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A leading budget watchdog group is asking the Governor to veto $133 million from the state budget.

Florida Tax Watch says the recommendations are a blueprint to help Governor Ron DeSantis as he reviews the 2019 budget.

According to TaxWatch President Dominic Calabro, the recommended cuts are relatively small compared to past years.

“But it’s still a significant amount of money that could have been spent in areas such as early education,” said Calabro. “That $133 million could have been spent additionally in classrooms, whether it’s public or charter classrooms, hurricane recovery.”

Most of the 109 recommended cuts are local projects.

Calabro said many should be paid for by local governments , while others were added late in the budget process with little to no vetting.

“The process must be transparent and accountable and every appropriation should receive sufficient vetting, deliberation and public debate,” said Calabro.

Governor DeSantis has appeared more eager to trim the fat off of what could be the largest budget in state history.

It was only minutes after session ended that DeSantis mentioned vetos.

“It’s going to be under 91 when I get through with the budget don’t worry about that,” said DeSantis.

Calabro said he hopes the Governor uses a light touch.

“Vetoing a half a billion dollars will be more political then it would be justified,” said Calabro.

TaxWatch says in 35 years it has published the Budget Turkey Watch Report, about two thirds of its recommendations have gotten the ax.

The largest cut recommended in this year’s report is a local road widening project in Citrus County with a price tag of $13.3 million.

The State of Israel is growing food on what was once a desert and they are described by some as the US version of Silicon Valley on steroids.

Governor Ron DeSantis is banking on his recent trip to help make Florida a leading partner with Israel innovators.

At the Perez Center for Peace and Innovation, named for an Israeli prime Minister who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994, the future is alive.

Director of the Perez Center Efrat Duvdevani showcased a new technology that allows a surgeon to get a first hand view of a patients organ.

“The doctor can see the heart, a hologram of the patients organs,” said Duvdevani. “And then he doesn’t have to open up all the body. He can see it an he can touch it, sort of touch it and see it. We want to showcase and bring to Florida, in how to make the dreams come to reality.”
Another technology Duvdevani highlighted was a chip that can be implanted in the retina.

The technology has been used to help a blind father seen his daughter for the first time.

Another set of glasses brings recognition to the sight challenged.

“For the first time I’m going to somebody and you tell me this is Jeff, and this is Jim and whoever, and the next time I’m walking over, and I’m completely blind, this will tell me Jim, Jack,” said Duvdevani.

Another product ready for market, is a sensor that can tell you if water is safe to drink in a matter of seconds.

Back in the states, the Governor is strong on the possibility of bringing the people behind the innovations to Florida.

“You know all the tech in Israel, they need markets for their innovation,” said DeSantis.

One of the things the Governor has made perfectly clear, unlike the past Governor, is that he’s not going to be paying any company cash to come and do business in the state.

What he is offering, is whatever assistance the state can provide.

“They were talking about specific companies coming over, and joining hands together and making the impossible, possible,” said Duvdevani.

Or in other words, dream big.

Former FSU Law School and Dean Sandy D’Alemberte was remembered Wednesday at the university he headed from 1994 to 2003.

He is also the person who brought the idea of cameras in the courtroom in 1979.

D’Aleberte served in the State Legislature in the late 1960’s and helped usher in the concept of one person one vote.

He served on the second Constitution Revision Commission as its chair.

His wife, Patsy Palmer called him an eternal optimist.

“If we each dare to dream one dream and do something about it. If we kept our eyes on the dream and not on the obstacles. And if we pursued it with wholehearted joy, then the essence of this of this splendid man might live on and on,” said Palmer.

D’Alemberte also served as the American Bar Association from 1991 to 1992.

Governor Ron DeSantis remained consistent in his belief that all fine, fees and restitution must be paid before felons have their civil rights restored.

DeSantis has supported the idea and indicated he would sign the Legislature’s proposed implementing bill for Amendment 4.

It includes the payment requirements before felons can have their right to vote restored.

In Wednesday’s Clemency Board meeting, some of those seeking pardons were granted their requests, on the condition they pay outstanding fines and fees.
“I just think that when you pay your debt that includes whatever you were sentenced to so if you’re willing to do that I’ll move to grant you a pardon, condition on you just paying the rest that you owe,” said DeSantis.

Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, the only Democrat on the Clemency Board, approved the pardons as well, but objected to the payment condition.

Members of the Florida Cabinet have joined the calls for State Representative Mike Hill to apologize for his response to a constituent who asked him to sponsor legislation to make homosexuality punishable by death.

