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The Florida House today approved changes to the state pension plan. The legislation allows retirees to come back into the system, but only if they choose a 401k option, it gives the families of slain police officers five thousand dollars in burial benefits the biggest change is that it automatically directs employees who don’t choose between the 401k plan or the defined benefit plan into the 401 k plan. Retired police officer, Representative John Cortes says the cops he knows don’t want a 401 k plan.

“Right now this pension system that you are trying to push onto police officers, which they don’t want anyway, is a 401K. Nobody wants a 4021k . they want something sustainable. A pension” says Cortes.

But Sponsor Matt Caldwell says everyone still has a right to choose the best plan for them, but those who don’t choose will end up in the 301k plan.

“And most of our employees that are choosing, today they choose the investment plan.the better choice for those who aren’t showing is the investment plan. We’re not going to punish those employees anymore by making a bad decision for them.”

Similar legislation has had a rough time in the Senate in past years, making its passage this year uncertain.

Governor Rick Scott is being mentioned as a potential Vice Presidential candidate if Donald Trump wins the GOP nomination. And as Mike Vasilinda tells us, it’s an outside chance, but Florida could wind up with a woman chief executive if Trump and Scott were to win.

Governor Rick Scott made national news when he defended Donald Trump back in January in USA today. He became the darling of national talk shows.

“We need a big change and Donald is talking about it” is what Scott told Morning Joe viewers.

Now the former hospital executive is said to be on a short list of potential Vice Presidential candidates if Trump wins the GOP nomination. Scott told us it’s not on his radar.

Q:”Are you interested?”

WhatI focus on is my job here. I have three years left in this job. We’ve added a million three hundred thirty five thousand jobs. I want to add more jobs” said Scott.

But Trump supporter and state representative Larry Ahern thinks Scott would be a good choice.

“You look at the politics of Washington and you say, what’s the biggest problem here? I think its the political insider that always being played” says Ahern.

Super lobbyist Bill Rubin lobbied for Scott before he was Governor and has known him longer than other Tallahassee insiders,

“They’re both business people that are not connected to the political establishment in a year when the political establishment is not the choice, in my opinion, of either party” says Rubin.

There is a scenario, however improbable in this year of strange political happenings that could see Florida end up with its first woman Governor without her ever seeking the job.

The Lt. Governor is next in line to take over. But he’s running for the US Senate…if he wins, the Attorney General, Pam Bondi would become Governor.

Scott has been elected twice as Governor, but in both 2010 and 2014 he got less than 50 percent of the votes cast. His margin was 48.9% in 2010 and fell to 48.1% in 2014.

A horrific string of shootings in Michigan this past weekend by an uber driver could have some impact here. As Matt Galka tells us, some are telling lawmakers to take note as they try and craft statewide legislation for the ride sharing service.

If you call an Uber…you trust that the person picking you up will get you to where you’re going safely.  A killing spree in Michigan over the weekend by an Uber driver who allegedly picked people up in between shootings has some people calling for tougher background checks.

Taxi company lobbyist Ron Book has been calling for the legislature to level the playing field between Uber and Cab drivers.

“I think the Michigan shooting just simply puts more exclamation points behind you have to have real background checks. And some notion that that created an employer employee relationship is hogwash,” said Book.

Minimum insurance requirements are driving Uber bills currently moving through the Capitol with minimal emphasis on driver background checks.

The House’s version of the bill already passed the chamber, but some lawmakers tried to amend it to include fingerprint level background checks. The amendment failed.

Senator David Simmons sponsors an Uber bill in his chamber. He says the shooting emphasizes that protections are needed.

“It’s very important to us to assure that there’s insurance protection, obviously, and to make sure that there is protection for riders and their safety from the drivers,” said Sen. Simmons.

Simmons bill currently doesn’t overrule local regulations placed on Uber – that means a local government could require a stronger level of background checks.  The House’s verison preempts local rules and creates uniform regulations statewide.

Some, but not all, cab companies around the state require fingerprinting for background checks. Uber currently runs name checks. The Michigan shooter had cleared Uber’s current background check system.

Florida lawmakers spent two hours today debating reforms to the program that gives businesses cash and tax incentives to move to the state. It is the top priority of the Governor, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, in the end, the Governor may not get the money he is seeking.

Governor Rick Scott has been almost singleminded in what he wants from lawmakers this year.

“Attract businesses to move to Florida, start and grow here” says a TV spot Governor Rick Scott’s Let’s Get to Work Committee is running statewide.

The Governor’s plan is under attack from the right. This ad from Americans for Prosperity hit the web this week.

