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Political News Archives - Page 134 of 161 - Florida Daily

Florida Daily

Category: Political News

Florida Daily covers political news across the state and the nation, including stories on Ron DeSantis, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and elections.

  • Rick Scott Wants NBC to Not Air the 2022 Olympic Games Due to China’s Human Rights Record

    On Thursday, U.S. Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., wrote a letter to the CEP of NBC Universal and the president of NBC Olympics urging them to “put human rights over profits” by requesting that the International Olympic Committee re-bid the 2022 Olympics, which is being hosted in Communist China, or refuse to air the 2022 games.

    The letter is below:

    December 19, 2019

    Mr. Stephen Burke
    Chief Executive Officer
    NBC Universal
    30 Rockefeller Plaza
    New York, NY 10112

    Mr. Gary Zenkel
    President
    NBC Olympics
    One Blachey Road
    Stamford, CT 06902

    Dear Mr. Burke and Mr. Zenkel:

    As the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing approach, we write to you with grave concern about the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow a Communist regime with an abysmal record on human rights to host a global sporting event that attracts athletes and spectators from all across the world. By doing so, you are placing profits over principles, and ensuring that China can be accepted into the international system even as it violates its basic rules and tenets.

    Communist China is one of the great human rights abusers in the world, and it presents a threat to the safety and security of every athlete and tourist who will travel to Beijing. General Secretary Xi has set up a surveillance infrastructure in Beijing that tracks every person’s location and internet activity. Communist China uses millions of cameras, powered by facial recognition technology, to spy on and persecute those who criticize the regime. The 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing will provide the Chinese government access to a global array of dignitaries, athletes, corporations, and government entities, a risk that should be avoided at all costs.

    On top of the concerns about Chinese surveillance, in November, documents obtained by the New York Times revealed the lengths to which Communist China uses this technology to track and oppress Uyghurs, a Muslim ethnic group in the province in Xianjing. The documents showed how the Communist regime weaponizes military surveillance to spy on civilians and treat them as military threats, instead of human beings endowed with personal dignity. And they confirmed, as had previously been reported, that more than a million Uyghurs are in prison and “re-education camps,” simply because of their religion.

    Many of us have shared similar concerns directly with the IOC. Unfortunately, in one response the IOC claimed that it must remain “strictly politically neutral” with regard to Communist China and would take no action.  We find that response to be woefully lacking.

    We hope you, unlike the IOC, understand that this is not about politics, but about human rights and the security of athletes and international visitors. We also hope you know Communist China did not abide by the Host City Contract in the 2008 Beijing Winter Olympics, and its long history of breaking promises shows that it is not a country that can be trusted.

    NBC Universal is faced with an important decision. As a media organization, it also has a moral responsibility to inform the public. By overlooking China’s human rights record, you betray your viewers in misleading them about the most important threat facing our values and our way of life.  Please pick human rights over profits. If Communist China continues to persecute religious minorities, forcibly harvest organs of innocent civilians, oppress the people of Hong Kong, spy on civilians, and imprison political dissidents, they should forfeit their rights to host an event that is supposed to bring the world together. We urge NBC to stand with us and request that the IOC re-bid the 2022 Olympics or refuse to air the 2022 games.

    We look forward to hearing your decision on this important matter.

     

  • Ron DeSantis Announces More Than $20 Million for Counties Recovering from Hurricane Michael

    Ron DeSantis Announces More Than $20 Million for Counties Recovering from Hurricane Michael

    On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than $20 million for Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty and Washington Counties through the Hurricane Michael State Recovery Grant Program.

    The Hurricane Michael State Recovery Grant Program supports Northwest Florida’s recovery by addressing issues like revenue loss and operating deficits, which are not covered by available federal funding. These grants can also be used for infrastructure repair or replacement, beach renourishment, recreational facilities and debris removal. Hurricane Michael hit Northwest Florida back in October 2018.

    “From my very first day in office, my administration has been focused on helping communities impacted by Hurricane Michael fully recover,” said DeSantis on Thursday. “Today we are building on that commitment to long-term recovery and I’m proud that we’re able to deliver this funding for Northwest Florida. Through this grant program, we are able to add to the great work that we’ve already done with support from the Trump administration and we will continue to use every resource at our disposal until Northwest Florida has rebuilt stronger than before.”

    “At the division, we’ve paid out the most federal recovery funding in one year in our state’s history, and when you combine that with this state grant to fill in the funding gaps, it’s clear that Florida is leading the nation on comprehensive long-term recovery,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Director Jared Moskowitz. “I’m thankful to the Legislature for having the foresight to create this important program and I applaud the governor’s leadership to make this grant a priority for this upcoming legislative session. I look forward to continuing this critical grant in 2020.”

    The Hurricane Michael State Recovery Grant Program is administered by the FDEM. In October, DeSantis requested an additional $25 million from the Florida Legislature to fund the Hurricane Michael State Recovery Grant Program for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

    Through the Hurricane Michael State Recovery Grant Program, the following communities will receive funding:

    • Bay County Schools ($2,000,000) to address the mental health crisis affecting Bay County’s children by funding the Bay County School Board’s Mental Health initiative.
    • Bay County ($1,689,383) for loss of revenue due to debris costs, infrastructure damage and loss of population.
    • City of Callaway ($1,500,000) for loss of revenue due to debris costs, infrastructure damage and loss of population.
    • Panama City ($1,000,000) for operating deficits due to the immediate effects of Hurricane Michael.
    • City of Parker ($915,894) to install permanent generators at lift stations around the city to ensure operation during power outages.
    • City of Springfield ($1,147,576) for operating deficits and revenue loss due to maintaining critical functions of the city after Hurricane Michael.
    • Calhoun County ($1,187,310) for tax loss, debris removal and roadway repairs due to Hurricane Michael.
    • Franklin County ($226,578) for revenue loss due to the damage that caused Weems Memorial Hospital to be closed after Hurricane Michael.
    • City of Chattahoochee ($500,000) for revenue loss due to the impact Hurricane Michael had on tourism.
    • City of Gretna ($934,033) for the city’s water tank that suffered damages from Hurricane Michael.
    • City of Quincy ($1,000,000) for revenue loss the City of Quincy’s Utility System suffered as a result of Hurricane Michael.
    • Gulf County ($2,000,000) for operating deficits and revenue loss due to the impacts of Hurricane Michael.
    • Gulf County Schools ($1,000,000) to replace revenue loss as a result of the impacts of Hurricane Michael.
    • Port St. Joe ($1,000,000) to replace revenue loss as a result of the impacts of Hurricane Michael.
    • Holmes County ($500,000) to replace revenue loss as a result of the impacts of Hurricane Michael.
    • Jackson County Schools ($1,000,000) to replace revenue loss as a result of a decline in full-time enrollment and revenue loss of salaries paid out during school district closures.
    • City of Marianna ($1,000,000) to replace revenue loss as a result of the closure of the Marianna Federal Corrections Institute, the closure of a water bottling facility and the loss of residents.
    • Liberty County ($852,928) to replace revenue loss as a result of the devastation of the timber industry.
    • Liberty County Schools ($883,333) to replace revenue loss as a result of paying employee’s salaries during school closures and the loss of proceeds from canceled athletic events.
    • Washington County ($500,000) to replace dirt roadways in the county with asphalt paving, stormwater improvements and ancillary work.