The embattled Representative has blamed the media for misrepresenting the exchange.

At Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried recognized June as Pride month.

Without saying his name, Fried took a jab at Representative Mike Hill.

“Despite recent hurtful comments against LGBTQ Floridians, know this: that does not reflect Florida,” said Fried.

Hill is facing criticism for his response to a constituent who suggested he sponsor legislation making homosexuality a crime punishable by death.

Hill defended himself and said he didn’t act inappropriately.

“I didn’t even make the statement. I was simply responding to an absurd statement that was made, and it elicited laughter from the audience. I kinda chuckled and said ‘no, let’s move on, like that’s gonna work’,” said Hill.

Governor Ron DeSantis and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis have joined other top Republicans in calling for Hill to apologize.

“Mike, look, sometimes we misspoke [sic], maybe you need to go just apologize,” said Patronis.

“I support Speaker Oliva’s comments and I trust the speaker to take whatever actions necessary,” said DeSantis.

Some Democratic lawmakers have called on Hill to resign.

They’ve also called on House leadership to either censor or oust the Pensacola Representative from the Legislature.

A rally was held yesterday in Pensacola, Representative Hill’s district and more than 75 people attended and demanded Hill’s resignation.

Governor Ron DeSantis’s was back at work in the State Capitol Tuesday, but his trip to Israel is being criticized on social media as a junket.

However, there have been some positive outcomes so far, and more are likely to follow with time.

In Israel, from daylight to dark, the Governor was on the move.

However, the twitter sphere has been taking him to task for the trip.

While most paid their own way, the Governor, three Cabinet members, and a staff of 20, including the heads of at least three agencies traveled on the taxpayers dime.

“I mean, we’ve been working hard,” said DeSantis last Thursday.

Dozens of agreements were signed between Florida Universities and Israeli institutions.

At a Chamber of Commerce meeting, 500 heard the Governor pitch Florida.

“I would say Florida right now in our country is second to none in terms of a place to build a business,” said DeSantis.

Minutes later he was behind closed doors meeting the CEO of Insightec Eyal Zadicario, an Israeli based company with a US headquarters in Miami.

“The company basically developed insidious neural surgery, transforming neural surgery to completely outpatient, no hospitalization,” said Zadicario.

“They want to really expand the footprint in Florida and I think we have an opportunity to link them with some of our universities,” said DeSantis.

Even Enterprise Florida’s Senior Vice President for International Relations Manny Mencina said its going to take time to know how successful this trip will be.

“I think what you are doing here is building an infrastructure that’s going to pay results for many years to come,” said Mencina.

The trips costs are still being calculated.

An advance security detail arrived in Israel a week before the Governor.

Those costs remain classified for security reasons for now.

Governor Ron DeSantis was lauded in Israel for his quick action back in January when he and the Cabinet placed AirBNB on the state’s list of scrutinized companies for refusing listings on the disputed West Bank in Israel.

The company relented in April, and on Tuesday, his first full day back on the job, the Governor and Cabinet took the company off the list.

“The key headliner here is that we’ve had a very positive outcome on the engagement with AirBNB in relation to the boycott, divest and sanction Israel movement. As you know we engaged them previously. They reversed their policy, and so we have removed them from the scrutinized list with your vote here today,” said Executive Director of the State Board of Administration, Ash Williams.

Had the company refused, the state pension fund would have been prohibited from investing in the company if it ever went public, and state employees could not have used AirBNB on state business.

The Governor and Cabinet adopted a resolution Tuesday morning and recognized the winners of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Annual Awards.

Four winners were recognized, including Jennifer Clark, a crime lab analyst in Tampa, whose forensic work led to the arrest of the suspect in the 2017 Seminole Heights killing spree.

Special Agent Jennifer Wolf, Officer Joseph Wyland and Research and Training Specialist Deborah McDonald were also recognized.

“The FDLE mission is to protect Florida’s citizens and visitors, and it is the mission that we are committed to each and every day, so on behalf of the award winners, we thank you for this opportunity and we thank you for honoring us today,” said McDonald, who was awarded FDLE Distinguished Member of the Year.

The winners beat out more than 200 members who were nominated for the 2019 awards.

Pensacola State Representative Mike Hill is coming under fire from Florida Democrats and some members of his own party for an exchange he had with a constituent who suggested Hill should sponsor legislation that would make homosexuality punishable by death.

