Union members will have to tell their employers they want to continue having union dues deducted from their paychecks every three years or every time a contract is renewed under legislation moving forward at the state Capitol.
Unions argue it is an attempt to undermine membership, but sponsors push back, describing it as a way to protect public employees paychecks.
State Senator Tina Polsky called the idea a waste of time.
“You know, we’re here to fix problems that exist. We’re on a very limited time frame. Many bills are not being heard because of time constraints that would help people. This bill doesn’t help anyone. It will make it harder for public employers: School districts. Police Departments. Fire Departments. And those public employers have not asked for this,” said Polsky.
The legislation was approved on a 6-4 vote.
It has one more committee stop before a vote on the Senate floor.
The 2020 election has only been in the rear view mirror for three months, but the political focus is already turning to who’s running for Governor in 2022.
An inner party survey is already asking Democrats who they favor to take on the Governor.
The survey was sent to Florida Democrats via email last week.
It highlights ten potential challengers to Governor Ron DeSantis.
Most are fresh, little know faces.
Charlie Crist, who was a Republican Governor and then ran again as a Democrat in 2014 is also on the list.
“Well, I’ve been urged for running for Governor and I am considering it,” said Crist.
“Sure, Crist is well known, but things have changed,” said retired political scientist Susan MacManus.
MacManus says the party is different now.
“It’s much more dominated by women than ever, particularly women of color,” said MacManus.
Daniel Uhlfelder may have launched the first digital effort of the 2022 campaign.
Uhlfelder, aka the Grim Reaper, has been pushing back against the Governor’s covid policies since March.
The Governor starts from a strong position.
He’s got $9 million in his political action committee and more coming in every day.
GOP Executive Director Helen Ferre said the Governor is ready.
“Florida continues to lead the nation in COVID response policies,” said Ferre.
Despite Donald Trump winning handily with the Governor’s help, MacManus argues Florida is still a swing state.
“It’s just that Democrats did not run a very good campaign in the Presidential contest,” said MacManus.
So far, none of the ten democrats on the list or any other credible Democrat has filed paperwork to get into the race.
Money raising has to start soon for anyone who is serious.
Doctors who abort a fetus after more than 20 weeks of gestation could be charged with a felony under legislation filed in the State Capitol.
The legislation is based on studies that show the fetus can experience pain at 20 weeks, but opponents call it one more veiled attempt at making all abortions illegal.
The legislation would end almost all abortions at 20 weeks.
Senate Sponsor Dennis Baxley said that’s when a fetus feels pain.
“That’s what the evidence has shown in the pain sensitiveness of unborn children. And it’s perfectly clear that they’re under attack and resisting the attack of the abortionist,” said Baxley.
Under the legislation, doctors who violate the law could face a felony and five years in prison.
The mother could not be charged under the bill.
The only exception to the 20 week ban is the physical health of the mother.
That doesn’t include her mental health, or fears of suicide.
”Politicians are not medical experts,” said Dian Alarcon with the Latina Institute.
In a Planned Parenthood video conference, mothers who have had abortions called the legislation wrong.
“I had an abortion. This is what it looked like for me. It’s not always right or wrong, black or white,” said Dana Pierce.
Activist Charo Valero said mothers already face big problems getting abortions.
“Including not knowing about it. Not having access to services, not being able to travel,” said Valero.
The mothers said after a year of COVID, lawmakers should have better things to do.
Baxley disagrees.
“I think its always time to go back and look at your core values, and do you believe you vale children? Do you value life?” said Baxley.
Of the 72,000 abortions reported by the state last year, only about 6,500 were in the second trimester.
Opponents believe the legislation violates the second trimester, or 24 weeks, allowed under Roe v. Wade.
Supporters hope to test the law before the US Supreme Court.
Florida’s pension plan would be no more under legislation that cleared a Senate Committee at the State Capitol Thursday morning.
Some call the plan underfunded, but there are fears that ending the defined benefit plan could make it harder to hire critical workers.
The state pension plan isn’t just for state workers.
Most teachers, sheriffs deputies, and many city and county employees are all members of the Florida retirement system.