     

  • Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Back One Appropriations Bill, Divide on Another

    Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Back One Appropriations Bill, Divide on Another

    On Thursday, the U.S. Senate joined the U.S. House by passing two bills with $1.4 trillion in appropriations, including $738 billion for defense, as Florida’s two senators joined in passing one but clashed over the other.

    The first appropriations act–which included the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, Agriculture, Energy and Water Development, Interior-Environment, Legislative Branch, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, State-Foreign Operations,and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development appropriations–passed on a 73-21 vote with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., backing it and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., voting against it.

    The second appropriations act–which brought in the Defense, Commerce-Justice-Science, Financial Services and General Government and Homeland Security appropriations bills–passed on a 77-16 vote with both Rubio and Scott voting for it.

    Rubio, who sits on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, weighed in on the bills on Thursday night.

    “Whether it’s the full $200 million for Everglades restoration, $2.4 billion to rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base, or $125 million for the STOP School Violence Act, I am proud to have secured a significant number of priorities for Florida in these two spending packages. Importantly, these packages also include the Disaster Tax Relief Act, a bill I was proud to support that will enact tax relief for families, businesses, and communities across our state who are still recovering from recent natural disasters, including Northwest Florida communities that were devastated by Hurricane Michael,” Rubio said.

    “These bills also fund priorities that are critical to our national security interest and regional partners. I was proud to co-author both the VERDAD Act, which provides $400 million to help restore democracy in Venezuela, and the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Partnership Act of 2019, which enhances our engagement in the Eastern Mediterranean region,” Rubio continued. “Whether it be my unwavering support of religious freedom, fighting for human rights and democracy, or combating China, this bill makes it clear that the United States continues to be the biggest champion of freedom and democratic principles across the globe.”

    Despite voting for one of the bills, Scott wrote a piece for National Review to insist that Congress was spending too much.

    “This week, Congress is set to vote on a giant spending package — 2,313 pages long — that was just released, was negotiated in secret, spends $1.4 trillion, and is chock full of member projects and special-interest giveaways,” Scott wrote. “To put that number in context: Without any opportunity to read the bill, Congress will vote to spend more than $4,200 for every man, woman, and child in America. That’s on top of the $23 trillion in debt we’ve already accumulated, not to mention that the federal government is already running a trillion-dollar deficit, every year.

    “Let’s not forget. This bill spends $1.4 trillion, with no cuts or reforms,” Scott added. “This is not how Washington is supposed to work.”

    Scott used the occasion to push his “No Budget, No Pay” proposal.

    “If Congress can’t pass a budget and appropriations bills in a timely and orderly fashion, members of Congress shouldn’t get a paycheck. You don’t get paid if you don’t do your job. Why should Congress?” Scott asked. “It’s time to stop the madness. How many more trillions of dollars do we need to spend before we wake up to the danger of our national debt? We need to reform the way Washington works, and we need to do it now.”

    With the bills now out of Congress, they head to President Donald Trump’s desk. Trump is expected to sign them and prevent a federal shutdown.

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Raise Concerns to Elaine Chao, FAA About Chinese Drones

    Florida’s two U.S. senators–Republicans Marco Rubio and Rick Scott–joined fellow Republicans U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, John Cornyn of Texas and Tom Cotton of Arkansas in writing to U.S. Transportation Sec. of Elaine Chao and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Stephen Dickson to express concerns regarding the national security threats posed by Chinese drones.

    “We…urge you to immediately restrict the use of this equipment and technology that has the potential to jeopardize the security of critical information and infrastructure gained through this and other FAA programs,” the senators wrote. “American taxpayer dollars should not fund state-controlled or state-owned firms that seek to undermine American national security and economic competitiveness.”

    The full text of the letter is below.

    Dear Secretary Chao and Administrator Dickson:

    We write to express concern regarding the national security threats posed by Chinese drones and urge the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure that the use of such drones is excluded from its programs and partnerships.

    Given the information presented in several government directives regarding the use of Chinese-manufactured drones, we were dismayed to learn that on December 3, 2019, one of the ten lead participants of DOT and FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP) announced its decision to partner with Da Jiang Innovations (DJI) Inc., a Chinese drone company, and use DJI drones for aircraft inspections, delivery of aircraft parts, airport perimeter security, and various airport safety inspections.

    On August 2, 2017, the Department of the Army released a memorandum ordering a halt on the use of DJI applications and products, citing an “increased awareness of cyber vulnerabilities associated with DJI products.”  Subsequently, on August 9, 2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released an unclassified bulletin which specifically warned against DJI for targeting critical infrastructure and law enforcement and providing U.S. data to the Chinese government. The bulletin states with “high confidence” that “the company [DJI] is selectively targeting government and privately owned entities within these sectors to expand its ability to collect and exploit sensitive U.S. data.” The bulletin also warns that DJI-created apps, when used in conjunction with their UAS hardware, collect GPS locations and photographs taken by the device, register facial recognition data even when the system is off, and automatically upload information to cloud storage to which the Chinese government most likely has access. The bulletin continues, “[a] foreign government with access to this information could easily coordinate physical or cyber attacks against critical sites.”

    On May 20, 2019, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an industry alert of the potential risks to an organization’s information posed by Chinese-made drones and DJI in particular. The alert states that the products “contain components that can compromise data and share information on a server accessed beyond the company itself.”

    More recently, on October 30, 2019, the Department of Interior announced that it was grounding its fleet of more than 800 non-emergency drones purchased from China until a security review is completed.  Further, Section 848 of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act specifically prohibits the Department of Defense from operating or procuring UAS manufactured in the China.