“They say the plan will diversity the economy, but all they’re doing is taking money from Florida families and businesses”

And the plan is being  attacked from the left as Democrats seek to bring more accountability to corporate incentives. Rep.David Richardson (D-Miami) says Enterprise Florida, the states economic development arm has problems.  “Enterprise Florida CEO has no been spending your money and my money wisely.”

While giving tentative approval to tighter rules for giving tax incentives, the State House has so far funded the program at zero.

“It provides no dollar allocation in this bill for any part of this program” says State Rep. Boyd, who handled the bill on the House Floor.

Governor Rick Scott has begun calling lawmakers into his office to tell them what he wants. They aren’t saying if he’;s making threats, but they are

n’t giving him what he wants yet.

The Senate is leaning toward the 250 million Rick Scott wants, but it is bucking him on his tax cut package. Senate Appropriations Chair Tom Lee says it’s too early to say the job won;t get done.

“That has been a sticking point, no question about it., as are the level of tax cuts and some of the funding priorities. .But  it’s just too soon to declare that we’re at some sort of an impasse” says Lee.

And the clock is ticking. Lawmakers must have a final budget in two weeks or face costly overtime.

Darlene Farah lost her daughter when she was gunned down more than two years ago in a Jacksonville  cell phone store. Now she’s walking the hallways of the state Capitol on behalf of other murder victims families, asking lawmakers to do away with the death penalty. Her argument: overtime the case come up, she has to relive the horror of her daughters death.

Sot: Darlene Farah

Murder Victims Families

“I have to worry about the conviction being overturned. Take that money and use it for something else. Rehabilitate those people, the first time offenders who go to jail and come back out that are convicted felons and can’t get jobs. Use that money for something else.”

Florida’s death penalty sentencing was declared unconstitutional in January. Lawmakers will take up a compromise bill Thursday that would require a 10-2 jury verdict for a death sentence.

The City of Jacksonville has the worst funded pension program in the state. It can only pay 55 cents of every dollar its promised. Mayor Lenny Curry is asking lawmakers to allow the city to use  a half cent sales tax until the year 2060 to fund the plan. It received tentative approval from the State House today. rep. Travis Cummings says there are few options.

“This is an issue that is not going to go away without another revenue stream. I’m a fiscal conservative, but you can’t raise the milage enough. You can’t raise the gas tax or other things, This is really a bold initiative. This is something that Mayor Curry and his administration has worked out” says Cummings.

The plan requires voter approval and could be used by other cities and counties. In Jacksonville’s case the actual cash won’t flow until 2030, but they city is hoping the action will send a message the city is serious about solving the pension problem.

If you asked almost anyone around Florida’s Capitol last year who would be the 2016 Republican Nominee for President, they probably would have said “Jeb Bush.” As Matt Galka tells us, supporters are still proud of the former Governor despite his lackluster showing in the race for the White House.

Former Governor Jeb Bush called it quits Saturday. Media consultant Ron Sachs – a Democrat *and* Bush supporter – says no one saw this coming last year.

“This is the oddest, weird if you will, presidential campaign in our lifetimes. And no one could have factored in Donald Trump launching a campaign and it taking the kind of root it has taken with a bunch of angry people in the country,” he said.

Bush’s name recognition didn’t resonate nationally.  Lobbyist and former Bush aide Slater Bayliss said Monday was a tough day.

“I’m sad he won’t get to show the rest of the country what he did for Florida,” said Bayliss.

Bayliss hopes the former Governor’s message isn’t lost on the remaining candidates.

“One of the things I thought Governor Bush did well was propose some substantial policies, and I hope once the craziness settles that the remaining candidates will adopt some of those policies,” he said.

Now many in the Bush camp are being recruited by Marco Rubio. Tampa State Representative Jamie Grant was backing Bush. Now he says he’s all in for the Florida Senator.

“I think Marco has a story to tell, I think Marco tells that story incredibly well, and I think it’s time to go win this thing for Marc,” said Grant.

Rubio needs the supporters, and the coin, if he hopes to wrestle the nomination away from leading candidate Donald Trump.

Bush raised over $100 million dollars for his campaign…something that’s not lost on Rubio’s campaign as they try and swing some of that money towards the Senator.

Legislation to require 20 minutes of recess a day at elementary schools cleared the state House last night by a vote of 112-2, but even with such an overwhelming vote, Mike Vasilinda says the legislation is on life support.