While Hill didn’t agree with the suggestion, he’s been accused of not being critical enough and laughing during the exchange.

“A statement that just came out of the audience, I tried to brush it aside,” said Hill.

Hill said the exchange has been misrepresented.

“There was no way at all that I condoned or even said the words that gays should be executed,” said Hill. “That’s just absurd.”

Some Republican’s, including House Speaker Jose Oliva, took to Twitter and called on Hill to apologize saying in part, “I believe he owes his colleagues an apology and he owes the Republican caucus a better example of political courage.”

Representative Hill has not apologized.

Instead, he has said he’s the victim of a ‘social media lynching’.
“They know I’m a Christian,” said Hill. “They know that I am true to my convictions and they know that I am going to bring the heartbeat detection bill to this next legislative session.”

Democratic Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith said Hill should resign or be ousted from the Legislature.

“As a gay man who has survived anti-gay hate violence myself… this is completely unacceptable,” said Smith.

A rally has been scheduled in Pensacola Monday evening demanding Hill’s resignation.

Hill said he has received violent threats since the Pensacola News Journal first ran the story this weekend andhas threatened legal action against the paper if any of the threats come to fruition.

Former Democratic Gubernatorial candidate and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum has been issued subpoenas by the FBI according to the Tampa Bay Times, which obtained the documents.

While Gillum’s opponents have said the subpoenas are further evidence of corruption in the Gillum campaign, Gillum’s attorney said it’s more likely an attempt at a political hit job.

Federal subpoenas obtained by the Tampa Bay Times demanded documents ranging from 2015 to 2018 from Andrew Gillum, his gubernatorial campaign and his political committee, Forward Florida.

The subpoena asked for the documents by May 7th.

The Florida Highway Patrol is working on an educational campaign to inform Florida drivers about the state’s new texting while driving law.

Advocates against distracted driving believe the new law will make roads safer, but that it doesn’t go far enough.

Florida drivers will have to get used to waiting to send that text message until after they get out of the car, or come to a complete stop under the state’s next texting while driving law.

If they don’t, they could be pulled over and receive a $30 ticket.

“One of the most dangerous things you could do is be on a wireless communications device while you’re on the road,” said Captain Thomas Pikul with the Florida Highway Patrol.

Pikul says the agency is preparing to roll out out an educational campaign to ensure Florida drivers understand the change in the law.

“We’ll be consultation with the Florida Department of Transportation, of course with our local law enforcement partners, with schools, with statewide agencies to ensure that the education is out there,” said Pikul.

The new texting while driving law takes effect on July 1st, but will only be issuing warnings for the first few months.

Starting January 1st 2020, law enforcement will begin writing tickets to offenders.

FHP said more than 50,000 car accidents in the state were caused by distracted driving last year alone.

“13% of all crashes are due to inattentiveness. we want to make sure that everyone is educated on that,” said Pikul. “That they know the dangers of having these devices in their hands.”

In 2014, 19 year old Anthony Branca was killed in a suspected distracted driving accident.

His father Demetrius is one of many advocates who fought for the new Florida law.

He said lawmakers missed the target.

“Nothing kills more kids under the age of 24 than distracted driving and they are taking half measures to stop it,” said Branca.

Advocates had originally hoped for a fully hands free law.

The new law is only hands free in construction and school zones.

“What we have is full of loopholes,” said Branca. “If you get pulled over for distracted driving right now you can just tell the cop that you were looking at your map and then you’re free to go.”

While advocates against distracted driving weren’t able to get everything they wanted this year, they’ve said they’ll keep fighting for a fully hands free law and stiffer penalties going forward.

It has been a whirlwind trade mission to Israel for Governor Ron DeSantis and about 100 other Floridians on the trip with him.

The the trip has been a nonstop affair.

The four and a half day trip was filled with 12 and 16 hour days.

The schedule for the Governor’s last day in Israel was turned upside down when a last minute meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled.

“The relationship’s good. He went over some of the threats Israel faces and the map of the Middle East and showed the pockets of ISIS,” said DeSantis.

The meeting prompted an Israeli journalist to ask whether the Governor have his eye on the Oval Office.

“Certainly not in 2020, you can guarantee that,” said DeSantis.

After the Netanyahu meeting, the Governor placed two notes on the Western Wall.

The first asked God to spare the state from any hurricanes this year.

“So that would be wonderful if we could get through this hurricane season,” said DeSantis.

The second came from a young girl who lost her home in the Panhandle during Hurricane Michael.

