenged her suspension to the Florida Supreme Courtroom, this week formally launched her bid to return as State Lawyer for Orange and Osceola counties. Andrew Warren, who notched a authorized victory from a federal appeals courtroom earlier this month, obtained one other enhance when the identical courtroom dominated this week that DeSantis and his authorized group have till subsequent week to file a movement that seeks to have the courtroom rethink its choice. In authorized filings this week attorneys for the Governor signaled they deliberate to attraction.
Defining it: The Florida Home handed by a 113-3 vote a invoice that will place a broad definition of antisemitism in Florida statutes. The laws sponsored by Rep. Mike Gottlieb lists many examples of antisemitic rhetoric, together with “dehumanizing” stereotypes that Jews maintain disproportionate institutional energy and secretly management the world economic system, Holocaust denial and double requirements when criticizing Israel, the world’s solely Jewish-majority nation. The laws heads subsequent to the Florida Senate the place there could also be modifications made to the invoice earlier than a closing vote.
— Electrifying information —
DeSantis introduced that greater than $35 million is being allotted to twenty-eight Florida faculty districts and eight state faculties to create or broaden semiconductor-related educational applications for college students.
Florida already ranks No. .5 within the nation for semiconductor manufacturing jobs and No. 3 within the nation for semiconductor institutions. DeSantis stated the extra funds guarantee Florida stays on the “forefront of innovation.”
“By offering workforce training in our lecture rooms, college students be taught abilities they will use to acquire high-paying jobs in rising industries like semiconductor manufacturing,” DeSantis stated. “This funding continues our dedication to creating Florida No. 1 for workforce training and positioning our state on the forefront of innovation.”
The next faculty districts are slated to obtain funds: Alachua County College District; Brevard County College District; Broward County College District; Calhoun County College District; Charlotte County College District; Citrus County College District; Clay County College District; Collier County College District; Columbia County College District; Duval County College District; Gadsden County College District; Hernando County College District; Highlands College District; Hillsborough County College District; Leon County College District; Marion County College District; Okeechobee County College District; Osceola County College District; Orange County College District; Palm Seaside County College District; Pasco County College District; Pinellas County College District; St. Johns County College District; Suwannee County College District; Taylor County College District; Wakulla County College District; Walton County College District; and Washington County College District.
The next state faculties may also obtain funds: Faculty of Central Florida, Florida Gateway Faculty, Northwest Florida State Faculty, Palm Seaside State Faculty, Pasco-Hernando State Faculty, Seminole State Faculty of Florida, Tallahassee Neighborhood Faculty and Valencia Faculty.
“This forward-thinking method to workforce training underscores Gov. DeSantis’ dedication not solely to sustaining Florida’s robust standing in semiconductor manufacturing but in addition to making sure that the subsequent technology of execs are effectively geared up to steer on this crucial trade,” stated Manny Diaz Jr., Florida’s Schooling Commissioner. “We are going to proceed to seek out methods to offer our college students the instruments they want to reach Florida’s workforce.”
The $35 million is a part of the $100 million allotted to the Workforce Growth Capitalization Incentive Grant Program. This system supplies grants to high school district establishments to fund some or the entire prices related to the creation or growth of profession and technical training workforce growth applications that result in trade certifications included on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List.
— No means, bro! —
Lawyer Common Ashley Moody issued an replace this week warning Floridians in regards to the risks of the most recent stylish road drug, bromazolam.
It’s not a portmanteau for a bro who offers in alprazolam, the generic title for Xanax, however it might as effectively be. Bromazolam is colloquially known as “pretend Xanax” as a result of it falls into the identical class of prescription drugs, benzodiazepines, although it’s usually stronger and thus extra harmful.
It’s additionally seeing a speedy rise in recognition. In line with the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, bromazolam went from being current in just one% of toxicology instances submitted to the Nationwide Medical Companies Labs in 2021 to 13% in mid-2022.
Whereas there are dangers related to the drug by its lonesome — specifically, lack of coordination, drowsiness, dizziness, respiratory despair, coma and doubtlessly demise — there have been an growing variety of detections alongside fentanyl, the artificial opioid liable for the preponderance of overdose deaths within the Sunshine State.
In different phrases, there’s a superb probability that chill tablets on supply out of your native seller might put you on ice.
