FEDC Inside Track For Legislative Affairs: Week of April 14-18

House photo by Meredith Hill 

Above:  House Democrats in the back of the chamber stretch as the House settled into a long night Friday April 18, 2008, in Tallahassee, Florida. The gridlock began and continued into the late night after Republicans refused to take up a Democratic amendment and the Democrats inturn responded by forcing the reading of the entire content of each bill.

 

FEDC LEGISLATIVE REPORT:  Week of April 14-18

With only two weeks remaining of the 2008 Legislative Session, the pace is at an all-time high. Bills that are expected to pass this year are moving through House Councils and Senate Committees and are making their way to be heard on the floors of each respective chamber.

The House and Senate will be focusing on the budget during the evenings, while they conference regarding policy during the days. Negotiations will continue in order to bring all of the Members’ differences closer together.

Tensions mounted in the House on Friday, April 18, as detailed in this report by The Miami Herald reprinted below:

 

Posted on Sat, Apr. 19, 2008
Partisan rancor erupts in Florida House

BY MARC CAPUTO AND MARY ELLEN KLAS

A toxic combination of partisan rancor and muscle-flexing by an empowered Democratic caucus erupted into an all-day and all-night feud of parliamentary one-upsmanship in the Florida House of Representatives that kept lawmakers in their seats well into the morning hours Saturday.

The staredown — which could poison already tense budget talks and kill scores of pieces of legislation — ended at 2:14 a.m. Saturday, 14 hours and 46 minutes after Democrats became angry that Republican leaders had strong-armed them recently and then cut off debate on an important education bill that is a priority for Speaker Marco Rubio.

The Republican move was one procedural tactic too many in an election year.

And Democrats, led by Miami Beach Rep. Dan Gelber, had just enough votes to strike back with a procedural move of their own: Have every word in every piece of legislation read outloud. Normally, bills are just read by title and then amended, debated and voted on.

Not this time.

From 11:28 a.m. Friday until 1:18 a.m. Saturday, a total of 398 pages of bills were read by multiple readers — including lawmakers — in incessant, mind-numbing detail about everything from condominium association law to a proposal to crack down on abusing nursing home patients.

The one exception to the Democrat-led reading came when Republicans seized the initiative by having the last bill read over the loudspeakers by a sped-up computerized text-recognition machine. The bill, concerning affordable health care, was approved on a party-line vote.

The standoff didn’t just grind the lawmaking to a near-halt. It threatened to paint Democrats as petty obstructionists, mar the legacy of Rubio —- who took office pledging open debate and bipartisanship —- and helped isolate House Republicans further from the Senate and Republican Gov. Charlie Crist as the 60-day session winds down to its May 2 end.

Rubio said the Democrats’ move ”was more of a stunt” than anything else, and notedthat he has given Democrats unprecedented access since he took charge in 2007.

Rubio first reacted angrily to the stalling tactic, though, by gaveling the House into silence repeatedly and ordering House guards with the Sergeant-at-Arms office to force every member into the chamber. He then ordered the members to sit down and be quiet, then cut off their Internet service for a time.

Later, he cracked jokes and compared the sleepless and tense House floor to the New Orleans Superdome during Hurricane Katrina.

”I understand it’s a little bit testy and so forth,” Rubio said earlier in the day. “But we will preserve decorum and we will use all the methods available of the Florida House to ensure that.”

So when Democrats wouldn’t back down, Rubio’s top lieutenant, Rep. David Rivera, removed three easy-to-pass Democratic bills off the agenda concerning nurses, AIDS testing and even a license plate to benefit the historically black Bethune Cookman University.

Democrats said they’d stop stalling if their bills were placed back on the agenda, and if the House allowed 20 minutes of debate and a vote on an amendment to Rubio’s priority bill to revamp school curricula. The amendment, resembling previous Democratic plans, was a Senate Republican measure that had passed the upper chamber unanimously.

Rubio said the measure would be heard later, but not now.

With that, the fight went from partisan to political to personal to tribal. Lawmakers forfeited plane early tickets home for Passover, good meals, goodwill, sleep, camaraderie or the chance to attend the Black Caucus gala.

The pride intensified.

”I’m from Harlem. We don’t get punked,” said Democratic Rep. Joe Gibbons of Hallandale Beach.