    We commend the goal of the UAS IPP to partner federal, state, local, and tribal governments with the FAA to evaluate and integrate new technologies into airspace operations. We, however, urge you to immediately restrict the use of this equipment and technology that has the potential to jeopardize the security of critical information and infrastructure gained through this and other FAA programs. American taxpayer dollars should not fund state-controlled or state-owned firms that seek to undermine American national security and economic competitiveness. We therefore request the following information:

          1. Have the DOT and FAA reviewed the reports by ICE, CISA, the Army, and any other agencies to appropriately grasp the magnitude of the threat posed by the use of DJI hardware and software, and if so, what conclusions were drawn?
          2. Have the DOT and FAA conveyed their concerns with regard to data protection to the relevant state, local, and tribal partners in the IPP and any other program that may involve the use of drones?
          3. What, if any, security efforts have the DOT and FAA worked to implement with state, local, and tribal officials to ensure critical infrastructure data does not fall into the hands of the Chinese government?

    Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your prompt response.

  • Ron DeSantis Ends 2019 in Great Shape According to New Poll

    After a year in Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis remains in excellent shape with Florida voters, a new poll shows.

    Mason Dixon released a poll on Friday morning which shows DeSantis gets high marks from Florida voters as 65 percent of them approve of him while only 26 percent disapprove and 9 percent are not sure. A Mason Dixon poll from March found 62 percent of those surveyed approved of DeSantis while 24 percent disapproved and 12 percent were not sure.

    “DeSantis gets high marks throughout the state, including a 56 percent approval rating from voters in heavily Democratic Southeast Florida,” Mason Dixon noted about the new poll. “Statewide, 40 percent of Democrats approve of DeSantis’ performance, while 47 percent disapprove, which is very unusual in the current polarized political environment. His approval rating among Republicans (93 percent) and independents (62 percent) are, not surprisingly, very solid.”

    DeSantis has the approval of 70 percent of men and 61 percent of women. Older voters like DeSantis more than younger ones with 69 percent of voters 50 and older approving of him compared to 59 percent of voters younger than 50. A strong majority of white Floridians–71 percent–approve of DeSantis as do 56 percent of Hispanics. DeSantis does worse with black Floridians with 46 percent of them disapproving of him while 42 percent approve of him.

    The poll of 625 registered voters in Florida was taken from Dec. 11 through Dec. 16 and had a margin of error of +/-4 percent.

     

  • Keith Perry in Good Shape if He Opts to Run for Ted Yoho’s Seat in Congress

    State Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, would start out as a favorite to win the Republican nomination to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., a new poll shows.

    On Wednesday, Clearview Polling and Research, LLC (Clearview Research) released a poll looking at the Republican primary to replace Yoho. While almost half of the likely GOP primary voters–48 percent–were not sure, 35 percent opted for Perry who is currently not running for Congress. Businessman and former congressional aide Judson Sapp, who is an active candidate, takes 9 percent followed by Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn, who is not currently in the race, with 4 percent. Former congressional aide Joseph Millado and businesswoman Amy Pope Wells, who are both in the race, take 2 percent each while Matthew Raines pulls less than one-half of 1 percent.

    Longtime Yoho staffer Kat Cammack, who launched her bid on Friday, was not included in the poll. Also left out were some potential candidates including Clay County Commissioner Gavin Rollins.

    “With no other contender even in double digits, Keith Perry holds a commanding lead over all other potential candidates for Congressional District 3’s seat,” said pollster Steven Vancore. “We polled only likely voting Republican voters as this race will be decided in the Republican primary in this overwhelmingly Republican district.  We asked the names of those candidates recently mentioned in the media since Congressman Yoho announced that he will not run for re-election.”

    The poll of 401 likely Republican primary voters was taken from Dec. 16 through Dec 17.

     

  • Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Praise the Heroes Lost in NAS Pensacola Terrorist Attack

    While the U.S. House’s impeachment of President Donald Trump garnered most of the attention in Washington on Wednesday, the two Republicans representing Florida in the U.S. Senate helped get a resolution through honoring the victims of the terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola earlier in the month, praising them as heroes who helped ensure there were not more fatalities.

    Florida Republican U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott joined Republican U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue of Georgia and Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby and Democrat U.S. Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama in passing the resolution.

    Scott took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to honor the victims.

    “Today, we come together to honor the courage of our brave men and women in uniform – our heroes – and to remember the victims of the tragic terrorist attack that took place at Naval Air Station Pensacola on the morning of Friday, December 6th,” Scott said. “I’d like to thank my colleagues, Senators Rubio, Perdue, Isakson, Shelby, and Jones for standing with me today as we honor the sacrifice and memory of the three victims and their families: Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham, known to friends and family as ‘Mo,’ just 19-years-old from St. Petersburg, Florida, a great athlete who loved to make others laugh; Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson of Enterprise, Alabama, a 23-year-old natural-born leader and selfless volunteer who lifted others up. Joshua died a hero after giving first responders information on the shooter’s location while he was mortally wounded; and Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters of Richmond Hill, Georgia, just 21-years-old with a contagious smile whose dream was to serve his country. Our sailors and law enforcement officials showed heroism and bravery in the face of evil as they ran towards the shooter that day, saving lives. And our first responders, who came to the swift aid of those in need: thank you.

    “Today, the state of Florida stands united around the community of Pensacola and the families of the victims as we pray for healing,” Scott continued. “And I join my colleagues as we do everything we can to prevent future terrorist attacks. Thank you.”

    Rubio also took to the Senate floor to honor the victims.

    “Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson.Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham. Airman Apprentice Cameron Walters. Those are the names of our nation’s heroes who lost their lives the morning of Friday, December 6th, when a horrific event took place at Naval Air Station Pensacola in my home state of Florida.In only fifteen minutes, this act of senseless terrorism killed three and wounded eight people,” Rubio said.

    “Pensacola is one of Florida’s hidden gems. The Navy and Marines are part of the identity, fabric, and culture of the city,” he added.  “This terrorist attack was not just an attack on the Naval Air Station, it was an attack on the very heart and soul of Pensacola. I visited Naval Air Station Pensacola in the aftermath of the attack. When I arrived, I was deeply saddened by the loss of life and impact this loss had left in the community.

    “But I was also in awe of the bravery of so many, including the first responders who made their way to harm’s way,” Rubio continued. “The stories of heroism in the face of evil remind us that those who volunteer to serve our country personify the very ideals of what makes this the greatest nation on earth.