“It’s crucial that Floridians perceive how harmful bromazolam is by itself. Additionally it is reportedly combined with fentanyl, resulting in hostile well being circumstances, overdoses and even deaths — together with right here in Florida. Please, by no means use a bootleg substance. Only one capsule can kill,” Moody warned.
The Lawyer Common urged Floridians who’re scuffling with substance use dysfunction to go to TreatmentAtlas.org for checklist of therapy sources. In the meantime, these considering of giving bromazolam a strive ought to think about swinging by Moody’s web site for a “Dose of Actuality” on the hazards of those loosely regulated novel benzos.
— Patronis’ POV —
Chief Monetary Officer Jimmy Patronis heaped reward on Sen. Rick Scott’s gubernatorial abilities on the Florida TaxWatch State of the Taxpayer Dinner this week in Tallahassee.
Patronis was a member of the Legislature throughout Gov. Charlie Crist’s tenure within the Governor’s Mansion. Crist’s successor, Scott, appointed Patronis as CFO after Jeff Atwater resigned. Patronis was subsequently elected to the place after which re-elected.
“I’m certainly one of these unicorns. I used to be there for the Crist administration, the Scott administration, and now the DeSantis administration. I’ve had a distinct seat than simply about anyone on this room. And you recognize, I noticed Rick Scott see the state of Florida as a enterprise that had potential. You understand, it had some monetary challenges. It had some weaknesses; it wanted some enhancements. So, you see, Rick Scott turned the state round and made it a spot the place you actually needed to do enterprise.”
Patronis additionally shared his observations of DeSantis, saying he has seen the Governor’s confidence develop since first getting elected in 2018. Patronis additionally commented on DeSantis’ take-it-or-leave-it governing model.
“I like typically his lack of negotiating, or possibly it’s simply his lack of communication. Generally it’s simply the man’s actually busy. You understand, it looks as if I inform individuals on a regular basis, he’s a younger dad and a younger husband,” the CFO stated.
— Rebuild and recuperate —
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson joined legislative leaders this week in saying the launch of two agricultural catastrophe restoration applications stocked with greater than $112 million to assist Florida farmers bounce again from Hurricane Idalia.
Impacted agricultural producers can now apply for the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Pure Catastrophe Restoration Mortgage Program and the Silviculture Restoration Program.
In September, Simpson introduced the Florida Division of Agriculture and Shopper Companies’ estimate of almost $450 million in losses and harm to Florida agriculture from Hurricane Idalia.
Throughout a Particular Session in October, lawmakers handed a invoice (HB 1C) that directed funding to the Florida Division of Agriculture and Shopper Companies to launch crucial restoration applications for impacted agricultural producers.
“Florida’s agriculture trade sustained widespread harm from Hurricane Idalia, and as we speak’s launch of the Hurricane Idalia agriculture restoration applications — the primary state-funded applications of their form — is one other vital step to get our impacted producers again on their ft,” Simpson stated in a information launch.
“Florida’s farmers, ranchers, and growers work day in, time out, rain or shine, to feed our state and nation — and I’m proud to face with Florida’s leaders and as soon as once more display our steadfast help to those hardworking people.”
The agriculture and aquaculture fund has a $75 million steadiness and can dole out low-interest or interest-free loans as much as $500,000 for eligible producers impacted by Idalia. An extra $37.5 million is obtainable by way of the silviculture fund to help eligible landowners by way of cost-share grants in declared counties broken from Hurricane Idalia with website preparation and tree planting actions.
—Instagram of the Week —
— The week in appointments —
Environmental Regulation Fee — The Governor appointed Kellie Ralston and John Truitt to the Environmental Regulation Fee. Ralston is the vice chairman of Conservation and Public Coverage for the Bonefish and Tarpon Belief and holds bachelor’s and grasp’s levels in biology from Florida State College. Truitt is a Shareholder at GrayRobinson and beforehand served as a prime staffer on the Florida Division of Environmental Safety. He earned his bachelor’s diploma from Kaplan College and his legislation diploma from FSU. Along with the brand new appointments, DeSantis introduced reappoints for present ERC members Eric Buermann, Thomas Frazer, Jim McCarthy and Cari Roth.
