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Headlines across the state this morning screamed House and Senate at odds over gambling plans. Both Chambers are advancing differing measures. The Senate would like to allow slots in the 8 counties that have approve them, add some blackjack in South Florida and get a new deal with the Seminole Tribe. The House is more interested in a new seal with the Tribe. But House Speaker Richard Corcoran does’t think the two chambers are “at odds”.

“I don’t think you have ever seen a House and a Senate both moving bills, abbot different, this early. I think that prognosticates the potential we could see resolution there” says Corcoran.

The biggest driver of a gambling deal this year is the need for increased state revenues without raising taxes.

A Florida House committee asked questions but got few answers today in the suicide of a 14 year old foster child who committed suicide and streamed it live on Facebook. Few answers were available because the case is still being investigated.

The 14 year old’s Facebook live video is filled with anger profanity.

The Chair House Subcommittee on Children, family, and Seniors called her death

“Devastating. Just an unreal situation for a young child to take her life” said Rep. Gayle Harrell.

DCF Secretary Mike Carrol told committee members the case is still being investigated and most records are still sealed.

“And to have hundreds of folks watch and to have nobody but one friend try and contact anybody to intercede, and that’s sad” opined Carroll.

Published reports suggest the 14 year old had spent at least 7 years in foster care, was raped at a young age, and may have been shuffled between as many as ten foster homes,

”Can you confirm either of those’ we asked.

“I can’t talk about stuff specific to the case, but that will all come out when the records are made available” responded Carroll.

What the agency would tell us is that it has had significant contact with the family over multiple years.

“Numerous assessments over time.”

:”More than normal, more than usual’?

“Much more so”, he told us.

Mike Vasilinda

Once all of the reports are complete, lawmakers say there will be more conversations with the Department of Children and Families.”

“I’ve had many conversations with the Secretary over this and I am confident that we get, ah, get the whole story” says Harrell.

The first draft of the Critical incident report should be complete next week.reports from behavioral experts will take a little longer.

 

People using food stamps may soon no longer be able to purchase candy or soft drinks with their Electronic benefits card. nationally, the purchases account for just under six percent of food stamp purchases. A house committee approved banning the purchases with food stamps this morning. Sponsor Ralph Massullo is a medical doctor.

“There’s nothing nutritional at all with it. as a matter of fact it anti nutritional because it makes you unhealthy. right” asks Massullo.  “Nutrition is to make you healthier. You grow better if you are a child. you mature better,, and you develop healthy habits. Something that’s anti nutritional leads you in the wrong direction.”

Without a waiver from the federal government, the prohibition can’t take place. Florida retailers say they would prefer a national fix, not just a Florida specific ban.

Flanked by moms who want their elementary kids to have recess each day, the sponsors of legislation that would require twenty minutes a day of free play talked to reporters today. The legislation faces an uncertain future because it is considered a mandate to local school districts, but sponsor Anitere Flores says research can’t be disputed.

“Our research, not our research, but research from across the state and across the country shows that giving our students a fifteen to twenty minute break every day helped them not just mentally, but helped them academically. And helps the teachers as well” says Flores.

The legislation was filed after a swell of grass roots support from moms and teachers across the state. the PTA also supports a mandated recess break for grades K-5.

A Powerful Senate committee at the State Capitol today approved sweeping new gambling legislation that continues a compact with the Seminole Indians. The deal with the tribe expired more than a year ago and has been the subject of lawsuits. Sponsor Bill Galvano says reaching agreement would mean the seminoles would continue paying the state hundreds of millions each year.

“Inaction is not a choice” galvano says. “if you just say no, you ar basically saying, courts take care of it. or just leave it operand we’ll go with the tide will have impact, because the revenue share is important. That’s why inaction is not an option.

The legislation also increases the states take from parimutuel facilities by as much as 250 million a year, expanding slot machine to those counties where voters have approved increased gambling.

Three dozen protestors gathered outside the state Capitol today to tell GOP lawmakers to leave their healthcare alone. Dozens of similar protests around the state and country are designed to let legislators and the Congress know people value their healthcare. WithoutObamacare, Erin Hoover says her family would be lost,

“But, if that is repealed, without a replacement and a good replacement, people like me and my daughter we really may not have access to see a doctor” says Hooper.