    “Twenty-three year-old Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson of Alabama. Son of Benjamin Watson and Shelia Wilemon Watson,” Rubio said. “Ensign Watson dreamed of becoming a Navy pilot and reported to Pensacola for flight training the week of Veterans Day. He was the officer on deck at the time of the shooting. When faced with danger, Ensign Watson did what so few do — he ran towards it. Watson yelled out for people to get out, proceeded to tackle the shooter, and fought him in an attempt to disarm him — all while being shot at least five times. Even though he was heavily wounded, Ensign Watson made his way out to flag down first responders and gave an accurate description of the shooter.

    “Nineteen year-old Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham’s family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina,” Rubio said. “Haitham’s Lakewood High school assistant principal, where he graduated from last year, called him ‘the Perfect One’ because he was a good student, a star track runner and basketball player.  According to the Assistant Principal, he ‘would walk into any room and it would light up. He had this magnetic personality — big smile, always happy. And people would always gravitate toward him.’ Airman Haitham’s commanding officer told his father that his son had also bravely attempted to take down the gunman.

    “For those who knew 21 year-old Cameron Walters of Georgia, he ‘was an amazing guy, he always had something good to say to everybody, and was always smiling.’ The morning of the shooting, Walters was randomly assigned to watch duty in Building 633, which is where the shooting unfolded. The airman apprentice had only been stationed in Pensacola for two weeks before the deadly attack,” Rubio said.

    “Let us never forget the heroes who sacrificed their lives protecting their fellow Navy members as this tragedy unfolded at Naval Air Station Pensacola,” Rubio concluded. “There is no action we can take to bring these heroes back, but what we can do is commit ourselves to serving our country honorably and to ensure that reforms are put in place to prevent an attack like this from happening in the future.”

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Florida Senators, Congressman Urge Miami International Airport to Guard Against Threats From China

    Florida Senators, Congressman Urge Miami International Airport to Guard Against Threats From China

    On Wednesday, Florida Republican U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart raised concerns with Aviation Director and CEO of Miami International Airport Lester Sola regarding offers from firms, like CIMC-Tiiana, a Chinese state-backed enterprise, that may seek to undermine American aviation security and industrial competitiveness.

    In the letter, the members wrote that “CIMC-Tianda has already been found guilty of industrial espionage by a U.S. Federal District court in Houston, TX. The decision ruled that CIMC-Tianda misled a company into a transfer of its business and design information as it relates to passenger boarding bridges. This information was later used by CIMC-Tianda to compete in the market with stolen intellectual property, at a significantly lower bid.”

    The full text of the letter is below.

    Dear Mr. Sola:

    It has recently come to our attention that Miami International Airport is considering awarding contracts for passenger boarding bridges to CIMC-Tianda, a Chinese firm and state-backed enterprise. As you evaluate bids to supply passenger boarding bridges and other components to the airport, we urge you to consider rejecting offers from firms that may seek to infiltrate and exploit American aviation and security networks.

    As you are aware, aviation is a critical sector of our nation’s infrastructure, with airports in particular emerging as a high priority target for sabotage and espionage by our adversaries. The increasing digitalization of aircraft systems and airport security procedures places the sensitive and personal information of American travelers at an increased exposure risk and creates new vulnerabilities for malign actors, like the Chinese regime, to exploit. It is vital to fully consider all security and privacy risks when considering whether to allow firms with ties to the Chinese regime to embed themselves within U.S. airports. Further, language included in the report for the Senate’s funding bill for the Department of Transportation (S. 2520) specifically raises concerns over boarding bridges manufactured by foreign state-owned enterprises.

    Additionally, CIMC-Tianda has already been found guilty of industrial espionage by a U.S. Federal District court in Houston, TX. The decision ruled that CIMC-Tianda misled a company into a transfer of its business and design information as it relates to passenger boarding bridges. This information was later used by CIMC-Tianda to compete in the market with stolen intellectual property, at a significantly lower bid.

    While equipment, such as passenger boarding bridges, from Chinese state-backed enterprises may boast attractive price tags, the associated security drawbacks are too serious to ignore. The Chinese regime, using state-funded and state-directed companies, has already targeted U.S. transit networks in an attempt to undermine American industrial capacity and national security. Congress has responded to this by approving language in the Conference Report for the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1790/H.R. 2500) which bars federal funding from being used by local transit agencies to contract with Chinese state-sponsored entities for the procurement of rolling stock.

    We thank you for your commitment to modernizing Miami International Airport and upgrading systems to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of travelers. As you do so, it is critical to identify technology and infrastructure components from untrusted and high-risk vendors, such as CIMC-Tianda. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns and we look forward to continuing this discussion.

     

  • DJJ: Florida Reaches Lowest Juvenile Arrest Rate in 44 Years

    Wrapping up its 25th anniversary, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) offered a look back at its accomplishments in 2019.

    “The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is recognized as a national leader in evidence-based approaches to juvenile justice,” said DJJ Secretary Simone Marstiller on Wednesday. “Our achievements this year are just the beginning and illustrates our continued commitment to enhancing Florida’s juvenile justice system. Through the leadership and dedication of Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis, DJJ will continue to serve as an innovative and data-driven model for other juvenile justice systems.”

    Marstiller pointed to stats showing juvenile arrests dropped 8 percent in Florida in the past fiscal year.

    “This marks a five-year decline of 27 percent, resulting in the lowest juvenile arrest level in Florida in 44 years,” DJJ noted.

    DJJ also showcased the following accomplishments:

    Partnership with First Lady DeSantis on Suicide Prevention and Youth Success: This year, DJJ partnered with First Lady DeSantis on several initiatives focused on helping Florida’s young people. DJJ took part in First Lady DeSantis’ listening tour to discuss new mental health and substance abuse initiatives and has worked with First Lady DeSantis in her capacity as chair of the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet on the importance issue of youth suicide prevention. First Lady DeSantis also honored the 2019 Department of Juvenile Justice Youth Ambassadors at the Florida’s Governor Mansion in celebration of Youth Success Day.

    Detention Risk Assessment Instrument (DRAI): DJJ revamped its Detention Risk Assessment Instrument, the tool used to determine the need and intensity of detention care at the point of arrest. Florida’s Detention Risk Assessment Instrument is now the most statistically advanced risk assessment instrument in the country, and Florida is now the first state to tie a variety of community supervision options directly to the instrument’s scoring outcomes.