— Veteran roundtable —
Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez hosted a roundtable dialogue with Florida Division of Veterans’ Affairs Government Director Main Common James S. “Hammer” Hartsell and Sen. Danny Burgess, concerning permitting veterans’ spouses to reside in VA nursing houses as envisioned in SB 174.
“Since taking workplace, we have now made significant and important investments for our veterans, energetic responsibility service members, and their households,” Nuñez stated “With Florida being essentially the most veteran and military-friendly state within the nation, we are going to proceed to make good on our guarantees in combating for the women and men who fought for us.”
The roundtable dialogue is a part of Nuñez’s “LG on Mission” initiative, the place she travels the state highlighting the DeSantis administration’s dedication to army and veteran affairs.
Practically 1.5 million veterans live in Florida making the Sunshine State the third-largest veteran inhabitants nationwide.
“Right this moment’s roundtable in Tallahassee is a superb alternative to showcase our excellent State Veterans’ Properties program. Increasing the pool of eligible veterans’ houses residents to incorporate veterans’ spouses is the compassionate factor to do and will probably be effectively acquired in Florida’s veteran neighborhood,” Hartsell stated. “Rising the variety of state veterans’ houses from 9 to 11 and increasing the long-term care providers we offer reinforces that Florida is essentially the most veteran sought-after and veteran-friendly state within the nation.”
DeSantis’s proposed fiscal 12 months 2024-25 price range consists of $57 million to the Florida State Guard, $350 million to the Florida Nationwide Guard, and a further $8.9 million to help extra tools and capital enhancements for VA nursing houses and $2 million to assist veterans get hold of skills-based employment, present employers with a talented expertise pipeline, and help veterans in creating and working a small enterprise. The price range additionally consists of the authority to spend as much as $102 million for the development of the of the ninth VA house, situated in Collier County.
“I applaud and share (the DeSantis administration’s dedication) to honoring and supporting our state’s heroes in each means doable. This vital laws I’ve filed will assist these veterans dwelling in our state veterans nursing houses by making certain they’re able to stay near and proceed to reside with their partner whereas receiving the care and help they want and deserve,” stated Burgess.
— Funds beginnings —
The primary concrete steps in forming the price range for the 2024-25 fiscal 12 months begin subsequent week, because the chambers’ appropriations subcommittees will launch their proposed spending plans, Home and Senate aides stated.
As lately, the plan for each chambers is for the total appropriations committees to contemplate and add amendments to the price range payments the next week, after which cross the proposals off their respective flooring in Week 5 of the Common Session.
Florida has been flush with money, due to a booming shopper economic system mixed with inflation that helped enhance the state’s gross sales tax-reliant revenues, in addition to the enhance from federal funds from the COVID-19 period.
However with these federal funds drying up and income progress slowing, Home Speaker Paul Renner is eyeing a conservative price range this 12 months.
“The separate difficulty on the price range is solely taking a look at the place we have been pre-COVID in some areas and ensuring that we begin to align our spending with the decline within the progress of income. Income has been going up steeply by way of its progress, and it’s nonetheless going up, however the progress is declining sharply,” Renner informed reporters Thursday.
“So meaning we have to be cautious and never consider that it’s all the time going to be the perfect it’s ever been within the coming years and ensure we’re wanting fastidiously at particularly recurring spending but in addition nonrecurring spending.”
We’ll get our first peek at these spending plans this week.
— Hail to the C.H.I.E.F . —
The Unbiased Schools and Universities of Florida gave Home Speaker Renner one thing so as to add to his brag board this week.
Citing the Palm Coast Republican’s dedication to supporting the state’s personal, nonprofit greater ed establishments, ICUF offered him with a Champions of Increased Unbiased Schooling in Florida award.
“Speaker Renner is a staunch advocate for personal, nonprofit greater training, and he acknowledges that Florida’s impartial faculties and universities supply an unimaginable worth to college students searching for to earn their diploma, launch a profession and be a part of Florida’s workforce,” ICUF President Bob Boyd stated.
“Speaker Renner has labored tirelessly to help EASE scholar vouchers and supply Florida college students extra freedom to decide on the place they pursue their greater training diploma, making him the perfect recipient to honor with the C.H.I.E.F. award. ICUF seems ahead to persevering with our partnership with Speaker Renner and the whole Florida Legislature to enhance entry to impartial greater training for 1000’s of Floridians.”