Today’s rally was part of a national bus tour to convince decision makers not to repeal Obamacare.

 

It was cloudy and rainy today for the fledgling solar industry as they held a “Solar Day” in the state Capitol, but the weather did not dampen the industries business outlook for the Sunshine state.

Florida’s Solar industry says voters sent a message heard nationwide when they approved tax exemptions for solar and defeated a utility friendly amendment in November. Scott Thomasson of Vote Solar is predicting a banner year for solar.

“It’s just a strong signal that the market is here for Florida. I mean, this is really the big year for Florida” says Thomason, who runs a national non profit educating voters on solar.

Florida has never lived up to it’s nickname. it is 14th in solar capacity nationwide.

In 2016, the industry added between 16 and 17 hundred new jobs. Patrick Altier is the President of the Florida Solar Industries Association. He’s also an Ocala Solar contractor. He says his business increased four fold last year.

“Had a great year last year. I addition to the projects that are in the pipeline, we anticipate at least a two hundred percent increase over last years production” says Allier.

 Lawmakers still have to implement Amendment Four. and part of their dilemma is figuring out how much the amendment will cost state and local governments.Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St.Petersburg) has filed the legislation to carry out voters will.

“I think if there is any pushback, its from the small counties who want to make sure the projects they implements are still  on their books. that’s the overriding concern we are hearing right now” says Brandes.

Last fall, Utilities spent more than 20 million dollars on a losing campaign to restrict solar, but the industry says all that cash had the opposite effect.

“It gave the solar industry a lot of free advertising at the end of the day.More frustration with the utilities” Altier told us.

While solar found cloudy skies at the Capitol, the industry says it is still shining, growing and creating jobs, thanks to the message that voters sent.

Amendment Four prohibits tax assessors from adding solar improvements to the value of a business. Since voter approval, Solar City, the largest solar company in America, has opened offices in Florida,

Former Tampa Bay Bucs and Indianapolis Colts Coach tony Dungy spent an hour today at the state Capitol, comparing leadership in football to political leadership. He told of the disappointment after being fired in Tampa, to the difficulties managing highly talented wealthy professional football players, concluding it all comes down to preparation.

‘Let’s be people orientated. Let’s be relationship oriented.  Lets learn what to do and how to do it, and the winning will take care of it self, and that was a great lesson for me as a young player. Those relationships, working together is really what you ar looking to do” dungy told the audience.

The session was attended by about half of the members of the Florida House.

A hundred cancer survivors and advocates were at the state Capitol today, asking lawmakers to fund prevention, research, and anti smoking efforts. The group is seeking 15 million for research, 68 million for tobacco education, and a dollar a pack increase to discourage smoking. Survivor N. Diane Holmes says every dollar spent will save lives.

“I’m really proud to be a breast cancer survivor” says Holmes. “I support a lot of American Cancer Society activities, but it is incredibly important that our legislature understand the importance, in our community, of funding biomedical research, tobacco prevention, funding the Mary Brogan fund, and supporting the cigarette surcharge.”

The state’s anti tobacco education program has taken Florida from having one of the highest rates of smokers to a state with one of the lowest.

Women who develop emotional scars or are injured could sue their doctors up to ten years later under a bill that has cleared it’s second committee. Sponsor Erin Grall says the legislature needs to speak for women who won’t speak for themselves.

“So there are plenty of times we will be asked to speak on behalf of people who have no voice. And that is who this bill addresses. Nothing changes from a clinical perspective, it the physician is performing the procedure with the competence and skill that’s required” is how Sponsor Grall explained the bill to members.

The legislation has had two close votes. today’s was 9-7 and was taken only after an additional member was added to the panel to vote in favor of the bill.

Sponsors face an uphill battle, but employers would be banned from asking prospective employees about any arrests on job applications under legislation filed in the state capitol. The so called Ban the Box bill would not prohibit employers from asking for details at subsequent interviews, but Rep. Shevrin Jones says the idea is to level the playing field during the initial application process.

