Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Session Is A Wrap
May 5, 2013
Maybe Rep. Irv Slosberg summed it up best when he spoke Friday from the House’s back rows.
“Sorry that we had a little meltdown for a couple of days, but 58 out of 60 days is pretty good,” the Boca Raton Democrat said.
The 2013 legislative session hit a rough patch during the final week when House Democrats protested the lack of a plan for expanding health coverage for low-income Floridians. An uninitiated viewer from Palatka or Wewahitchka might have been baffled to tune in and see House members sitting around listening to an automated voice — named Mary, of course — read bills as part of a procedural move by Democrats to slow down the session.
But put aside the protest and the failure to pass a health expansion. And Mary’s droning voice, for that matter.
By the time the House and Senate adjourned Friday night, Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Rick Scott could tout a successful session. Most of their priorities passed, and Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford orchestrated the 60 days with a certain professionalism that even the Democrats seemed to appreciate.
Scott, for example, focused on a limited agenda that had political curb appeal for lawmakers. That agenda included higher pay for teachers and tax relief for manufacturers — ideas that probably will play well when lawmakers chat up the Rotary Clubs back home.
“This Legislature cut taxes so we’ll have more jobs in this state,” Scott said. “We dramatically increased the funding for education, and we are giving our classroom teachers a pay raise. … These are great victories for Florida’s families.”
But part of the session’s smoothness also stemmed from an improving economy that gave lawmakers more money to play with. Unlike the past several years, lawmakers didn’t have to make unpopular budget decisions about issues such as cutting funding for universities or trimming payments to hospitals and nursing homes.
“The bottom line is, there’s nothing like having some money,” Senate Rules Chairman John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, said at one point during the session.
KUMBAYA RETURNS TO THE CAPITOL
At age 65, Gaetz is old enough to be the 33-year-old Weatherford’s father — and then some. But at least publicly, the pair respected each other and cooperated on priority issues, offering a change in tone from the past two years when the Senate, in particular, often appeared chaotic.
“The era of acrimony between the House and the Senate is over,” Gaetz, R-Niceville, said to a crowd gathered on the fourth floor of the Capitol to celebrate “sine die,” the traditional end of the session.
The House and Senate will always have spats, and some bills and budget proposals will always get killed as collateral damage. But Gaetz, Weatherford and their lieutenants seemed to get past those spats this year on most of the big issues.
For instance, the $74.5 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 was finished Monday, giving lawmakers four days to peruse it before they voted. Along with providing money for teacher raises, the spending plan also will boost pay for state employees, pump more money into the university system and funnel money to projects and programs across the state.
The Senate unanimously approved the budget, while the House passed it by a 106-11 vote.
Similarly, Gaetz and Weatherford made clear from the beginning of the legislative session that they wanted to reform the state’s ethics laws and change the campaign-finance system. The House and Senate whipped together compromises on the issues, and Scott signed the bills Wednesday.
Among the session’s other notable bills, lawmakers Friday approved a plan that will seek to prevent a repeat of the voting delays and other problems that plagued the 2012 elections in Florida. Almost all Senate Democrats voted against the plan because of concerns that it did not go far enough, but other Democrats said the bill (HB 7013) was a move in the right direction.
“It takes men and women of maturity to understand when you’ve done something in error to come back and correct it,” said Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg. “And we saw what happened in the November elections, and as a body we have come back this year to correct it. … I look forward to us coming back next session and fixing it just a little bit more.”
YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT
Even when legislative leaders put their considerable muscle behind bills, that doesn’t mean those issues will pass. That was evident this week when the Senate, in a pair of close votes, killed a Weatherford plan to revamp the state retirement system and a controversial education measure commonly known as the “parent trigger” bill.
Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, particularly made a priority of a bill that would close the traditional pension system to new employees and require them to enroll in 401(k)-style “defined contribution” plans. While the speaker contended that the change is needed to maintain the long-term financial health of the retirement system, Democrats and some Senate Republicans combined to kill it (HB 7011).
Opponents said the traditional pension system is important for government employees, including law enforcement officers and firefighters, who often work for relatively low pay. They also discounted comparisons with private-sector workers, many of whom only have 401(k)-type options.
“I just do not understand why we want to experiment around, and we want to take these people who are protecting us every single day and put them in a system, just because it works in private business,” said Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who gave an impassioned speech.
But while people in the Capitol will remember the death of the pension bill and hundreds of other measures, the session will be known for lawmakers’ failure to approve a plan to expand health coverage for low-income people.
House and Senate Republicans decided early in the session that they did not want to carry out an expansion of the Medicaid program under the federal Affordable Care Act. That expansion was expected to lead to the federal government funneling an estimated $51 billion to Florida over the next decade to provide Medicaid coverage to roughly 1 million people.
The House and Senate put together alternatives to a Medicaid expansion, including a Senate plan that would tap into the same pot of federal money to offer private health insurance to low-income people. But House Republicans refused to count on the federal money and pushed a smaller-scale proposal to offer state subsidies to targeted groups of uninsured Floridians.