    Community Assessment Tool (CAT) and Residential Assessment for Youth (RAY): DJJ updated its community and residential risk assessment tools to improve the overall accuracy of a youth’s risk to reoffend, identify a youth’s criminogenic needs, and to assist staff in addressing a youth’s risk and protective factors. These new tools represent an advancement in the department’s ability to classify and place youth at the most effective and appropriate intervention level based on their specific needs.

    Supervised Release Program: Florida law now identifies “nonsecure detention” as supervised release. As part of the implementation, three programs became operational throughout the state: home detention, intensive home detention, and intensive home detention with electronic monitoring. Implementation of supervised release advances DJJ’s efforts in upholding public safety and increases the level of supervision for youth awaiting adjudication and disposition by the courts.

    Updated Suicide Prevention Curriculum: As a proud member of First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hope for Healing initiative, DJJ recognizes the critical mental health issues Florida’s youth face. DJJ updated its suicide prevention curriculum for all DJJ staff and contracted provider staff. The goals of this curriculum are to increase awareness about suicide and better equip staff with the knowledge to understand, respond and support youth in crisis.

    It’s No Joke Awareness Campaign: DJJ launched a new awareness campaign aimed at addressing school threats made by students. The “It’s No Joke” campaign aims to dissuade youth from making school threats and educate both youth and parents of the consequences one can face when making these threats.

    Youth Engagement Model Rewrite: The department completed a comprehensive revision of its Protective Action Response (PAR) curriculum, the verbal and physical intervention system used by all probation, detention and residential direct care staff.  This updated curriculum will provide staff with strategies to safely interact with youth that decreases the need for physical intervention by emphasizing the use of trauma-responsive verbal and non-physical intervention techniques.

    Restoring Hope Training Conference: DJJ hosted its Restoring Hope Training Summit which brought together a total of 425 attendees, including DJJ staff members, law enforcement partners, providers, and community stakeholders from around the state, to develop strategies to improve juvenile justice reform efforts, strengthen families, and build connections.

     

  • Jimmy Patronis Offers Warnings for Holiday Shoppers About Electronic Toys for Children

    After recent reports of hackers using technology to talk to children, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a warning on Tuesday to those making purchases for kids this holiday season, urging them to know the risks when gifting electronic toys, especially those that can be connected to the Internet.

    “Smart toys are often on the top of children’s holiday lists, but technology opens up your home and family to real vulnerabilities. The FBI has warned that Internet-connected toys can be hacked, so make sure you are well informed of the risks when gifting electronics to kids or installing electronic devices in your home. The top way to keep your children safe is to closely monitor their activities, whether it be online or in person,” Patronis said on Tuesday.

    Patronis offered the following tips for holiday shoppers:

    • Know all the features – Ensure that you know all the electronic features of your child’s new gadget. Does it connect to the Internet? Does it have a camera or microphone? These are top questions to ask when purchasing.
    • Always use caution if the device or toy:
      • Connects to the internet via either WiFi or Bluetooth,
      • Contains a microphone or other recording device,
      • Utilizes any cameras, or Connects to mobile apps or GPS.
    • Closely monitor your child’s activity – Always keep a close eye on your children, especially when they are using products connected to the Internet.

     

  • Ron DeSantis: State Employees Will Have Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve Off

    On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that state offices will be closed for Christmas Eve and for New Year’s Eve.

    “In 2019, we secured historic achievements on behalf of the people of Florida and our dedicated state employees played a critical role in these accomplishments,” said DeSantis on Tuesday. “I am proud to recognize our state employees for their hard work and efforts in this way. The First Lady and I extend our thanks and best wishes to state employees and their families this holiday season and we look forward to an equally productive year in 2020.”

    “Critical state employees who are unable to utilize the additional holidays will be afforded the opportunity to use this time at a future date and are encouraged to speak with their direct supervisor,” the governor’s office noted.

    “Office closures on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are in addition to regular office closures on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day,” the governor’s office added.

     

  • Ron DeSantis Taps Brandon Patty to Serve as St. Johns County Clerk of Court and Comptroller

    Ron DeSantis Taps Brandon Patty to Serve as St. Johns County Clerk of Court and Comptroller

    On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis named former congressional candidate Brandon Patty to serve as St. Johns County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, replacing Hunter Conrad who resigned the post after being named interim county commissioner last month.

    Conrad resigned the post after the St. Johns County Commission unanimously voted to end County Administrator Michael Wanchick’s contract last month. Wanchick had been at the post since 2007 but drew fire in recent months on a host of issues.

    With Conrad out, DeSantis turned to Patty, who served in the Navy Reserves and who has been a rising star in Republican circles and a leading GOP activist for a decade and a half. Patty served as an aide to Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., and helped out on Mitt Romney’s presidential bid in 2008. After helping some candidates in the region, Brandon worked for Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate bid in 2010 where he rose to be policy director. In 2014, Patty helped former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Ed Gillespie’s unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid.

    Returning to Florida, Patty entered the crowded Republican primary filed when DeSantis announced he was running to replace Rubio in the Senate instead of trying for a third term in the U.S. House. But Rubio announced at the last moment he was running for a second term and Patty pulled out of the race so DeSantis could run again for the House seat.

    Patty will serve at his new post for a term ending in November 2020.

     

  • Florida Congressmen Champion the Senior Guardianship Social Security Protection Act

    Three members of the Florida delegation are championing a proposal to have state courts notify the federal government when guardians are removed in order to keep them from collecting Social Security benefits.

    At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., introduced the “Senior Guardianship Social Security Protection Act” which will direct “state courts to notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) when a court-appointed guardian is removed for cause, so they can be blocked from collecting Social Security benefits on behalf of the seniors under their care.”

    Two other members of the Florida delegation–Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis and Democrat U.S. Rep. Darren Soto–are cosponsoring the proposal.

    When the congressmen showcased the bill on Monday, Crist pointed to reports about guardians who have raided the assets of the seniors they are supposed to be taking care of, including a case in Pinellas County where a guardian of more than 30 seniors is accused of stealing more than $500,000 from one of them.

    “Abuses within the professional guardianship system are finally coming to light, and it’s abundantly clear that the system, and oversight of it, is broken,” said Crist. “This legislation is another way we can help crack down on abusive practices and better protect our seniors from bad actors in the guardianship system.”

    “This important bill provides one more layer of protection to ensure our most vulnerable citizens do not become victims of exploitation,” said Bilirakis.

    “I am proud to co-lead the Senior Guardianship Social Security Protection Act. This is the first step in ensuring the reduction of the increasing cases against those elderly and vulnerable from abuse and fraud,” said Soto. “It is imperative that there is open communication between Social Security Administration and state government in order disable those with negative intentions. There must be accountability for guardians deemed unfit but continue to abuse the system because of the lack of communication between SSA and state governments.”