“The balance stands at $184 billion,” said Ash Williams with the State Board of Administration.
Since last June, the plan is up $23 billion after paying out $600 million a month.
“Investments have been prudently executed with good results,” said Williams.
The problem is that benefits are outpacing contributions.
Starting next year, State Senator Ray Rodrigues wants to force all new employees into a 401(k)-type investment plan.
“We’ve got to make sure that those we’ve made promises to are promises the state can keep,” said Rodrigues.
Retirees were out in force at the bill’s first committee hearing to say no.
“Pensions allow people like me to live financially independent,” said retired 4th grade teacher Linda Edson.
They worry that blocking new members will hurt those who stay in the plan.
“To shift and close the plan to new members will be a huge financial burden to the state, employers, and employees, and ultimately puts the long term health of the system at risk,” said Yale Olenick with the Florida Education Association.
Lawmakers don’t have good data yet, but they’ve paid $119,000 for a study due in March.
Rodrigues said he is flexible if the study suggests other action.
“Everything will be dictated by what the actuarial studies reveal. We’re going to follow the data,” said Rodrigues.
The legislation cleared the committee on a four to two vote, but one GOP member made it clear he would vote no if the bill didn’t change significantly before a final vote.
Whether the plan is changed or not, taxpayers are going to be on the hook for more money.
If no changes are made, the state will continue putting $373 million a year into the plan.
If the plan is closed to new hires, estimates show costs will rise by a $150 million a year, compounding for at least eight years totaling $5.4 billion.
A statewide organization of Black pastors has identified dozens of Black churches to become what they are calling “trusted venues” for African Americans reluctant to get vaccinated.
The pastors hope to boost the number of people of color getting the vaccine.
As of Tuesday, more than 1.3 million Floridians had received their first dose of a vaccine.
The report also shows that only 66,000, or just under five percent are Black.
“Those numbers are dismal, disturbing, and depressing,” said Reverend Dr. RB Holmes.
A task force of Black pastors has identified 86 sites, mostly Black churches, spread over six regions in the state that they say would be trusted venues with trusted pastors.
“To say it’s alright. Matter of fact, its alright to take the vaccine. You ought to take them. We believe in science, we believe our doctors,” said Holmes.
The data shows that about a quarter million Floridians, 18 percent of all those that have gotten a shot, did not disclose their ethnic information.
Florida’s point-man on vaccines said hesitancy is a problem for African Americans.
“Just because I put a site in an African American community, it doesn’t guarantee access. The only way to guarantee access is to make sure that I am closing that pod,” said Director of the Division of Emergency Management Jared Moskowitz.
State Senator Audrey Gibson isn’t so sure.
“It’s not hard to look up data on demographics and target certain communities. We do that in political races all the time. So, there’s no reason for that not to have happened the way it should have,” said Gibson.
The pastors also argue that Publix stores one of the main distribution points, are out of reach for many poor Floridians.
Floridians will soon start seeing a public service campaign, funded with $1.6 million in federal money, to encourage people to be vaccinated.
Governor Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders are going to war with big tech social media companies who they say have played fast and loose with the public square.
Companies who don’t treat everyone the same could face big fines.
In his 2018 race for Agriculture Commissioner, Republican Matt Caldwell paid Facebook to run a campaign ad showing his support of the 2nd Amendment.
Instead, it was blocked for a day.
“We were being prevented from talking about a fairly straight forward American value,” said Caldwell in a 2018 interview.
Now, pointing to the most recent election, the Governor and legislative leaders want to hold the five tech giants accountable for their decisions.
“We’re looking at protecting privacy. We’re looking at protecting people from being censored and deplatformed. And we are looking at protecting people from election interference,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
As proposed, the legislation would allow individual consumers and the Attorney General to file lawsuits against big tech companies for blocking users or failing to follow their own terms of service.
It would also fine big tech $100,000 a day for de-platforming political candidates.
“When it comes to elections in Florida, big tech should stay out of it,” said DeSantis.
Senate President Wilton Simpson called the censorship one-sided.
“Lets be clear. They are targeting conservatives,” said Simpson.