Supporters of the Senate approach, ranging from the hospital industry to organized labor, lobbied heavily but never could get traction with House Republicans. The frustration turned into protest this week when House Democrats reached into the rules book and used a procedural move to slow down the House proceedings for two days.
But in the end, the session adjourned without the House and Senate coming close to agreement.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The 2013 legislative session ended Friday night, after the House and Senate passed a $74.5 billion state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The chasm between the competing visions is too wide to overcome.” — Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, putting to rest hopes of reaching a deal on expanding health coverage for low-income people.
By The News Service of Florida
Legislature Approves Florida Sales Tax Holiday
May 5, 2013
The back-to-school sales tax holiday will likely be back this summer and will include personal computers.
The Legislature passed on Friday – the last day of the legislative session – a wide-ranging economic development bill (SB 406) that includes a three day period, Aug. 2 through Aug. 4, during which a number of items won’t be subject to the 6 percent sales tax.
The bill now goes to Gov. Rick Scott.
Clothes, shoes, wallets, bags, and backpacks costing $75 or less and school supplies costing $15 or less would be covered by the tax holiday.
Personal computers and related accessories costing $750 or less, as long as they’re not used for commercial purposes, are also covered, as are digital readers, tablets, and items like keyboards or monitors – as long as they don’t include a TV tuner.
The tax break, as has been in the case in previous years, wouldn’t apply in theme parks or at airports or hotel gift shops.
State economists have estimated the impact of the proposed three-day holiday at $28.3 million to the state and $6.4 million to local governments – though some economic studies have shown that people are induced to buy more uncovered items during the sales tax holiday, meaning tax collections could increase.
The sales tax holiday was put into another broader economic development bill which was worked out in a conference committee of the two chambers and given final approval by both on Friday.
In addition to the tax holiday, the bill creates a schedule for reviewing state incentives and economic development programs in an effort to prevent spending on programs that don’t deliver promised jobs, a major focus of lawmakers this session.
The bill directs that all applicants for an incentive be evaluated for “economic benefits” in a uniform fashion and requires the state Department of Economic Opportunity to publish information about economic development incentives provided to businesses.
The bill also extends by 12 years a state distribution of a 1 percent cigarette tax addition from a few years ago under which the money goes to the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute.
The bill also included a sales tax exemption for natural gas used to generate electricity in a non-combustion fuel cell, an expansion of an aircraft parts and maintenance tax exemption, a sales tax distribution schedule for constructing or renovating baseball spring training facilities; and a number of other tax credits.
by The News Service of Florida
2013 Season Begins At The Market At Saint Monica’s
May 5, 2013
The Market at Saint Monica’s kicked off its third season Saturday in the parking lot of Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church on Highway 95A in Cantonment.
Multiple vendors were on hand, plus there was a smoked pulled pork barbecue fundraiser and children’s activities.
The Market at Saint Monica’s is held on the first and third Saturdays of each month. For more information about Market’s vendors, special events, or schedule, visit www.st-monicas.org/market.html.
Pictured: Opening day at the Market at Saint Monica’s in Cantonment. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Relay At Tate Raises Money For A Cure (With Gallery)
May 4, 2013
The annual Relay for Life of Greater Escambia got underway Friday evening at Tate High School.
Tate High senior Halee Boyd, who is battling a rare form of cancer, spoke to the crowd of hundreds as the event got underway. “It’s about the fight; it’s about never giving up,” she said. Boyd led the survivor’s lap in a “pace car”.
For a photo gallery, click here.
A break was called in the relay by early Saturday morning due to weather. Teams were back by 7 a.m. for more activities and fundraising. The closing ceremony was held at 11:30 a.m. with recognition, awards and a final lap.
The event at Tate High, formerly called the North Pensacola Relay for Life, has raised well over a half million dollars for cancer research.
Pictured top and below: The survivor and caregiver laps kick of the Greater Escambia Relay for Life Friday evening at Tate High School. Pictured inset: Tate senior Halee Boyd, who is battling cancer, addresses the Relay crowd. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Presents ‘Grease’
May 4, 2013
Northview High School presented Grease before a sold out crowd Friday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Photo: Beautiful Rainbow
May 4, 2013
A full rainbow was seen over portions of the North Escambia area Friday afternoon. Pictured top is the rainbow over Northview High School (by Ramona Preston). Pictured below is the rainbow over Atmore (by Ditto Gorme). Pictured bottom is the rainbow over Oakshade Road behind Northview HIgh in Bratt (by Donna Gilman). Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chipley Beats Jay In 10 For Region 1-1A Championship
May 4, 2013
The Jay Lady Royals fell short of a return trip to state with a Friday night loss to Chipley.
In Friday night’s Region 1-1A championship game, the Chipley Tigers defeated Jay 4-1 in 10 innings.
Chassity McCranie pitched 10 for the Lady Royals, allowing four runs, 12 hits and striking out four. Sydney Lowery went 2-4 for Jay with two doubles and an RBI. Olivia Wright was 1-3, Destiny Herring was 1-4, and Brittany Gillman was 2-4.