As many as one in Four Florida kids is overweight or obese. In a video for parents, the Florida Department of Health advises kids: “To be active and play 60 minutes a day”

Legislation requiring 20 minutes a day of recess cleared the State House with just 2 no votes. Rep. Bob Cortes (R-Maitland) is the prime co-sponsor.

“I believe that recess is definately a right, not a privilege” says Cortes.

A Facebook page for Florida recess moms has hundreds of followers. A half dozen of them, including Pinellas County mother of three Christie Bruner came to the Capitol to support the recess bill, because they say local school districts aren’t listening.

“If it’s not a policy or a mandate, there’s going to be people who don’t follow it. just like everything else. that’s why where’re rallying with other counties to come to the state level” says Bruner.

The problem: Senate Education Chairman John Legg. Legg is single handily blocking the bill from being heard and tells us he wont change his mind.

“It is a too rigid of a solution that is best left up to our local districts to resolve” say Legg.

State Sen. Bill Montford is a member of the Senate Education Committee. He supports the idea of recess, but.

“Recess is good. kids need it. But in place of what? what do we remove from those seven hours we have with children” says Montford.

When the state added an extra hour a day at 300 low performing schools, the price tag was 66 million.

Legg did tell us that is counties don’t adopt recess locally, the bill could be back next year. If it is, Legg won’t be there to block it. He’s not running for reelection.

The bill specifies that teachers can not keep kids from going to recess to finish their work or for disciplinary reasons. Senator Legg told us that provision went too far.

Lawmakers have three weeks left to pass the one bill they constitutionally must pass…the state budget. As Matt Galka tells us, there’s still time, but lawmakers aren’t looking for a repeat of last session’s mess.

We’re past the midpoint of 2016’s legislative session. At this same time last year…things were starting to unravel.  The House and Senate were divided over healthcare…and session ended without a budget being passed.

A year later, the two chambers have already passed their respective budgets but there about one billion dollars apart. House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford isn’t worried…yet.

“I think if you look back, we are probably on a normal schedule. They could ramp it up and shut it down pretty quickly and get a budget to the Governor before the end of session. I think it’s still possible,” he said.

There are no budget conferences this weekend but Florida’s House Spekaer expects them to happen early next week.

One of the hold ups: a tax  cut package. The House is backing the Governor’s one billion dollar – mostly corporate – tax cut package. The Senate says everyone has to give a little.

“We have to come to an agreement in that number first and foremost in order to understand what the tax cut package will look like before we can start building a budget,” said Speaker Crisafulli.

Pafford says one billion dollars is out the window

“It’s a long shot, it was nonsense when the governor put it out there, it’s nonsense now. It’d be interesting if the Governor spent some time in Tallahassee anytime soon and actually showed up to work, you know? But apparently that’s one job he doesn’t want to show up for,” he said.

One thought: the legislature could give the Governor a budget early and possibly override any vetoes he may make. They’d have to come to an agreement in about two works to potentially make that happen.

Lawmakers are also wrestling with another issue – incentive money for businesses possibly relocating to Florida. It’s another top priority of Governor Rick Scott’s, but lawmakers aren’t ready to commit.

The legislature is again trying to pass statewide regulations for transportation network companies like Uber. As Matt Galka tells us, both chambers have different ideas of how to handle ride sharing.

Uber touted big usage numbers around Florida Thursday. The company’s pushing for the legislature to pass a pro-transportation network company bill.

The Florida House and Senate have their own versions of how to regulate companies like Uber.  Both chambers have different bills requiring minimum insurance policies and background checks.

One of the sticking points is whether or not to overrule local regulations.

House sponsor Matt Gaetz says drivers need uniform policies as they travel the state

“My favorite place to have dinner is 45 minutes away from my House. To go there I have to go through seven different political subdivisions – different cities, different counties. So if you don’t have one system that applies statewide, you functionally kill companies like Uber and Lyft because they can inadverntntly cross a boundary and break a law,” said Rep. Gaetz.

Senator Jeff Brandes says even though the bill moving through his chamber doesn’t include overruling local regulations – it’s not too big of a hurdle.

“I think special interests are trying to block this legislation adn the Florida Senate is in position to rise about that,” he said.

The Senate sponsor says he’s open to compromise. The Senate’s bill cleared its final committee Thursday afternoon.

The House already passed its version of the bill. The Senate is ready to take a full vote on its own version.

When the U-S Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional the way Florida sentences murderers to death back in January, cases ready for trial were put on hold. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, state lawmakers have an agreement on how many jurors it will take for a sentence of death. It is expected to clear the state House this afternoon.

