Welcome to

The Senate has named if’s committe chairs. here’s the paperwork

by-committee.doc

by-member.doc

by-committee.doc

Hear it all here: Jeb Bush Exit Interview  

Governor Jeb Bush sat down with reporters for final interviews today. In 30 minutes with broadcasters, the soon to be ex Governor said there is a role for him in the future, but it will be respectful of Charlie Crist.

Bush called his failure to communicate fully his intent with One Florida as his biggest regret, but says failing to repeal the Class size amendment isn’t a regret because he did the best he could. “Now the consequences will have to be felt.”

On a personal note, Jeb Bush says he’s already gotten into disagreements with the post office and furniture movers who didn’t share his passion for their jobs and says at age 53 bigger things might lie ahead.

Hear the full interview here:

Members of the state House of Representatives have wrapped up three days of meetings on the state’s insurance crisis… and there’s still no solution in sight. During the discussion of ideas to solve the insurance crisis, one house member likened the problem to a rubiks cube, the colorful cube in which all the colors must line up. House Speaker Marco Rubio says part of the problem is that they favor a free market approach without government intervention… but the free market doesn’t seem to be working right now.“Yeah, it’s a complex situation and it’s not the ideal scenario. I think the best way to categorize it is on the one hand the feeling that the state shouldn’t be in the insurance business, and on the other hand, the feeling that perhaps at this stage, the private market doesn’t want to be in the insurance business and that’s kind of the competing schools of thought that are emerging from this process.

This week’s meetings were a prelude to the special session on insurance coverage that begins on January 16th.

A private foundation is donating ten million dollars to help provide scholarships for Florida students who are the first in their families to attend college. The Helios Education Foundation is donating five million to the state university system and five million to the community college system to help students from low income families.

Mark Rosenberg, the University System Chancellor accepted a giant check from the foundation today. “Many of those students will be students who come from families of extreme needs. Many of those families will be families of color… minorities who otherwise would not have an opportunity to receive a college education.” says Rosenberg.

The scholarships will help students like Dana Ford, who is one of the first generation in his family to have a shot at a college education.“I am the eighth of 13 children and this scholarship has really allowed me to continue on with my education and to give back to my community once I receive that. And I just wanted to thank you all to continue doing what you do.” Ford is a junior at FSU.

University officials thanked state lawmakers for providing 6.5 million dollars to match the private donation and make even more scholarships available

If you think Florida is crowded now, wait 50 years. A new study by a group called One Thousand Friends of Florida concludes the population of the sunshine state will double between now and 2060… a total of 36 million people. 1000 Friends President Lester Abberger says their study also shows the total urban area in Florida will double… which means more traffic and more chaos.
“You’re in Tampa at rush hour. Imagine that times two. Orlando or West Palm Beach or Miami… any urban area in Florida. And the implications of this are that… more and worse.” says Abberger.

And if current trends continue, the study says there won’t be any open space left in Florida except for the panhandle and the Big Bend regions of North Florida. Sponsors of the study say it’s a warning… and a wake up call about the need for better growth management.

 State lawmakers presented dozens of ideas today aimed at Fixing Florida’s broken insurance market, but as Mike Vasilinda reports, none of them can guarantee an immediate savings.

Hear it here: Insurance Ideas

One idea to solve the insurance crisis would have the state insure any loss over a billion dollars. Sponsor Kevin Ambler says the cost would be picked up by guaranteeing the state’s sixth cent of sales tax. “One third of every sales tax dollar is not paid by Floridians. It’s paid by tourists.” says Ambler, R-Tampa.

For the last three days lawmakers have tossed out ideas, noting that what is being done now just isn’t working. One idea is to stockpile lumber at today’s cost for rebuilding later.
So far, nothing the legislature is talking about will guarantee that rates go down immediately. In fact, the hope is that rates will just stabilize for the time being.

Democrats are suggesting the creation a super board with super powers to roll back some rates. ‘We’ve got to start treating this problem like, just really the greatest economic crisis Florida has faced. That’s exactly what it is.” says Monority Leader Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach.

And with the election of Charlie Crist, the states insurance commissioner is now embracing the idea of requiring companies that sell everything but wind insurance in the state to also assume that risk. According to Kevin McCarty, “If you’re gonna make profits in Florida and participate in the good times, we need to spread that risk as much as we can.”

The irony is that at the end of the day, just about every idea suggested so far takes the state deeper into the insurance business….which is exactly what it is hoping to avoid.

The legislature will begin a special session on insurance on January 16th.

Sue Cobb, the Secretary of State, says via news release all the votes were counted in Congressional District 13. More than 18 thousand under voters occurred in the CD 13 race. An under vote is when a voter checks in at their poling place but no vote is cast in a particular race. In a news release this afternoon, Cobb says any discrepancies were a result of human error.

The text of the release follows:

STATE COMPLETES TESTING PHASE IN SARASOTA AUDIT

~Tests Document Voting Machines Accurately Recorded Votes~

Tallahassee, FL – Secretary of State Sue M. Cobb today announced the successful completion of the final parallel test of Sarasota County’s voting systems.

“I am pleased with the work of the states’ audit team and the initial findings in Sarasota County,” said Secretary Cobb. “In my judgment, it is imperative to the integrity of Florida’s election process and voter confidence that the comprehensive audit continues as planned. I look forward to receiving a final report from our audit team when their work is complete.”

No anomalies were discovered in the machines that were used on Election Day; they functioned exactly as designed. The audit team, working in conjunction with experts from both campaigns, resolved the two variations from Friday’s parallel test this morning. Both variations were a result of human error.

From all the evidence examined to date, the audit team is confident that all ballots in Sarasota County were counted as cast. The Division of Elections continues its comprehensive audit with a review of the unity software; a review of the parallel testing videos; and analysis of Election Day records.

The Department of State is committed to an open, transparent inspection of Florida’s voting systems.

GOVERNOR JEB BUSH

On the Retirement of Lucy Hadi

“Over the course of more than 30 years, Lucy Hadi has been a model public servant and dynamic reformer.  As she announces her retirement as Secretary of the Florida Department of Children & Families, I am profoundly grateful for her contributions to the care of Florida’s children and most vulnerable.

“Through adoption, Medicaid reform, and community-based care, Secretary Hadi has demonstrated a heart for the hurting and compassion for children in crisis.  In addition to her tenure with the Department, Secretary Hadi has also distinguished herself in service to the Legislature, Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings, and the Agency for Workforce Innovation.  This notably includes her role while working in the Senate to develop the Welfare Transition Program moving families on welfare to economic self-sufficiency.  At every step in her career, she has made people her priority, and integrity has been her watchword.

“As Secretary Hadi enters a new season of life, I trust that she will take pleasure in the accomplishments that underscore her service to the people of Florida.”

# # #

Emabttled DCF Secretary Lucy Hadi has resigned. The email came at 4:27 this afternoon. Read her letter here: secretary-hadi-resignation-letter.pdf