Democrats were pushing the education amendment because it opened the door to modifying the FCAT exam, which Democrats have long despised for its rigid link to the state’s school grading system and the man who pushed it through: Former Gov. Jeb Bush, who tapped Rubio as his ideological successor.

Rubio refused to allow the education measure to be changed. The measure is the first idea of his 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida’s Future initiative. And he wanted it left as is.

When Democrats tried to bring up the amendment Friday morning, Fort Lauderdale Republican Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff pulled a procedural move to limit debate.

Gelber, anger in his voice, unsheathed his procedural move by demanding all the bills be read in full. The obscure measure has been used before as a protest by the minority party, most recently in 2006 for a brief time on the Senate floor, in the House in 2001 and in 1992, when Republicans used it to stall a vote on reapportionment.

Democrats hold 43 seats in the 120-member House, three more than needed under the Constitution to demand to have an entire bill read. Democrats reached those numbers after picking up eight seats during the time Rubio barnstormed the state for his 100 Ideas initiative in 2006.

”We can’t allow our voice to be taken away up here,” Gelber said. “That’s all we have.”

Republicans were caught flatfooted by Gelber’s push. After all, though Democrats wanted to debate the schools measure, they ultimately voted for it.

Republicans got their revenge at 1:10 a.m. Saturday when Republican Rep. Ray Sansom of Destin moved to have the last bill, concerning healthcare, read. The House Republicans then played the text-recognition recording.

”Welcome to the 21st Century,” Rubio said.

Earlier, in a letter to the press, Bogdanoff and Republican leader Adam Hasner of Delray Beach said Gelber and other Democrats wanted to stall while Republicans wanted to speed things up due to Passover and the wishes of the “Black Caucus to attend their legislative gala this evening.”

The letter suggested Gelber’s bid for a Senate seat this fall was getting in the way, though Democrats said Rubio was the one playing politics.

The atmosphere was already tense before Friday. Democrats in both chambers have protested the $66 billion budget due to $5 billion in cuts that will hit programs for kids, the sick, the poor and the elderly as never before.

But the atmosphere devolved Wednesday when Rubio dispatched the sergeant’s office to fetch Democratic Miami Beach Rep. Luis Garcia to force him to vote on a resolution concerning trade with Colombia — a highly unusual strong-arm tactic. The next day, Rubio met with a potential Republican challenger for Garcia.

Democrats said the House was becoming needlessly partisan on another measure debated Thursday and then approved early Saturday: Gov. Crist’s health plan to reduce some regulations to allow people to buy stripped-down health insurance packages. House leaders want more with their plan. Crist doesn’t want it. Neither does the Senate or Democrats.

But when Democrats pushed Crist’s bill, which passed the Senate unanimously, they were accused of being big-government lovers.

”Only in this chamber can we make a nonpartisan issue partisan,” Gelber said repeatedly Thursday, Friday and then Saturday.

When things started to break down Friday morning, Gelber expected Rubio to become so unbending that he even told members: ”Nobody drink water,” so they wouldn’t have to go to the bathroom.

”We’re going to be here a long time,” Rubio said at first, noting that members could miss their planes for home, especially Jewish members who want to get home before Passover.

The first bill to be read in full was Miami Republican Rep. Julio Robaina’s 86-page condominium bill that required six different bill readers to switch off reading from 11:28 a.m. to 1:32 p.m.

”I hope you guys like condominium law,” Rubio said.

When talking on the floor got so loud it began to drown out the bill reader, Rubio angrily gaveled the House into a semblance of silence. He said if members didn’t keep quiet he would order the Sergeant-at-Arms to ensure “all the members are in the chamber and in their seats throughout the entire reading.”

About 20 minutes later, Rubio then gaveled the House quiet again, ordered everyone to take their seats and said he had ordered the sergeant to shut off Internet access. The members then began using their BlackBerries as the sergeants tried to figure out how to shut down Web access without disabling the entire House system.

Rubio brought the gavel down again.

”The clerk will stop reading until Rep. [Frankin] Sands takes his seat,” Rubio said.

Sands, the incoming Democratic leader from Weston, promptly sat. The droning reading continued. And Sands soon missed his 2 p.m. flight home.

Members began shuffling around in their wheeled chairs so as not to be caught standing. Republican Rep. Marty Bowen, a Haines City Republican, moved around in a stoop so as not to look as if she were standing.