    Crist’s office noted that the bill would increase communication between state courts and the SSA to make sure former guardians do not have access to the Social Security funds of their former charges.

    The bill was sent to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee last week. So far, there is no companion bill over in the U.S. Senate.

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Ron DeSantis Names Seven Judges in Miami-Dade

    On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced three appointments to the Eleventh Circuit Court covering Miami-Dade and four appointments to the Miami-Dade County Court.

    “Today, I am excited to make seven judicial appointments – three to the 11th Circuit Court of Florida and four to the Miami-Dade County Court,” said DeSantis. “It is imperative that judges understand the importance of their work on the bench, which does not include legislating from the bench. I’m confident that each of these appointees understand the proper role of the courts and will faithfully uphold the rule of law.”

    Judge Ramiro Areces

    Areces, of Coral Gables, is a Miami-Dade County Court Judge. He previously served as a solo practitioner. He received his bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and his law degree from the University of Miami College of Law. Areces fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Renatha Francis to the Fifteenth Circuit Court.

    Judge Christina DiRaimondo

    DiRaimondo, of Biscayne Park, is a Miami-Dade County Court Judge. She previously served as the Assistant State Attorney for the Eleventh Circuit Court. She received her bachelor’s degree from Iona College and her law degree from Nova Southeastern University. DiRaimondo fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Diane Ward.

    Judge Robert Watson

    Watson, of Coral Gables, is a Miami-Dade County Court Judge. He previously served as an attorney at Kobre and Kim LLP and as an Assistant United States Attorney. He received his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and his law degree from Stanford Law School. Watson fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John Thornton.

    Elisabeth Espinosa

    Espinosa, of Miami, is an attorney at Cole, Scott and Kissane. She previously served as an Assistant State Attorney for the 13th Circuit State Attorney’s Office. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from Stetson University College of law. Espinosa fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge William Altfield to the Eleventh Circuit Court.

    Julie Harris Nelson

    Nelson, of Miami, is a partner at ROIG Lawyers. She is a litigator who started her practice as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and her law degree from St. Thomas University College of Law. Nelson fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Gina Beovides to the Eleventh Circuit Court.

    Miesha Darrough

    Darrough, of Miami, is a Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. She previously served as the Assistant U.S. Attorney and as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade. She received her bachelor’s degree from Howard University and her law degree from Howard University School of Law. Darrough fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Laura Sharon Cruz to the Eleventh Circuit Court.

    Ayana Harris

    Harris, of Hialeah, is an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Florida. She previously served as the Assistant Public Defender in the Eleventh Circuit. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and her law degree from Howard University School of Law. Harris fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Samuel Slom.

     

  • Rick Scott Part of Congressional Delegation Honoring 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

    U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who sits on the U.S. Senate Armed Forces Committee, was part of a congressional delegation visiting Belgium and Luxembourg to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.

    On Monday, the senators joined members of the House of Representatives at an official ceremony at the Mardasson Memorial near Bastogne, Belgium to mark the occasion. Scott also joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution honoring the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, which passed the Senate last week.

    “Seventy-five years ago, American soldiers – including my father – joined our Allies to fight evil and free Europe from the yoke of tyranny. It was an honor to join my colleagues in Belgium and Luxembourg to honor the sacrifices made by so many freedom-loving people in support of this cause. We will never forget their sacrifice, and the United States will always stand up for freedom and democracy,” Scott said on Monday.

    U.S. Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., John Barrasso, R-Wy., Deb Fischer, R-Neb. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Thom Tillis, R-NC, also attended the trip.

    “In the Battle of the Bulge, American soldiers demonstrated the commitment, courage and resilience that helped define a generation. To this day, we take immense pride in the unwavering bravery and valor of the Allied Forces in their decisive defeat of the German attack, ultimately leading to the end of the Nazi regime. It is fitting that we recognize the 75th anniversary of a battle that both shaped the future of combat and ushered in a new era of comity between Europe and the United States,” Boozman said.

    “On this 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, we honor the heroic efforts of the valiant Allied Forces who saved the free world. My father, John, was one of these heroes. He and his fellow soldiers succeeded in slowing the German advance during this brutal, historic battle of World War II. It is an incredible honor to join veterans and world leaders at the commemoration ceremony in Belgium. We remember those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our freedom,”  Barrasso said.

    “As the daughter of a veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, I was moved and humbled to stand on the very battlefields where so many American soldiers fought to defeat the Nazis and keep our country safe, secure, and free. It is that mission that we have the responsibility of carrying forth to this day. I was honored to stand united with Democrats and Republicans alike in representing our nation in commemorating this historic battle and in meeting some of the veterans who served in those pivotal days,” Hassan said.

    “As the daughter of a WWII veteran, this trip was a personal one for me. 75 years ago, many Americans lost their lives fending off the German offensive during the Battle of the Bulge, and these efforts ultimately paved a way to end the war five months later. Having the chance to visit this historical location was a powerful reminder of the heroic actions of the Allied Forces that protected our democracy,” Capito said.

    “I am deeply grateful to have joined a bipartisan Senate delegation in Belgium for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. We honored the U.S. veterans and all Allied Forces of the Greatest Generation who fought in what was the bloodiest and largest battle in the history of U.S. forces. These brave fighters include people such as my uncle, David Buckner, who participated in the Battle of the Bulge as part of the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. Our nation will be forever indebted to the courage, service, and sacrifice of those who contributed to this critical German defeat that helped end fascism and Nazi menace,” Fischer said.

    “Seventy-five years ago, half a million Americans, including my great uncle, participated in what became one of the largest battles in U.S. military history. Throughout those six brutal weeks, the strength, grit, and courage of our men in uniform were tested, but our love of freedom and democracy prevailed. I was honored to join my colleagues in commemorating the Battle of the Bulge and meet with U.S. WWII veterans who fought to end tyranny and to protect our liberties and our American way of life,” Rosen said.

    “The Battle of the Bulge was a historic turning point in World War II that led to the surrender of Nazi Germany. I am honored to be on this delegation to commemorate the 75th anniversary and pay tribute to the brave soldiers who were outnumbered and faced impossible conditions,” Tillis said.

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Charlie Crist Wants Congressional Hearing on Unsafe Military Housing

    Charlie Crist Wants Congressional Hearing on Unsafe Military Housing

    On Monday, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., released a letter he sent over on Thursday to U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.,  the chairwoman of the U.S. House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, requesting a congressional hearing on family housing in military installations.

