Public Affairs

This session, the tremendous amount of funding already invested in hurricane recovery places significant constraints on our budget and guides every facet of decision-making.

One of Florida’s most savvy politicians and one of Florida State University’s greatest advocates has died. T.K. Wetherell died Dec. 16 after a 15-year battle with cancer.

Congress recently voted to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Had they let it expire, real estate transactions requiring flood insurance across the country would have come to a halt because NFIP’s heavily subsidized policies have made it difficult for private flood insurers to compete. But in Florida, our flood insurance regulations could soon be a model to the nation.

Neighboring counties just three hours south of Tallahassee will need an additional area code. “The 407” is running out of phone numbers, so the Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a new area code for Central Florida – 689.

The Supreme Court of the United States, referred to as SCOTUS, consists of one chief justice and eight associate justices. With Justice Anthony Kennedy announcing his retirement effective July 31, 2018, President Trump will now nominate his replacement, to be confirmed by the Senate.

In November, Florida residents will have the chance to vote on 13 constitutional amendments – eight proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission.

Have you been wondering why the old capitol has been aglow in purple lights this week?

Governor Scott recently signed legislation seeking federal approval to make daylight saving time year-round, meaning you won’t have to move clocks back an hour in the fall or spring forward in the spring.

At 21, Amber Mariano became the youngest person ever elected to the Florida House of Representatives. Now, with her second legislative session under her belt, we caught up with her to get her perspective about Florida politics.

The Florida House, Senate, and Governor are proposing measures to help ensure the horrific Feb. 14 shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School never happen again. Students’ impassioned speeches, poems, songs and statements helped inspire new legislation currently being debated in Florida’s legislature. Proposals include:

How much do you know about your local city or county’s debt obligations? The LeRoy Collins Institute recently released its latest report, “Benchmarking Debt Obligations in Florida Cities and Counties,” to help Floridians stay informed on local government spending.

With a daily subscription to The Washington Post, I was an outlier in my first-year college dorm. I found its content more interesting than textbooks on which I perhaps should have focused. Then, I didn’t appreciate the courage of owner Katharine Graham, perfectly profiled by Meryl Streep in “The Post.”

2018 marks my last term representing the people of Tampa in Tallahassee. But my time in the legislature ending doesn’t mean I will stop advocating for Florida’s working families. I understand their struggles because I’ve lived them.

Last year, we successfully secured funding to expand the Bright Futures Academic Scholar Award to cover 100 percent of tuition and fees and a $300 book stipend for spring and fall semesters.

In the 2018 session, we are looking to continue to build on the successes of the 2017 session.

The holidays are here and many Floridians are shopping for that perfect gift. Others will wait till the last minute. But no matter when you plan to shop, it is important to do your research and guard against scams.

The Republican primary for one of Florida’s cabinet posts is heating up among three current House members and a former Circuit Judge.

Florida’s next commissioner of agriculture will be taking the lead on one of Florida’s most important industries, one year after much of Hurricane Irma had a devastating impact on Florida’s farming community. But before the Cabinet seat is filled, first comes the election with three candidates on the Republican side.

The figurative tumbleweeds blowing across Adams Street all summer, with downtown employees languishing in the scorching sun, were replaced with power suits and the cacophony of heels frenetically clacking in the Capitol.

As we know, hurricane recovery takes more than a few months. In fact, the economic recovery after severe storms takes multiple years. That’s why the Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition is promoting tax reform to update our 30-year-old code.

I was to fly into Charlottesville this week to repair a brick walkway I built 40 years ago at my alma mater and to call on potential clients, but after this past weekend’s tragedy, I canceled.

Children are adaptable, and although they should be held accountable for their actions, they also need appropriate interventions to effectively address their behavior.

The end of the 2017 regular legislative session brings the release of several organizations’ reports analyzing different aspects of the session. Two notable ones:

When legislators adjourn a committee meeting or floor session their time in the public eye is not over. The Capitol Press Corps is waiting with friendly, and sometimes not so friendly, questions. Over the years, the Press Corps has seen a change in its lineup and this year is no different.

In announcing the selection Scott stated, “Throughout his entire career, Noah has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to protecting our state’s incredible and diverse natural treasures. As a native Floridian, Noah knows firsthand how important our natural resources are to our families and visitors, and he understands that we must work each day to protect our environment on behalf of our future generations.”

More than 3,000 bills, resolutions and memorials were filed over the 60-day session, with only 249 measures passing both the House and Senate.

Two bombshells dropped in the middle of the 2017 Legislative Session: the retirement of longtime South Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and the resignation of State Sen. Frank Artiles.

One hundred days into the 115th Congress, and we’ve had lots of good days, along with one bad one. We’ve cut $66 billion worth of Washington red tape, and that’s progress. We removed the Antitrust Act exemption for health insurance companies.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has been successfully combatting identity theft-based fraud in Florida’s Reemployment Assistance program since 2013. This program provides financial benefits and helps job seekers quickly get back to work after losing their jobs.

Ever wonder where 160 legislators live when they come to Tallahassee for legislative session each year? While some find apartments to rent and others bring RVs to a local campground, many of them actually bunk up together and become roommates.