Florida currently holds about $8 billion in big tech stocks, but calls to divest those stocks appear to be going nowhere.
“And they have market caps that this would be a drop in the bucket,” said DeSantis.
Agriculture Commissioner and Top-elected state Democrat Nikki Fried believes big tech has become a monopoly.
“Big tech has gotten too big,” said Fried.
But she said the GOP’s motivation is misguided.
“This is politics,” said Fried.
House Speaker Chris Sprowls believes Florida’s legislation can make a difference.
“They don’t have to tell people what they are doing or why they are doing it. Under our bill, they have to,” said Sprowls.
Even the Governor acknowledged Florida is just one state, but he said he hoped other states would be emboldened.
One in five renters and one in ten homeowners are believed to be behind on their rent or mortgage payments nationally.
In Florida, more than 47,000 eviction notices have been filed, and a handful of bills filed at the State Capitol seek to keep people in their homes.
Every day in Florida, 180 new eviction notices are being filed.
A total of 47,676 have been filed since the pandemic began according to the state courts administrator.
A legal services documentary put out by Virginia Poverty Law Center highlights the problem.
Most landlords won’t rent to someone who has been evicted.
“We’’ll check the court records and see an eviction and unfortunately, we can’t help you,” said Margaret Eaddy, a woman with a past eviction interviewed in the documentary.
In Florida legislation has been filed to require courts to send tenants and landlords to mediation.
“It’s to help level the playing field. Try to provide more process for tenants,” said House sponsor Fentrice Driskell.
Under the bill, tenants would not have to post all of their back due rent with the court, guaranteeing a hearing on the facts.
Other pending legislation would remove eviction documents from the public record.
“We allow records to be expunged and sealed for criminal offenses. Why not for the unfortunate situation of an eviction?” Said Senate sponsor Darryl Rouson.
Amanda Gill with the Florida Apartment Association worries the legislation will do more harm than good.
“This legislation would ultimately prevent housing providers from working with residents in those incidents where they would otherwise be incentivized to do so,” said Gill.
But legal services attorney Stephanie Johnson said anything to slow evictions will help people.
“To not have those evictions count against them so they can find adequate housing is important,” said Johnson.
The CDC’s national eviction moratorium has been extended through the first of April.
The national moratorium has kept most cases from going to court, but this year’s session begins March 2nd and runs through April 30th, a full month after the national moratorium is set to expire.
The Governor is proposing Florida spend $4.4 billion more than it did last year, much of it due to federal funding for Medicaid, but none-the-less, the rosy economic picture comes as a surprise.
‘Florida Leads’ is the theme of this year’s budget proposal.
The Governor said despite a pandemic ravaged economy, Florida is doing better than most states.
“If you are a hair stylist, we protect your right to earn a living,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
The result has been hundreds of millions in unexpected revenue.
“You go back in April, people were anticipating a massive hold, so we were able to do better,” said DeSantis.
Education funding is up in the Governor’s proposal.
He would increase per pupil spending by $233 a student.
“And that’s $18,019 per pupil,” said DeSantis.
There’s also 550 million new dollars for teacher raises.
“To the goal of getting the average starting salary statewide to $47,500,” said DeSantis.
College and University funding remains flat with no hike in tuition.
“There are not a lot of spending increases throughout the budget that are not pandemic driven,” said DeSantis.
Not all is rosy, there are 169 fewer state jobs in the new proposal and a billion dollars would be cut from existing state budgets.
The Governor also wants to continue funding for the Everglades and water quality at $625 million.
There’s also a billion new dollars over four years to fight climate change.
“And the purpose of this is to tackle the challenges posed by flooding, intensified storm events, sea level rise,” said DeSantis.
And with all the increased spending outlined by the Governor, Florida will start the new budget with $6.6 billion in reserves, the highest in state history.
Florida lawmakers will have the final say in the spending plan when their begin their annual session on March 2nd.
Under legislation passed through its first Senate committee in the State Capitol Wednesday, teachers, police and other public sector union members would have to reaffirm their desire to be in their union.
Sponsors argue the bill makes sure employees have the final say on their money, but unions say it’s an effort to hurt them.