    Crist voiced his continued concern for the health and safety of military families, including those residing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, as they suffer from unsafe living conditions in poorly maintained family housing. Crist has been focused on military housing reform after reports about serious issues with privately managed on-base housing, including mold and other health hazards, that are putting military families at risk.

    The full letter is below:

    Dear Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz,

    I request a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on family housing on military installations. Military families around the country, including at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, continue to suffer from mold and other health hazards in poorly maintained and neglected family housing. I understand the military has taken actions to improve oversight and accountability of privatized housing. However, I remain concerned and more must be done.

    Under your steadfast leadership, the MilCon-VA Subcommittee conducted its first hearing of the 116th Congress on this topic, and I support your continued attention to this critical issue.  As we approach the FY2021 budget cycle, I believe our Committee’s oversight responsibilities would be bolstered by another hearing, with witnesses appropriate for conducting proper oversight.

    Thank you so much for your leadership fighting for safe housing for servicemembers and their families. I look forward to continuing to work together on this issue.

    Sincerely,

    Charlie Crist

     

  • Crime Dropped in Florida During the First Half of 2019

    Crime Dropped in Florida During the First Half of 2019

    Crime dropped across Florida in the first half of 2019, a new report shows.

    The state government released the “2019 Semi-Annual Uniform Crime Report” on Monday which showed crime dropped 6.1 percent compared to the first half of 2018 with almost 17,100 fewer reported incidents.

    “The positive results of the 2019 Semi-Annual Uniform Crime Report are reassuring that our policies to fight crime are working. I applaud the efforts of our state’s police chiefs, sheriffs and men and women in uniform for their tireless work day-in and day-out to protect and serve our communities. By working together, we will continue to embrace policies and procedures that lead us toward a safer, brighter future for all Floridians,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday.

    “Because Florida law enforcement officers work every day to make their communities safer, our state is prospering, our economy is booming, and millions of tourists choose to spend their free time and money here,” said state Attorney General Ashley Moody. “We owe the brave men and women of Florida law enforcement a great debt of gratitude and respect. As attorney general, I look forward to continuing to work with these courageous Floridians to help build a stronger, safer Florida.”

    “Florida’s crime rate continues to drop statewide, and this is a great testament to the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement community. These brave men and women work day and night to keep our communities safe and their commitment to cracking down on crime is why there’s no better place to live, work, and raise a family than right here in the Sunshine State,” said state CFO Jimmy Patronis.

    “The dedication to public safety of Florida’s law enforcement officers makes our state and communities safer places to live and work. Their selfless efforts go above and beyond their oath every day to ensure Floridians and visitors are better protected. Their commitment to justice is crucial to Florida’s success, and I am incredibly grateful for the valiant service of all our law enforcement professionals,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried.

    Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Rick Swearingen noted that violent and property crimes were both down with more drops in murders, rapes, robberies, burglaries, larcenies and motor vehicle thefts and slight increases in aggravated assaults and domestic violence crimes.

    “FDLE and Florida’s law enforcement partners continue to work closely together to prevent and solve crimes. Our collaborative efforts in prevention and innovative approaches to investigations help us all in protecting Florida’s communities, families and visitors,” Swearingen.

    Pinellas County Sheriff and Florida Sheriffs Association President Bob Gualtieri also weighed in on the report.

    “This crime reduction did not happen by accident—we are equipped with the necessary tools and support to fight crime. One of the most important tools is Florida’s Truth in Sentencing law, which for 25 years has ensured criminals serve at least 85% of their sentence. Criminals should serve the sentences imposed by judges instead of being released early to prey on more victims,” said Gualtieri.

    The report “calculates crime volume, the number of index crimes known to law enforcement.”

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Ron DeSantis: Removing 5.5 Miles of Old Tamiami Trail Will Help Everglades

    Ron DeSantis: Removing 5.5 Miles of Old Tamiami Trail Will Help Everglades

    Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last week that the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board voted to advance an Everglades restoration project and remove 5.5 miles of Old Tamiami Trail roadbed in Miami-Dade County.

    “Removing the roadbed improves the volume of water flowing south through the Everglades into Everglades National Park,” the governor’s office noted. Recently, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued the required permit for the project.

    The project is a component of the larger Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), which also includes the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project. CEPP will help deliver additional freshwater from Lake Okeechobee south to Water Conservation Area 3, Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. The project is in Miami-Dade County south of U.S. 41 between the L-67 Extension Canal and Shark Valley Loop Road.

    “Elevating Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41), removing roadbed, and restoring the historic sheet flow of water south are all part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ Everglades restoration priorities,” the governor’s office insisted.

    “We are doing everything we can to expedite Everglades restoration,” said DeSantis. “This is another big step forward to send more water south into Everglades National Park and Florida Bay, where it is desperately needed. By removing this old roadbed, we are helping restore the natural sheet flow of water and protect important wetland habitats. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and South Florida Water Management District are working at my direction to continue expediting critical Everglades and water quality projects for the benefit of both people and the environment.”

    “Governor DeSantis recognizes that the key to Everglades restoration is sending more water south, and I applaud his efforts to make Everglades restoration and water quality top priorities of his administration,” said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss. “We are following the governor’s lead by taking actions that will get this project done and restore the natural flow of water south.”

    “Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, DEP and the South Florida Water Management District continue to make great strides in advancing critical Everglades restoration efforts like the Old Tamiami Roadbed Removal Project,” said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. “Yesterday’s vote marks the next step for this important project that will move water south, restoring the ecology of this region and protecting Florida Bay, while also reducing harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee.”

    “Yesterday’s vote by the South Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board represents a key step toward removing the Old Tamiami Trail-an unused relic of the past,” said Eric Eikenberg, the CEO of the Everglades Foundation. “Removing this old road will facilitate flows into Everglades National Park and allow natural habitat within this Wetland of International Importance to re-establish. We thank Governor DeSantis for his leadership in expediting Everglades restoration and completing projects like this that have been under consideration for decades.”

    “This is a great step to increase freshwater flows south. We applaud Governor DeSantis and the District for their speedy action to set the Central Everglades Planning Project into motion. Accelerated and full implementation of CEPP is critical to restore the historic flow of water through Everglades National Park and rehydrate Florida Bay,” said Celeste De Palma, the director of Everglades policy for Audubon Florida. “Yesterday’s approval marks the first in a series of steps needed to see species like the iconic Roseate Spoonbills nesting in high numbers along the Bay once again. We hope to see more CEPP groundbreakings in 2020.”