An hour later, about 12:45 p.m., the House technical staff figured out how to shut down the members’ government-issued BlackBerries and Internet access. Some members then started using their personal BlackBerries.

Rubio later had the Internet turned back on so members could read the bills online. Soon they were milling about freely. And by late Friday evening, Rubio started to crack himself up as fellow Republicans mocked Democrats by issuing a fake ransom note to Hasner, first for his pen and then for his BlackBerry.

”This place is starting to feel like the Superdome,” he joked, referring to the New Orleans stadium that housed victims of Hurricane Katrina. “They’re running out of water. They’re running out of food. The restrooms are backed up.”

Democrats laughed along, though the mood was far from happy. During the afternoon, Rep. Rivera convened a Rules Committee meeting and issued an agenda with no Democratic bills on it.

Asked why, Rivera said: “Time management.”

© 2008 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.

 

BUDGET

Receiving even less funding than originally anticipated, budget allocations were received by their respective committee Chairs on Thursday, April 17.  In cases where General Revenue Funds are used, Chairs have been focusing on additional ways to reduce their budgets.

Conference committees began on April 17 at 5 p.m. and will continue until Tuesday, April 22 at 6 p.m.  At that time, all unresolved issues will bump to the presiding officers (committee chairs).  On Wednesday, April 23, remaining unresolved issues will bump to the At Large Chairs, Representative Sansom and Senator Carlton.  Issues yet unresolved by the At Large Chairs then are bumped to the Senate President and House Speaker.

There have been no changes to the House or Senate appropriations bills reported last week. To view each bill’s details, click below:

• House:  HB 2900
• Senate:  SB 5001 

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT-RELATED BILLS MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

 

Various economic development bills continue to move through the remainder of their respective committee references.

HB 217 Relating to Tax on Sales, Use, and Other Transactions
Sponsored by Representative Thad Altman (R- Melbourne)

• Update:  On Special Order Calendar, awaiting hearing by the full House.

HB 217 creates an exemption from the state sales and use tax for:
• An aircraft that primarily will be used in a fractional aircraft ownership program; and
• Parts or labor used in the completion, maintenance, repair, or overhaul of an aircraft for primary use in a fractional aircraft ownership program.
Additionally, CS/HB 217 provides for a maximum tax of $300 on the sale or use in this state of a fractional aircraft ownership interest in aircraft pursuant to a fractional ownership program. This maximum tax applies to the total consideration paid for the fractional ownership interest, including amounts paid by the fractional owner as monthly management or maintenance fees.

HB 217 defines a “fractional aircraft ownership program” as a program that meets the requirements in the Federal Aviation Administration regulation Title 14, chapter I, part 91, subpart K, C.F.R., except that the program must include a minimum of 25 aircraft owned or leased by the business or affiliated group providing the program.

After passing the House Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Council 11 (Y) to 3 (N) on April 8, HB 217 was considered by the Policy and Budget Council on April 14 , where it passed 24 (Y) to 11 (N).  Now having passed its final committee of reference, the bill was placed on the Special Order Calendar, where it awaits hearing by the full House.

A similar Senate bill, SB 380, has been stalled in the Senate Finance and Tax Committee since March 6.

 

HB 293 Relating to Corporate Income Tax Credits
Sponsored by Representative Will Weatherford (R-Zephyrhills)

• Update:  Passed House Policy and Budget Council unanimously on April 18.  Has not yet been calendared for consideration by the full House.

HB 293 Creates the New Markets Tax Credit Program. The Program provides state tax credits for corporate income tax, under s. 220.11, F.S., and premium insurance tax, under s. 624.509, F.S., for qualified investments in Florida low-income communities.

The intent of HB 293 is to create a state New Markets Tax Credit program similar to the comparable federal program in order to make Florida more attractive to national investors who are deciding where to invest funds raised under the federal guidelines.

HB 293 was heard on April 18 by its final committee of reference, the Policy and Budget Council, where it passed unanimously.  It has not yet been calendared for consideration by the full House.

A similar Senate bill, SB 850, must proceed through two more committees of reference before being heard by the full Senate.