“All we’re asking is that you remove it from the application process, call that individual in for a fair interview process, then you have the opportunity to ask that question. Again, allow the that individual…give them a shot” says Jones.

Republican leaders have assigned the bill to four committees, making it unlikely it will make it through the legislative process this year.

The United Way is asking state lawmakers to one point two million dollars to help low income Florida families, referred to as ALICE families,  prepare their federal tax returns. ALICE stands for asset limited, income constrained, employed. United way says their free tax service for ALICE families has saved them millions in taxes they would have otherwise paid. Pinellas County Bus Driver Keisha Murray says she is able to pay her bills because of the help she has received.

“Not everyone works 9-5 like me, and these families need help. These families need this assistance very badly. And the more we’re able to get it out, the more we can help all these families, ,not just in Pinellas County, but in all of the different counties to get their money back” Murray told reporters.

As many as 2.6 million households  are classified as ALICE or working poor families. The one point two million being sought would help an additional 31 thousand families file returns and received the tax credits to which they are entitled.

Florida law requires public schools to offer physical education classes for all grades, but the law is silent on recess for elementary aged children, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, that could soon be changing,

Only 3 of the state’s 67 counties…all of them small require 20 minutes of free play recess each day. But research say free play helps kids develop. Moms across the state including Marie Claire Lehman are leading the grass roots effort to make recess mandatory.

“Without this state mandate, many kids across Florida will be denied recess and it will effect they emotional health” says Lehman.

Lawmakers have encouraged districts to adopt the recess but stopped short of requiring it because they wanted local control for local districts. But groups like Daily Recess, led by Kate Asturias say it hasn’t worked.

“It’s not local control, it’s local neglect” Asturias told lawmakers.

With PTA support, the bill was approved 7-0

Adults get a coffee break, and supporters say kids deserve one too.

Barbara Hedge came from Pinellas County, she says, to speak for the one point three million kids in elementary schools.

“All of the evidence supports and shows how daily recess  for children K through 5, helps them academically. Socially. Helps them grow. Helps them learn behaviors they are not learning in school. Learn how to interact and socialize” says Hedge.

Sponsor Anitere Flores is optimistic the bill will pass the Senate after failing last year.

“Sitting in a chair for six hours a day is something we as adults have a tough time doing. Imagine asking your six or seven your old to be doing that, and then having to be a teacher” says the Miami Senator.

The reason for optimism. There are 20 new members of the Senate this year.

The staff analysis says the end result of mandatory recess is that kids may get more physical exercise.

The House Appropriations Committee this afternoon approved legislation abolishing Enterprise Florida, the agency responsible for recruiting companies, often through the use of incentives. But members balked on also abolishing Visit Florida, the tourism marketing arm of state government. While keeping Visit Florida, lawmakers plan to cut it’s budget by two thirds. Appropriations Chair Carlos Trujillo says the agency will get a chance to prove it provides a return on investment.

“I’ve never been told I saw you on Visit florida.com. They tell me I saw Walt Disney, I saw your beaches , I sawyer weather and its a beautiful place and I want to visit. So for us to think because we run a web site, or just because we run an ad, or a banner, all these people will know know what Florida is and they are coming here is little bit disingenuous” Trujillo told reporters,

Governor Rick Scott tweeted the vote was a jobs killer, He has been traveling the state calling legislators out by name in their home towns, trying to save Enterprise and Visit Florida. The battle threatens to make the 2017 session which starts two weeks from today, difficult.

A day after the Florida Supreme Court said death prosecutions can go forward with a unanimous verdict, the House took up the unanimous jury verdict bill late in the day, but a group of pastors was in Tallahassee arguing for a moratorium and a study of the death penalty.

Darlene Farah’s daughter Shelby was shot and killed during a robbery at a phone store near Jacksonville in 2013. Farah is fighting against the death penalty for her daughter’s accused killer.

“Murder is murder. Justice, you know I’ve asked so many different people name one good thing that comes out of the death penalty and all I hear is justice and closure. Justice for who? There’s no justice” says Farah.

Farah has made several trips to the Capitol and last year opposed the legislature’s 10-2 jury verdict bill that was eventually declared unconstitutional.