Police, firemen, teachers and even government clerks would have to proactively confirm they want to continue their union membership under legislation moving at the Capitol.
Sponsor Ray Rodrigues wants those union members to know they have alternatives.
“The acknowledgement must include a statement that payment of union dues is voluntary and that the employee may not be discriminated against based upon union membership,” said Senator Rodrigues.
But union sympathizers allege the bill is about much more.
“This bill is just another attempt at union busting,” said State Senator Victor Torres.
The bill would require public sector union members to proactively tell their employer they want to stay in a union at least every three years, or after each new contract.
“We would ask what is the compelling reason to insert the employer between the employee and their union,” said Stephanie Kunkel with the Florida Education Association.
Law enforcement unions in particular are worried that someone will miss the notice to re-up and then not have any benefits if they get hurt.
The legislation cleared its first committee on a four to two vote.
“It encourages that discussion between a member and their union,” said Senator Kelli Stargel.
“I heard from the law enforcement, firefighters, teachers, health care workers and they are asking us not to support this bill,” said Senator Linda Stewart.
Sponsor Rodrigues rejects the union busing characterization.
“We think there should be a signed authorization, signed by the employer, before the employees pay is reduced,” said Rodrigues.
If the bill becomes law, public sector unions would not be allowed to ask anyone why they dropped their membership.
The bill cleared the House last year but was never taken up in the Senate.
Union leaders worry it stands a better chance this year, since it’s getting such an early hearing in the Senate.
A Senate resolution approved by a committee in the State Capitol Wednesday says Florida rejects socialism in all its forms.
The resolution is pushback to the political unrest leading up to and after the election.
Senate sponsor Manny Diaz said its main purpose is to remind people that system we have is still working.
“Its just a message that the system itself works. Capitalism and free markets have pulled more people our of poverty worldwide than any other system. And anywhere that socialism has devolved, it hasn’t worked,” said Diaz.
The resolution, if it clears the full Senate, carries no legal weight and it does not have to be approved by the House or Governor.
The names of everyone applying to be a university or state college President in Florida will no longer be public under legislation approved along party lines Tuesday morning in the State Capitol.
This is the sixth year the legislation has been filed.
Only the names of finalists would become public, which records advocates say doesn’t tell the public enough.
State lawmakers want to keep the names of people applying for university or state college presidencies out of the public record, at least initially.
Their argument, candidates don’t want their current bosses to know they applied for another job.
“What we really want is a broader pool of applicants,” said Senate sponsor Jeff Brandes.
But opponents, including FSU faculty union president Matthew Lata, contradicted lawmakers.
He said being considered for a new job is actually a plus in academia.
“Being recruited is a part of what we do, and its a part of what cements our national reputation,” said Lata.
The First Amendment Foundation worries the public will never know if politics overshadowed a quality leader.
“So we won’t know if there was a lovely, diverse pool of applicants of women, of people of color. We won’t have any of that information. We’ll only know about these last candidates,” said Pam Marsh, President of the Foundation.
The legislation has never been able to get the two thirds vote required to enact a new public records exemption.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Let’s leave things the way they are because its been working,” said Lata.
Committee Chair Joe Gruters said the legislation doesn’t undermine current university leaders, but it could prove beneficial.
“I think we’ve been pretty lucky with our picks, so the other side works, and however, I just think you are limiting the pool,” said Gruters.
Over the six years the bill has been introduced, it has passed both chambers on majority votes, but never by the two thirds votes needed to enact new restrictions on public records.
Under the legislation only finalists names become public at least 21 days before a vote, but opponents say the final recommendation could be just one candidate.
Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Apple, and Alphabet would all be banned from doing business with the state or local governments in Florida under legislation filed at the State Capitol.
The ban would go into effect two years from now, at the beginning of 2023, but House sponsor Rep. Randy Fine hopes the companies will change their censorship policies before the deadline begins.
“Twitter banned 70,000 accounts. Is this just going to be a cascading thing? Our goal is for these companies to realize they have made a mistake and reverse course, so we never actually have to do this. But should they continue to shut down the thoughts of half our state, then we have to stand up for those folks and say look, if you are going to boycott Florida, then we are going to boycott you,” said Fine.