 

HB 593 Relating to Florida Research Commercialization Matching Grant Program
Sponsored by Representative Steve Precourt (R- Winter Garden)

• Update:  On House Special Order Calendar awaiting hearing by the full House on April 23

HB 593 creates the Florida Research Commercialization Matching Grant Program to assist small or startup companies that take advantage of federal and state partnerships to overcome a funding gap faced by many small companies for the creation of new technology-based products.

HB 593 passed unanimously in the House Policy and Budget Council on April 14.  Now read for consideration by the full House, it has been placed on the Special Order Calendar for April 23.

A similar Senate bill, SB 1120, must pass two more committees of reference before a full Senate hearing.

 

HB 1055 Relating to the Space Industry
Sponsored by Representative Thad Altman (R-Melbourne)

Update:  On House Special Order Calendar awaiting hearing by the full House on April 23

HB 1055 creates a multi-university Space Technology and Research Diversification Initiative (“STRDI”) within the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (“OTTED”). The initiative will be a university-based program to develop high-impact space research and applied technology programs that will advance the state’s interests in space industry expansion and diversification.  The research will be led by a
consortium of universities, with a main campus located in Brevard, Volusia, or Orange County, and will be centrally administered at the Space Life Sciences Laboratory.

HB 1055 bypassed the House Policy and Budget Council, its final committee of reference, and was placed on the House Special Order Calendar for April 23.

A similar Senate bill, SB 2526, must proceed through two more committees of reference.

 

HB 1373 Relating to Qualified Defense Contractor Tax Refund Program
Sponsored by Representative Thad Altman (R-Melbourne)

Update:  On House Special Order Calendar awaiting hearing by the full House on April 23

HB 1373 expands s. 288.1045, F.S., relating to the Qualified Defense Contractor tax refund program (“QDC”) to allow for space flight businesses or entities with space flight contracts to qualify for QDC tax refunds.  It also provides definitions for the terms “space flight business,” “space flight business contract,” “new space flight contract,” and “consolidation of space flight contract.”  HB 1373 amends the amount of tax refunds available to qualified applicants from $5,000 per job to match the tiered system used to award tax refunds under the Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund Program.

A similar Senate bill, SB 2666, is on the Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee April 22 agenda, its final committee of reference before being calendared for a full Senate hearing.

 

SB 1572 – Relating to Enterprise Zones/City of Ocala  
Sponsored by Senator Evelyn Lynn

SB 1572 authorizes the City of Ocala to apply to the OTTED for the designation of an enterprise zone. Provides an application deadline of December 31, 2008. Requires the OTTED to establish the initial effective date of the enterprise zone.

The bill must proceed through two more Senate committees of reference:  Finance and Tax; Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations before it may be heard by the full Senate.

 

SB 1626 – Relating to the Charter County Transit System Surtax  
Sponsored by Senator J.D. Alexander

This bill renames the Charter County Transit System Surtax as the Charter County Transportation System Surtax and expands the eligibility to levy the surtax to all charter counties.

Although SB 1626 was on the General Government Appropriations Committee agenda for April 15, it was not received.  

 

SB 428 – Relating to Workforce Innovation 
Sponsored by the Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations and Commerce and Senator Mike Bennett

SB 428 authorizes the designation of a regional workforce board as a one-stop operator and direct provider of certain services by agreement of the chief elected official and the Governor.  The bill requires that Workforce Florida, Inc., establish procedures for a regional workforce board to request permission to operate and the criteria for granting such permission. Provides for the permission to operate not exceed a certain period. 

Having passed its final committee of reference unanimously, SB 428 is on the Senate Special Order Calendar for April 23.

 

SB 2778 Relating to Economic Development
Sponsored by Senator Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey)

Update:  Amended on both the second and third Senate readings, SB 2778 has not been calendared by the House yet.

SB 2778 requires the Scripps Florida Funding Corporation, along with the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development (“OTTED”) and ETI to review the performance and progress of grant recipients of the Innovation Incentive Program.  It also requires the Legislative Budget Commission to review and approve an innovation incentive award before the Executive Office of the Governor releases the funds.  Senator Fasano indicated that the intent of this bill was to make certain the Legislature continues to have a watchful eye on its investments by enforcing accountability for meeting performance measures in place.

Amended on both the second and third Senate readings, SB 2778 passed the Senate unanimously on April 17. The engrossed bill has not yet been calendared for consideration in the House.