Lawmakers Approve Budget, Finish Session
May 4, 2013
The House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a $74.5 billion budget Friday evening, bringing the curtain down on the 2013 legislative session.
The spending plan for the year that begins July 1 — the one thing lawmakers are constitutionally required to do — gives raises to teachers and state employees, the latter for the first time in six years; repays $300 million that lawmakers had drained from university reserves last year in an effort to close a budget gap; and sets aside money for projects large and small, including $70 million to help restore the Everglades.
Perhaps as significantly, the plan was passed a few minutes before 7 p.m. Friday, marking a departure from the late and sometimes bitter denouements to the sessions of recent years.
“The era of acrimony between the House and the Senate is over,” said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, moments after the session ended.
In the House, lawmakers voted 106-11 to approve the budget, with a handful of Democrats and Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne Beach, voting against the package. Most members of the minority party joined Republicans in approving the deal. The vote was unanimous in the Senate.
The measure still needs to be signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, who will have the opportunity to nix individual projects and proposals with his veto pen.
“I’ll be going line-by-line, making sure that we don’t waste any dollars,” Scott said after the session.
The era of good feelings was helped along by modest growth in state revenues as the budget finally began to emerge from the shadows of the Great Recession.
“There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not another train,” said Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach.
The extra money allowed the Legislature to both allow spending to grow and say that they were being careful guardians of taxpayer money.
“And this year in addition to taking care of the people who you’re supposed to take care of, you’ve also responsibly balanced your budget by putting $2.6 billion in reserves, and responsibly funding one of our most important missions coming up here, and that is education, by putting $1.8 billion new into your entire education system,” said House Appropriations Chairman Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland.
It was not a universally shared sentiment. Democratic leaders in the House hammered Republicans for not including as part of the budget any program to use federal funds to provide health-care for low-income Floridians. While Scott and the Senate backed doing so, House Republican leaders balked and said that the federal government was an unreliable partner.
House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, acknowledged that lawmakers should not proverbially let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
“But we do have an opportunity to be great, and we’re settling for good,” Thurston said.
Republicans, who also claimed victories on an overhaul of the state’s education system, bills dealing with ethics and elections reforms and measures revamping campaign-finance laws, didn’t let the criticism get to them.
“I can go home and sleep well tonight,” Gaetz said. “When I go back to northwest Florida, I’m going back proud of our accomplishments.”
by The News Service of Florida
Broken Down: LifeFlight Helicopter Grounded In Walnut Hill
May 4, 2013
A LifeFlight helicopter was grounded in Walnut Hill Thursday afternoon. The helicopter had responded to the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97 to transport a patient to Pensacola. Shortly after the helicopter lifted from the ground, it experienced a reported radio problem and aborted the flight. The patient was transported by ambulance to Pensacola with no additional complications. The 2010 Eurocopter is operated by Air Methods for Baptist Health Care. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Biscuits Beat The Wahoos 3-2
May 4, 2013
The Montgomery Biscuits rallied from an early two-run deficit to beat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 3-2 on Friday night in front of 4,662 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. With the win, Montgomery clinched the five-game series by winning the first three contests.
Trailing 2-0 after the first inning, the Biscuits tied the game in the third on a two-run triple from Mikie Mahtook. It stayed that way until the eighth inning when Montgomery took advantage of wild Pensacola pitching. Lee Hyde loaded the bases with two walks and a single before being lifted for Drew Hayes. With nobody out, Hayes struck out back-to-back hitters, but wasn’t able to escape the frame without the Biscuits pushing across the go-ahead run on a five-pitch walk to Mark Thomas. Hayes would strike out Shawn O’Malley to avert further danger.
Pensacola jumped out to an early two-run lead in the first as the first four batters reached, culminating in RBI base knocks from Ryan LaMarre and Steve Selsky. Those would be the only runs the Blue Wahoos could muster but it wasn’t for lack of opportunities. Pensacola had the bags packed and one out in the seventh but Travis Mattair bounced into a 6-4-3 double play to keep the game tied at two.
In the ninth, Pensacola had the tying run at second with one out, but Juan Sandoval was able to get out of the jam with two groundouts sandwiched around a hit by pitch. Sandoval picked up his sixth save of the season in the process.
Matt Nevarez (2-0) earned the win for the Biscuits by tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Starter Merrill Kelly went 6.1 frames for Montgomery and allowed two runs on six hits, striking out five and walking a pair.
Daniel Renken settled for a no-decision for Pensacola despite tossing a quality start. Renken went six innings, yielding two runs (one earned) on four hits while tying a season-high with six strikeouts. Hyde (1-3) picked up the loss by giving up a run on a hit in .1 innings while walking three.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series with the Biscuits on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Josh Smith gets the start for Pensacola against Montgomery’s Enny Romero. It will be Boy Scout night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium with local scout troops participating in pre-game activities and sleeping over after the game. I
story by Kevin Burke
Photos by Gary McCracken for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.