The group, which has 30 member establishments, stated the C.H.I.E.F. award was created to acknowledge “distinguished Floridians who’re robust advocates for the impartial greater training sector and its college students.” Like faculty levels, C.H.I.E.F. awards aren’t handed out willy-nilly; they’re earned — Renner is the primary honoree in 1 / 4 century.
“I’m proud to obtain the primary C.H.I.E.F. award from ICUF in 25 years,” Renner stated in a information launch. “Rising entry and alternative to greater training for Floridians is value each effort and has the potential to vary lives and advance our state in some ways. I’ll proceed working with my colleagues within the Florida Legislature to offer Florida’s college students with sources to make the perfect academic choices for his or her future.”
— Bare Rudman? Nah —
DeSantis obtained plenty of reinforcements in Iowa for his presidential marketing campaign, however few matched the aptitude of Rep. Joel Rudman, who took his famed rock ‘n’ roll act into subfreezing temperatures to attempt to assist the Governor.
Rudman packed his guitar, which is signed by Ted Nugent, and headed to Indianola, in Warren County, Iowa. Rudman stated he noticed an appealing-looking intersection, put up DeSantis indicators, and began strumming the guitar, taking part in Nugent’s “Cat Scratch Fever,” T Rex’s “Bang a Gong” and Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with Your Greatest Shot.”
“We had individuals honk and there have been plenty of plenty of thumbs-up for DeSantis. Clearly, not sufficient, you recognize; I want we had possibly a number of hundred extra.”
Rudman, who’s a doctor from Navarre, additionally realized firsthand how lengthy somebody can tolerate subzero temperatures with out getting frostbite.
“That restrict is roughly eight minutes. Roughly two songs, then you definately gotta get again within the truck,” Rudman informed Florida Politics. “I couldn’t really feel my arms after two songs.”
Rudman stated taking part in the guitar in subzero temperatures underscores the lengths of what he was ready to undergo to indicate his help for DeSantis.
However his help does have its limits.
“You understand, up in New York Metropolis they’ve road performers, individuals who will do something to draw your consideration. I believe in Instances Sq. they’ve a man with an acoustic guitar referred to as the Bare Cowboy. I wasn’t ready to go that far for my Governor, however I believe I went far sufficient.”
— For Cassie —
Each county in Florida might quickly be required to offer a location for fogeys to soundly alternate custody of their youngsters, due to laws now heading to the Senate flooring after clearing the Home with unanimous help.
The invoice (HB 385), sponsored by Rudman and Democratic Rep. Hillary Cassel, would require all court-approved plans for shared parental custody to incorporate except in any other case agreed to by each mother and father, a listing of “designated licensed places” handy off their youngsters.
In instances the place a dad or mum supplies proof they or their youngster are susceptible to hurt, a courtroom could require the mother and father to make the alternate within the car parking zone of a county Sheriff’s Workplace.
The car parking zone have to be well-lit, accessible always, recognized with a purple gentle or signal figuring out the world as a “impartial secure alternate location” and have video surveillance. Every Sheriff must host no less than one alternate website per county, although the measure locations no cap on the quantity.
HB 385 is known as for 37-year-old Navarre girl Cassie Carli, who vanished in late March 2022 following a scheduled custody alternate of her daughter at a restaurant car parking zone close to her house.
Carli agreed to a last-minute location change the daddy requested regardless of fears she’d shared with buddies that he needed to harm her. Police uncovered her physique in a shallow Alabama grave six weeks later and shortly arrested the daddy, who faces charges associated to her demise.
“The Cassie Carli Legislation builds on the legacy of Greyson’s Legislation, which established a mechanism to guard youngsters susceptible to parental hurt throughout custody or visitation disputes. This invoice establishes a mechanism to guard mother and father susceptible to potential hurt from their former companions throughout custody exchanges,” Cassel stated after the invoice cleared the Home.
“Mother and father posing dangers to their youngsters usually additionally pose dangers to their co-parents, as Cassie and those that liked her have so horrifically skilled. This invoice, which I’m proud to sponsor with my colleague Rep. Rudman, acknowledges and accounts for that actuality to be able to make Florida a safer place for fogeys and youngsters alike.”