At least six economic development bills germane to SB 2778 are pending in the House.

 

HB 7111 Relating to Economic Development
Sponsored by Representative Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) and the Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Council

Update:  On House Special Order Calendar awaiting hearing by the full House on April 23

The bill, related to Economic Development, makes substantial amendments to Florida’s economic incentive programs and supports rural and small businesses at a minimal cost to the State. To read a comprehensive analyisis of the most recently-amended version of CS/HB 7111, click here.

Amended as a Council Substitute in the House Policy and Budget Council on April 15, the bill is now on the Special Order Calendar awaiting consideration by the full House on April 23.

No corresponding bills to HB 7111 have been filed in the Senate.

 

SB 2712 – Relating to Building Florida’s Future Revolving Trust Fund/OTTED
Sponsored by Senator Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey)

Update: Passed Senate April 17 unanimously on third reading with no amendments.  Linked bill SB 2714 is on the Senate Special Order Calendar for third reading.

SB 2712 creates the Building Florida’s Future Revolving Trust Fund to serve as a non-lapsing repository of funds to provide loan guarantees and other types of credit enhancements under the Building Florida’s Future Revolving Loan Guarantee Program, to be created in SB 2714. The loan guarantees would be incentives to local governments engaged in certain economic development activities, including public-private partnerships.

SB 2712 passed the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee unanimously and has been placed on the Senate Special Order Calendar for Wednesday, April 16.

 

SB 2714 – Relating to Economic Development
Sponsored by Senator Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey)

Update:  Linked to SB 2712, this bill was placed on the Senate Special order calendar on April 16 and is scheduled for third reading.

SB 2714 creates the “Building Florida’s Future Revolving Loan Guarantee Program” within the OTTED. The Program’s purpose is to provide loan guarantees or other credit enhancements to local governments or private entities for the purpose of building or modernizing facilities or infrastructure needed to attract or expand targeted industries, generally defined in s. 288.106(1)(o), F.S., as stable, high-wage businesses with tremendous potential for growth.

OTTED and ETI, the State’s business recruitment arm, would evaluate applications for the loan guarantees on such factors as credit-worthiness, and the extent to which the assistance would foster an innovative public-private partnership or attract private investment to the project. OTTED must transmit to the Legislature and the Governor an annual report, beginning January 5, 2009, about the Program’s activity.  $20 million was added to the Program through an amendment adopted to the bill during Committee.

 

SB 2310 – Relating to Economic Stimulus
Sponsored by Senator Jeremy Ring (D- Margate)

Update:  Amended by Senate during second reading, passed unanimously as amended on third reading April 17

This bill allows the State Board of Administration to invest a maximum 1.5 percent of the net asset value of the Florida Retirement System Trust Fund in technology and growth investments, as defined by general law. The bill also creates a $40 million prize ($20 million contributed by the State) to encourage the invention of a reusable space vehicle that could be used to replace the Space Shuttle. However, this bill does not appropriate any State funds for this prize.

An amended version passed the Senate on April 17 during third reading, however, this bill has not yet been scheduled for consideration by the House.

A similar bill, HB 1295, must still be heard by the House Policy and Budget Council (where it was scheduled for April 21) before it may proceed to the House floor. 

 

HB 1295 Relating to Stimulating the Economy
Sponsored by the House Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Council and co-sponsored by Representatives Frank Attkisson, Ed Hooper, Michael Scionti

HB 1295 Requires the Florida State Board of Administration to report on amount and type of technology and growth investments held in certain funds; authorizes board to invest certain percentage of net assets in certain technology and growth investments; increases percentage amount of alternative investments in any fund; requires OPPAGA to perform annual review; creates Reusable Space Vehicle Industry Prize Program within OTTED; provides for cash prize; requires the Lt. Governor to serve as the chair of the Program; requires adoption of rules; provides for program to terminate on specified date.

 

HB 687 Relating to Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises
Sponsored by Representative Bill Proctor (R- St. Augustine)

Update:  Passed House unanimously on April 17, now in Senate Messages

HB 687 creates a certification process within the Florida Department of Management Services (“DMS”) for small business enterprises owned and operated by service-disabled veterans. The certification process is substantially similar to the certification process implemented by DMS for minority business enterprises (“MBEs”).