“Conservative voices are being suppressed. There is no doubt about it. We have to do something to hold these companies accountable,” said Senate sponsor Joe Gruters.
A second piece of the same bill blames China for the Coronavirus economic meltdown.
It would ban state and local governments from purchasing any product made wholly in China or assembled elsewhere that contains less than 25 percent of US made parts.
Sales over the internet have increased from 30 to 50 percent during the pandemic, yet Florida remains one of two states with a sales tax that does not place the tax burden on out-of-state retailers.
But where the tax is collected could soon be changing.
If you have purchased something over the internet or from a catalog, and the seller didn’t collect the sales tax, you as a consumer, are supposed to fill out this form and send what you owe to the state.
Only Florida and Missouri don’t force out-of-state retailers to collect at the point of sale, but lawmakers today took the first step to shift the burden to internet merchants.
“This is the right time. During the pandemic we’ve seen people’s buying patterns shift. And certainly, Florida is on the losing end, because not enough people are paying the tax that’s owed,” said State Senator Joe Gruters.
The constant parade of packages arriving at doors is only expected to increase in volume, even post pandemic.
Collecting the already owed tax at the point of sale is one of dozens of recommendations that Florida TaxWatch believes will get the state finances back on track.
“We have the second highest reliance on sales and use tax. We should have been at this a long time ago. It’s been ideological head in sand,” said Dominic Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch.
There’s always been opposition.
It used to come from lawmakers worried about being labeled with voting for a tax increase.
But now the AFL-CIO says corporations and others should pay more before working people.
“We have working people who should be paying the tax, but why do they go first? Why are they the ones whose pocket books are going to get hit first?” said Dr. Rich Templin with the Florida AFL-CIO.
And consumers who haven’t paid the tax could be liable for what they over for up to three years.
Changing the point of the taxes collection is expected to raise up to a billion dollars a year that has been going uncollected.
Federal Court testimony in the case of a Tallahassee man charged with making a threat over the Internet to kidnap and harm protestors at the State Capitol painted the 33-year-old man as either a dangerous extremist or a man whose friends think is a loose cannon, who used over enthusiastic words on the internet.
The FBI arrested Daniel Baker last Friday after he distributed a flyer both on and off line.
It calls for right-wing Capitol protestors to be encircled and trapped inside the building.
In a video, Lawrence Keefe, US Attorney for Florida’s Northern District, said the arrest sent a message.
“We will take all appropriate actions against credible threats,” said Keefe.
The FBI testified Baker came to their attention after returning from fighting against the Syrian Government.
Federal prosecutors argued that Baker’s decade of homelessness and his written threats, are reason to keep him behind bars.
A roommate, a friend and his landlord all painted a picture of a good, but hapless individual.
“And he’s just a joy to be around. He’s bright, he’s energetic, he’s an entrepreneur. He’s volunteering for all kinds of things in the community. He’s the kind of person we more of,” said Suzanna Matthews, Baker’s landlord.
“He’s an eccentrically spoken person, so I would take it all with a grain of salt,” Desiree Dattis, Baker’s friend.
Dattis is a teacher and homeless advocate.
She first met Baker a decade ago.
She eventually let the homeless man camp in her backyard for a year.
“He’s a genuinely a nice guy and this just a lot of talk,” said Dattis.
And Baker’s roommate Eric Champagne told the court Baker did not want to hurt anyone.
“The FBI themselves were warning about this and I think he took the FBI warning seriously and I think he was just trying to protect his neighbors,” said Champagne.
And the Federal Public Defender admitted that Baker could be shaky, but that he would benefit from mental health sessions if he is released.
The judge did not rule from the bench and said a written order with be forthcoming.
61-year-old Mark Wayne Clark of Tallahassee was arrested for making a false report of a bomb at the State Capitol.
The call came from a bar several miles to the east of the building just before 3 AM.
The threat was overheard by one of the bar’s employees and police were called.
The arrest was made at the bar.
Employees at the Capitol were kept out of the building until 9 AM Thursday morning while police used explosive sniffing K-9’s to determine the threat was a hoax.
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