Rudman, who represents Navarre, stated pursuing laws on home violence in custody exchanges was removed from his thoughts when he ran for workplace in 2022 on an “anti-mask, anti-mandate platform.” Then he met Stacy Cole, a former Alabama police officer and pal of Carli’s who offered him with a “checklist of things” she believed would have prevented her demise.
Rudman wrote Cole’s strategies on a serviette within the doughnut store at which the rendezvoused, and people concepts grew to become the “Cassie Carli Legislation.”
“I’m so proud to face with Rep. Cassel to deliver this invoice house for Cassie’s family and friends. This invoice demonstrates in a bipartisan means how your authorities is predicted to work,” he stated. “Thanks to all of Cassie’s family members who helped this invoice turn into actuality, and I hope as we speak’s passage brings some consolation to Cassie’s household and buddies. Right this moment’s efforts will actually save the lives of lots of of Cassie Carli’s.”
—Job Drive speak —
The Florida Legislative Black Caucus will share the most recent information on the upcoming Florida Black Historical past Museum throughout a Tuesday night occasion in Florida’s capital metropolis.
FLBC members, together with Orlando Sen. Geraldine Thompson, Orlando Rep. Lavon Bracy Davis, West Palm Seaside Rep. Jervonte Edmonds, and Miami Gardens Rep. Felicia Robinson, are all on faucet to attend the occasion, which can spotlight the work being finished by the African American Historical past Museum Job Drive.
Through the occasion, members of the African American Historical past Museum Job Drive on insights concerning the situation, design, content material and long-term impartial operation of the proposed Florida Black Historical past Museum and the impression it should have on the academic aims, notion and tourism economic system of the State.
The roundtable comes days after the Job Drive, chaired by Thompson, agreed to a listing of 12 potential spots throughout Florida they might think about as the house of an official state museum of Black historical past.
They embrace Daytona Seaside, Havana, Jackson County, Nassau County/Amelia Island, Opa-locka, Orange County, Panama Metropolis Seaside, Quincy, Sarasota, Seminole County, St. Johns County/St. Augustine and St. Petersburg.
As for the museum’s content material, the proposals embrace views that may not instantly come to thoughts when considering Black historical past. An instance: Regina Gayle Phillips, Government Director of the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Heart in St. Augustine, stated she’d prefer to see displays devoted to Black explorers like Juan Garrido, a free African conquistador who was with Ponce de Leon when he made landfall in Florida.
The checklist of potential websites will probably be rated on a 110-point scale that makes concerns for issues starting from the situation’s historic significance to Black Floridians to its accessibility in regard to native transportation infrastructure.
The FLBC occasion will probably be held on the TNL Performing Arts Heart, 1533 South Monroe St. in Tallahassee. It begins at 6 p.m.
—Little good, lotta dangerous —
One of many state’s prime defenders of free speech rights has unveiled its want checklist for the 2024 Legislative Session, and it’s outlined as a lot by what they don’t need as what they do.
“For almost 4 a long time, the First Modification Basis has labored with the Florida Legislature to advertise proposed legal guidelines that will profit open authorities and free expression, whereas pushing again towards people who infringed our rights,” FAF Government Director Bobby Block stated in a information launch.
“This 12 months is not any totally different. The 2024 Florida Legislative Session at the moment underway has many dreadful payments and a handful which might be fairly good.”
First, the “dreadful.”
FAF’s 2024 Legislative Priority List spotlights 4 payments that it says would trample on what many think about a very powerful edit to the US’ founding doc.
They embrace measures that will ban sure scholar teams from faculty campuses (HB 465/SB 470), protect the names of police in officer-involved shootings (HB 1605/HB1607), weaken decades-old authorized protections for journalists and information shops (SB 1086/SB 1780/HB 757) and create a public information exemption shielding the names of shareholders and functions for brand spanking new state banks and monetary establishments (HB 85).
“A few of these payments — particularly those making an attempt to make it simpler for wealthy and highly effective individuals to sue their critics for what they write or say on-line, on the airways, and in print — are among the many greatest threats to free expression within the nation,” Block stated.
Now, the “fairly good” payments that FAF plans to help.
The primary is a proposal (HB 117/SB 234) that will revise the checklist of individuals prohibited from disclosing testimony of a witness examined earlier than a grand jury or the proof it receives however creates an exception for request by media or an particular person. The second (SB 1494) would enhance public information legislation by growing penalties for violations associated to public information and reducing charges related to public information requests.