A similar bill, SB 108, was placed on the Senate Special Order Calendar for second reading on April 23.

 

SB 402 Relating to Target Industry Businesses/Expedited Permitting
Sponsored by the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee and co-sponsored by Senators Mike Fasano and Don Gaetz

The bill cites the act as the “Mike McHugh Act” and requires the Department of Environmental Protection and water management districts to adopt programs to expedite the processing of permits for certain economic development projects. Provides an exception. Requires a municipality or county to identify certain businesses by resolution. Requires a preapplication review. Requires that a permit application be approved or denied within a certain period.

Presently awaiting hearing by the Senate Commerce Committee, SB 402 must then proceed its final committee of reference, General Government Appropriations before being heard by the full Senate.

A similar bill, HB 147, is on the House Special Order Calendar for third reading on April 23.

 

NEWS FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

 

Governor Crist Appoints Seven To The Task Force For The Study Of Biotech Competitiveness

Governor Charlie Crist on April 17, 2008 announced the following appointments to the Task Force for the Study of Biotech Competitiveness:

• Keisha Rice, 33, of Tallahassee, deputy director, Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, appointed for a term beginning April 17, 2008, and ending June 30, 2009.
• Charles “Chuck” Wells, 48, of Tallahassee, assistant director of the Office of Public Health Research, Florida Department of Health, appointed for a term beginning April 17, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009.
• Lucy Hadi, 62, of Tallahassee, chancellor for Workforce Education, Florida Department of Education, appointed for a term beginning April 17, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009.
• Rebecca Rust, 54, of Tallahassee, director of the Labor Market Statistics Center, Agency for Workforce Innovation, appointed for a term beginning April 17, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009.
• Valerie McDevitt, 38, of Clearwater, director of patents and licensing, University of South Florida, appointed for a term beginning April 17, 2008, and ending June 30, 2009.
• Geary Havran, 54, of Tampa, president, NDH Medical Inc., appointed for a term beginning April 17, 2008, and ending June 30, 2009.
• Robert “Bob” Rohrlack, 46, of Orlando, vice president of business retention and recruitment, Enterprise Florida Inc., appointed for a term beginning April 17, 2008, and ending June 30, 2009.

 

Governor Crist Announces Plan To Increase High School Achievement

Governor Charlie Crist on April 10, 2008 announced Florida’s participation in the American Diploma Project Network, a nationwide movement designed to improve preparation of high school students for the 21st century workforce. The Governor’s announcement came after discussing the benefits of participation with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.  To read the complete story, click here.

 

Governor Crist Meets With Health Insurers Interested In Participating In Cover Florida Plan

Governor Charlie Crist on April 22, 2008 met with representatives of Florida’s health insurance industry who have expressed interest in competing for the opportunity to provide affordable coverage for Florida’s 3.8 million uninsured individuals through the Governor’s Cover Florida plan. Governor Crist has proposed legislation that will allow the State of Florida to negotiate with health insurers to develop affordable health coverage for uninsured Floridians ages 19 to 64. To read the complete story, click here.

 

Governor Crist Calls For Health Care For Uninsured To Relieve Emergency Rooms

Governor Charlie Crist on April 10, 2008 visited Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers to discuss proposed legislation that will provide affordable health insurance for Florida’s uninsured. Senate Bill 2534, sponsored by Senator Durell Peaden of Crestview, would allow state government to negotiate with health insurers to develop affordable coverage for Florida’s 3.8 million uninsured individuals. Private health insurers have indicated that benefits packages would cost about $150 or less per month.  To read the complete story, click here.

 

Lt. Governor Kottkamp, Film Florida Announce Creation Of The Don Davis Film Finishing Fund

Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp joined Film Florida on April 21, 2008 to announce the creation of the Don Davis Film Finishing Fund, which will provide completion funding to aspiring filmmakers in the state.  To read the complete story, click here.

 

Governor Crist Accepts Recommendations Of Florida Hope Task Force

Governor Charlie Crist today accepted the final recommendations of the Florida Home Ownership Promotes the Economy (HOPE) Task Force. Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, chair of the Florida HOPE Task Force, delivered the recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.  To read the complete story, click here.

 

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact:

Frank Mayernick at (850) 251-8898
Tracy Mayernick at (850) 445-3000
at Colodny Fass