Before the US Supreme court ruling,  7 out of 12 jurors could recommend a death sentence. That changes dramatically under compromise legislation. Once law, it will tale at least ten jurors to agree to death. Senator Greg Evers originally pushed for a unanimous jury, then changed his mind.

“There were cases in the past , that if we went with the unanimity, that, they would not have been prosecuted and they were some pretty serious cases.”

” My name is Ted Bundy”.

It was criminals like Ted Bundy, who got death on a 10-2 vote that prompted the change, Former Sheriff, now senator Charlie Dean says it will impact who goes to death row.

Q:”What do you think will happen with the higher threshold?”

A:”As intended, it will reduce the number of people who go to the death penalty.”

Indeed, Since the year 2000, 140 of 296 death sentences had votes of 9-3 or lower. Thats 47% who may not have gotten a death sentence.

The Florida Catholic conference had been pushing for a unanimous jury to send someone to death. It views the compromise a a big step forward. Michael Sheedy is the Executive Director.

“These bills will prohibit a judge from overturning a jury recommendation of life without parole and making it a death sentence. that’s a very big improvement.”

Rep. Ross Spano shepherd the bill through the House.

“So all twelve jurors must decide there is one single aggravating factor that satisfied to justify the death penalty.”

Florida never required that before and its why the high court said the death penalty was unconstitutional.

The legislation doesn’t address at all what happens to the nearly four hundred people already on death row. That decision will likely be made by Florida’s Supreme Court.

Under the new legislation, juries will have to find the person guilty by a unanimous verdict, then find at least one aggravating factor that justifies death by a unanimous vote. Finally 10 of the 12 jurors must recommend death or the sentence will be life As of this morning, there were 389 inmates on death row. The legislation could be voted on by the Senate and sent to the Governor as early as next week.

Lawmakers have been angry after learning that there are more than eleven thousand untested rape kits sitting in evidence lockers. Legislation that cleared it’s last House committee today would require police to submit rape kits within 30 days of the evidence being taken and they must be tested within 120 days. Sponsor Janet Adkins of Fernandina Beach says testing backlog kits in other states has lead to the arrest of serial rapists.

“So when you look at the serial nature of this very violent crime, then yes, I do believe that if we can get a more timely testing of these evidence kits, than yes, we can prevent future crimes from occurring” says Adkins.

The legislation does not address testing the 11 thousand backlogged kits. Governor rick Scott has recommended spending at least 8 million for testing kits, lawmakers have suggest as much as eleven million.

By a vote of 112-2, The State House approved legislation this afternoon that would require school districts to spend 100 minutes a week on recess for elementary students. The legislation is supported by the PTA , but it has run into trouble in the state Senate, where it is being stopped. Co sponsor Irv Slosberg called the legislation a no brainer.

“They’re under so much stress they need some recreation, It’s gonna increase their focus in the longterm. It’s gonna reduce stress,and its really important that they develop social skills. Physical activity, it feeds the brain” says Slosberg.

Senate Education ChairmanChairman John Legg of Pasco County is refusing to hear the bill, saying it would take too much time from classroom activities.

The State Senate gave tentative approval to a bill today that presumes that divorcing parents are each entitled to a 50/50 custody split. Sponsor Tom Lee told Senators  the legislation is needed because under the current law, who gets all or partial custody is up to the whim of the presiding judge.

“I believe that we are getting disparate outcomes all over this state, depending on whether you have a liberal judge, or a conservative judge. whether you have an old school judge or a new school judge. Whether you are in an urban area or whether you’re in a rural area” says Lee.

Lee was questioned whether the presumption would preclude kids being kept from violent parents. He said it would not.

Remember Powerball fever? Just about one month ago, everyone was hoping to purchase the winning ticket for a historic $1.5 billion dollar prize. As Matt Galka tells us, one of three winning tickets were sold here in Florida.

It wasn’t an easy month for Melbourne Beach couple David Kaltschmidt and his wife Maureen Smith.

“We lost a lot of sleep. I lost 10 pounds. Pacing at night will do that, I’ll tell you what,” said Kaltschmidt.

The couple cashed in one of three winning Powerball tickets drawn for the historic $1.5 billion dollar prize.  They opted to take the lump sum of just under $328 million dollars.

“We still can’t believe it,’ said Smith. “We kept checking the numbers.”

Smith said they played her numbers.

“It was a three dollar investment,” said Kaltschmidt.

Kaltscmidt plans to retire from his engineer job. Smith doesn’t exactly know what to do next.

“He wants a new car. We really don’t know. I want a massage!” she said.