FAF has opinions on a number of different points up for debate this Session. A full itemizing of their monitored payments is available online.
— IT overhaul l —
Florida TaxWatch launched a report it co-authored with Related Industries of Florida that cites the state’s 25-year historical past of what it calls “poorly executed large-scale info know-how (IT) initiatives” and consists of suggestions to enhance the oversight of the digital know-how procurements.
Key amongst these suggestions included within the report, dubbed It’s Time to Reform Florida’s Information Technology Procurement and Oversight, is the institution of a joint legislative committee devoted to IT oversight that has unique authority over the governance of Florida Digital Companies, which was established in 2020. Different suggestions embrace offering signing and or recruitment bonuses, for company IT workers.
“Hardworking Floridians deserve for the state’s multiyear, multimillion-dollar IT initiatives — funded by their tax {dollars} — to be delivered on time, inside scope, and inside price range,” Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic Calabro stated. “Florida TaxWatch proudly presents this report as a useful resource for policymakers and their workers and appears ahead to participating with them to reform the state’s IT procurement and oversight processes throughout the 2024 Legislative Session.”
The report consists of particulars on the planning and oversight of a few of the state’s IT platforms, such because the Division of Financial Alternative’s (now FloridaCommerce’s) CONNECT, the Division of Administration Companies’ SLERS-2, the Company for Individuals with Disabilities’ iConnect and the Company for Well being Care Administration’s Florida Well being Connections, referred to as FX.
FX is the alternative for the state’s present Medicaid Administration Data and, when full, will join Florida Medicaid IT programs with different state IT programs. The Florida Well being Care Connections (FX) Government Steering Committee voted unanimously in December to halt for no less than 12 months’ work on its $154 million IT contract with Gainwell Applied sciences for “core” providers and as a substitute to finish work on two different IT-related contracts by December 2024.
“Florida is a nationwide chief in lots of areas and clearly wants enchancment to steer within the space of IT. It’s important that we glance to seek out methods to enhance how Florida handles IT processes and to make sure the long-term success of the FL[DS],” AIF President and CEO Brewster Bevis stated.
—Canadian RX reward —
The Florida Pharmacy Affiliation this week reiterated its help of the Meals and Drug Administration’s two-year approval of Florida’s Canadian Drug Importation Program saying it’s dedicated to working with the state to make it operational.
“As essentially the most accessible and continuously visited members of a affected person’s well being care group, we consider pharmacists and pharmacies can play an integral position within the implementation of this system,” FPA interim govt vice chairman and CEO Michael Jackson stated in a press release. “We sit up for a future the place high-quality well being care is extra accessible and inexpensive for each resident of Florida.”
The FPA additionally denounced pharmacy profit managers (PBMS) in its assertion.
“We acknowledge that the excessive value of prescribed drugs is usually a results of predatory practices by PBMs. PBMs do nothing however elevate the price of prescribed drugs by leveraging techniques like extorting and retaining rebates from producers and monopolizing the present U.S. drug provide chain by way of their vertically built-in sourcing strategies,” Jackson stated.
“We additional acknowledge and admire the meticulous efforts made in growing a program that seeks to make sure the security and integrity of the U.S. prescription drug provide by way of a complete regulatory framework that features a sturdy drug validation course of. This system’s safeguards are according to our help of sustaining the best requirements of affected person care and strict security necessities for prescribed drugs.”
— Mr. and Ms. Legislation —
The Scholar Bar Affiliation at Florida A&M College has spoken: Knicholas Boston and Peg Nonez have been picked as Mr. and Ms. FAMU Faculty of Legislation for 2023-24.
In a information launch, FAMU Legislation stated Boston was an bold youngster who all the time knew he needed to be when he grew up: President of the US. Whereas the highway from aspiring lawyer to Commander in Chief is an extended one, his newest accolade — earned by securing overwhelming help from his friends — serves as a worthy checkpoint.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be voted because the male consultant for FAMU Legislation,” Boston stated. “I’m wanting ahead to serving our neighborhood and making a distinction.”
The one-L from West Palm Seaside added that he needs to be a lawyer to affect the world and assist the Black neighborhood: “Via the legislation, I need to assist our individuals be paid, revered, and educated. Together with being an legal professional, I additionally need to be a professor in the future in addition to a political consultant.”