“She had a note, asking me to put in the Western Wall,” said DeSantis. “So I did not read it, you know privacy, but I did put her note in the Western Wall.”

The Governor also placed a wreath at a holocaust museum Thursday, to honor the six million Jews who lost their lives in Nazi Concentration Camps.

A round table discussion on school safety followed.

During the meeting a former senior Israeli intelligence officer Uzzi Sheyia told the Governor that social media was emboldening terrorists and major companies were doing nothing about it.

“They’re allowing well known, black listed terrorist entities to use them knowingly,” said Sheyia.
On top of all the agreements that have been signed throughout the trip, the journey to Israel has definitely solidified Ron DeSantis’ status as the most Israel-friendly governor in America.

The Governor leaves Israel at 7 am local time or 11 pm Eastern Time Thursday.

They’ll get back to the state mid-afternoon Friday.

The University of Miami signed an agreement Thursday with a leading hospital in Jerusalem.

The agreement obligates the two to train trauma surgeons in Miami and to share knowledge.

It was signed in Jerusalem with the Governor present.

Dr. Enrique Ginzburg is a Vice President at Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital and a trauma specialist.

He said both signers will lead the world into new and best practices.

“It’s a continued recognition and encouragement to continue the exchange of training, more importantly to continue the training of trauma surgeons from Israel in Miami so they come back and become the leaders of trauma bit it’s now ex tending into orthopedic surgery and we want it to extend in all aspects of education at the university of Miami and the Hebrew university,” said Dr. Ginzburg.

The hospitals have already been working together, but the new agreement signals more people and more cooperation.

The state’s Chief Financial Regulator, in the job less than four months, is fighting back against allegations claiming he harassed female employees.

Robert Rubin sent a memo that said he is being fired because he refused to hire someone suggested by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis.

In Israel Thursday, Patronis denied he ever asked Rubin to hire anyone.

“We issued a statement yesterday I think it’s been pretty clear by the preliminary findings of the IG report that there ‘s definitely issues afoot.If I could remove them unilaterally, I would,” said Patronis.

Firing Rubin requires three out of four votes on the state Cabinet.

One of them would have to be the Governor, who also from Israel, suggested that the writing is on the wall.

“I haven’t seen the inspector general report yet but obviously if the CFO has taken that position, you know, that does’t look good for Mr. Rubin,” said DeSantis.

Action to fire Rubin could come as early as next Tuesday, when the Governor and Cabinet meet again in Tallahassee.

Florida now has the toughest anti semitism law in the country according to Governor Ron DeSantis, who ceremonially signed the legislation outside the US embassy in Jerusalem Wednesday.

The signing followed another controversial issue of his trade mission to Israel, a meeting of the Florida Cabinet, which first amendment advocates had attempted to stop over the state’s open meeting laws.

The out of county Cabinet meeting may have been the first of its kind.

The First Amendment Foundation filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, trying to enjoin the meeting over access issues for the public.

The Governor brushed off the criticism meeting with reporters.

“It’s totally baseless and meritless. Here’s the thing, sometimes we’ll do Cabinet meetings on the phone. Sometimes there’s not even a psychical location at all and this is being streamed, you guys [the press] are going to be there,” said DeSantis.

When the 3:30 PM meeting began, it was 8:30 AM back in the state Capitol, where a live stream played to a nearly Cabinet Room.

The meeting had several technical difficulties.

The opening prayer given by a Rabbi in the State Capitol was cut cut off abruptly when the phone went dead.

No votes were taken, except on one resolution.

Attorney General said she’s certain the meeting complied with the letter of the law.

“We have been diligent in ensuring that we complied with the Sunshine Law,” said Moody.

Afterwards, the Governor held a ceremonial signing of what has been called the strongest antisemitism law in the county.

The genesis for the legislation began when House Sponsor Representative Randy Fine was in 7th grade and failed a test.

“He went and he asked the teacher why did I fail algebra? And the teacher said you missed a test. And I said I missed it on Yom Kippur. And that teacher said if it were a real holiday, we would have all had that off,” said Fine.

It will require educational institutions to treat anti-Jewish behavior as it would racism.

Critics have asserted simply criticizing Israel in public would violate the law, but Fine has refuted the claims.

“Being stupid is not illegal. You’re allowed to be an antisemite. I wish they weren’t, but you are allowed,” said Fine. “This does not say you can’t be.”

The signing was ceremonial because the actual legislative documents stayed behind in the states.

Once the Governor signs the real thing the law will take effect immediately.