Nonez, in the meantime, says she is keen to function the faculty’s ambassador and plans to characterize with poise and beauty. The second-year legislation scholar who additionally hails from West Palm Seaside seems ahead to her future authorized profession and is glad to be at FAMU Legislation.
“I need to function a relatable liaison between underrepresented communities and the authorized occupation,” stated Nonez. “With my Haitian-Dominican background, I sit up for utilizing translation to successfully characterize shoppers of their respective issues.”
The duties of Mr. and Ms. FAMU Legislation are to characterize the Faculty of Legislation at neighborhood occasions and to function a liaison between the FAMU Faculty of Legislation and FAMU’s important campus in Tallahassee.
— Capitol Instructions —
DeSantis 2024 — Down arrow — By subsequent month, the marketing campaign bus will probably be Columbo’s 403.
Ron DeSantis — Crossways arrow — Remorse is a troublesome however truthful trainer.
Jeff Roe — Down arrow — Extra like Jeff No.
James Uthmeier — Up arrow — We’re unsure he deserves an up arrow, however Scott Ross says he does, so …
Jeremy Redfern — Down arrow — Basements are normally deeper than 6 ft, my man.
Fentrice Driskell — Up arrow — She nonetheless leads a superminority, however rather less so now due to her work on Tom Eager’s marketing campaign.
DCF — Down arrow — Why is the company pushing a invoice to make adoptions tougher, particularly after the demise of Roe v. Wade?
Manny Diaz Jr. — Down arrow — He’s so good at his job that two-thirds of Florida voters suppose lecturers ought to strike!
Wilton Simpson — Up arrow — It pays to have an ag man operating FDACS. Actually.
Wilton Simpson, Half 2 — Up arrow — He could also be an egg farmer, however he’ the one statewide elected who doesn’t rooster out confronting the Governor.
Wilton Simpson, Half 3 — Up arrow — And to prime all of it off, he places his cash the place his mouth is.
Kathleen Passidomo — Up arrow — “Is there a health care provider in the home?” Why, sure, $800 million value of them.
Paul Renner — Up arrow — He got here by way of on permitless carry. Rejoice that for greater than six months earlier than asking for extra.
Jim Boyd — Up arrow — If he lowers our property insurance coverage premiums, he will get up arrows for all times.
Travis Hutson — Up arrow — Some individuals drop quarters in parking meters. Others title screening facilities after the Senate President’s mother and father. Three cheers for random acts of kindness.
Corey Simon — Up arrow — If you happen to’re underneath 18, roofs are solely WWE re-enactments.
Erin Grall — Up arrow — GATE will get plenty of children again on observe.
Carolina Amesty — Up arrow — Is caring for new child as enjoyable as jury responsibility? Future mothers could by no means know.
Webster Barnaby — Down arrow — That was extra painful than studying a SparkNotes ebook report.
Linda Chaney — Up arrow — She’s one shell of an advocate for Florida wildlife.
Jervonte Edmonds — Up arrow — Welcome to The Present.
Joel Rudman —Up arrow — Did he dip his mitt in Spider Tack?
Dangerous cops — Down arrow — Are we dwelling in a Paul Verhoeven film?
Tempo Heart for Women — Up arrow — Their turnout recreation is powerful.
Mother and father’ rights — Down — They solely apply at school media facilities.
Porch pirates — Down arrow — Sorry, Florida has a strict no tricorns exterior of Gasparilla rule.
Lecturers — ??? — The mediocre trainer tells. The nice trainer explains. The superior trainer demonstrates. The nice trainer … effectively, apparently, they begin in search of jobs in different states.
Florida TaxWatch — Up arrow — The “eyes and ears” of taxpayers is on excessive alert this Session.
CRNA’s — Crossways arrow — A duck by every other title nonetheless quacks ‘scope is scope!’
Fred Baggett — Up arrow — His 50-year profession ended with a becoming fête.
Eric Edwards — Up arrow — It’s good to see when good issues occur to a terrific particular person.
Brendan Farrington — Up arrow — We all know he and the remainder of AP are itching to say, “drag him,” however they’re too stylish for that.
ACC v. FSU — This one could get uglier than the Orange Bowl.
Monkeys — Crossways arrow — Time to check the infinite monkey theorem, Bainbridge.
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