    “I commend Governor DeSantis and DEP for approving the permit that allows this project to proceed and yesterday, the District’s Board action gets the wheels in motion to once and for all remove this impediment to important water flows needed into the park,” said Superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks Pedro Ramos. “This is great news for Everglades National Park.”

    “National Parks Conservation Association applauds Governor Ron DeSantis and the South Florida Water Management District for taking this significant, tangible step toward restoring America’s Everglades,” said Senior Everglades Program Manager of National Parks Conservation Association Cara Capp. “Removing the old roadbed along Tamiami Trail will deliver more freshwater to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay, and is one of the final results of 30 years of hard work by local communities, state, and federal leaders. We look forward to more water flowing unencumbered under Tamiami Trail into Everglades National Park, and greater access to clean drinking water for South Florida families.”

    Old Tamiami Trail is a historic highway that was built across the Everglades to connect Tampa and Miami in the early 1900s. Its construction disrupted the natural sheet flow of water south through the Everglades. By removing the roadbed, the project will help restore the ecologically important historic sheet flow of water south through the Everglades. The roadbed removal is expected to increase the flow of clean freshwater into the Northeast Shark River Slough area of the park by more than 220 billion gallons per year. The project is expected to be completed by 2022.

    The Tamiami Trail Projects, C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area, Caloosahatchee Reservoir and other critical Everglades restoration projects were identified by DeSantis in his “Achieving More Now For Florida’s Environment” Executive Order to be expedited and completed as quickly as possible. SFWMD is working with its partners including DEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite planning, permitting, design and construction of these important projects.

     

  • Facebook, Florida Congressional Representatives Back Stop Opioid Silence Campaign

    Over the holidays, the Stop Opioid Silence (SOS) campaign will urge Floridians to “break the stigma and shame associated with opioid use disorder and begin the road to recovery.”

    The campaign was created by Facebook and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids‭ and ‬Center on Addiction‭ and has the support of ‬six members of the state’s congressional delegation.

    “The organizations have teamed up to launch‭ ‬stopopioidsilence.org and a‭ “‬Get Help‭” ‬messenger bot which connects people all over the country,‭ ‬including Floridians,‭ ‬with information about addiction and treatment,‭ ‬recovery and support resources in their state,” the campaign noted.

    In 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 5,000 Floridians died due to opioid-related reasons.

    “Early indications are that the state made progress in reducing opioid-related deaths in‭ ‬2018,‭ ‬but opioid addiction persists across the state.‭ ‬One way to encourage Floridians to seek assistance for opioid addiction,‭ ‬the SOS campaign provides a safe forum for people and their families to speak up about their struggles to help themselves and others,” SOS noted.

    Six members of the state’s congressional delegation will appear on social media ads to help the campaign.

    ‭“‬In Pinellas County,‭ ‬at least one person dies every‭ ‬37‭ ‬hours from an opioid-related overdose.‭ ‬The statistics are shocking,‭ ‬it’s an epidemic.‭ ‬These are our neighbors,‭ ‬our friends,‭ ‬our family,‭ ‬people desperately in need of help who too often suffer in silence and isolation,‭” said U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., on Monday.

    “‬We can’t combat our opioid crisis without investing in proven treatments,‭ ‬long-term recovery options,‭ ‬and in collaboration with our first responders and law enforcement.‭ ‬Most importantly,‭ ‬we can’t combat this crisis if we don’t speak up and stop opioid silence,‭” Crist added.

    “‬The stigma associated with opioid addiction prevents far too many families from speaking out and joining the fight against this public health crisis.‭ ‬It is past time we bring awareness to the devastating effects of opioid abuse and give those battling this addiction the resources they need to recover.‭ ‬We have the power to stop this growing epidemic,‭ ‬and it begins by sharing our stories so that we can help save more lives,‭” ‬said U.S. Rep.‭ ‬Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.

    Crist, Murphy and U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., Ted Deutch, D-Fla., Brian Mast, R-Fla., and Dan Webster, R-Fla., appear in videos in Stop Opioid Silence Facebook ads that will be running across Florida.

    ‭“‬The holiday season can be particularly emotional and lonely for individuals and families struggling with addiction. ‭ ‬By sharing the stories of people impacted by opioids,‭ ‬we not only raise awareness of the magnitude of this crisis but we also help to shatter the silence that surrounds this disease and prevents so many from getting the help that they need for themselves or a loved one,‭” ‬said Marcia Lee Taylor,‭ the e‬xecutive vice president of external and government relations at Center on Addiction‭ and the ‬Partnership for Drug Free Kids.‭ “‬We are proud to be working with Facebook as well as such an esteemed group of bipartisan members of the Florida congressional delegation to reduce stigma and shame and connect Florida residents to resources and support.‭“

    Kevin Martin,‭ Facebook’s v‬ice president for public policy, weighed in on the campaign on Monday.

    ‭“‬Facebook is proud to be working on such an important campaign with Representatives Murphy,‭ ‬Webster,‭ ‬Crist,‭ ‬Mast,‭ ‬Deutch, ‬and Bilirakis.‭ ‬By using the Facebook platform to bolster the Stop Opioid Silence campaign,‭ ‬Partnership for Drug Free Kids is able to reach so many more people in Florida and across the country affected by this epidemic,‭” Martin said.

     

    ‭Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Byron Donalds: Ron DeSantis’ Approval Rating is a Sign of GOP’s Growing Appeal to Minority Voters

    Byron Donalds: Ron DeSantis’ Approval Rating is a Sign of GOP’s Growing Appeal to Minority Voters

    Support for Gov. Ron DeSantis is surging among Florida’s minority communities, reflecting a nationwide trend that could be decisive for President Donald Trump’s reelection in 2020.

    Gov, DeSantis was a staunch supporter of President Trump long before launching his gubernatorial campaign in 2018. As a member of Congress, he was one of the leading advocates for the president’s agenda, kindling a friendship between the two leaders that endures to this day.

    The president endorsed DeSantis early on in his primary campaign, after which he surged to the GOP nomination.

    Since becoming governor, DeSantis has been an important ally to President Trump, implementing key aspects of the president’s agenda in the Sunshine State. That alliance is enormously beneficial to Florida, giving us an influential advocate in Washington.

    During the campaign, DeSantis faced many of the same smears that are routinely directed at Trump, including some fairly ugly racism accusations. Those attacks failed miserably — because they were patently false, and the voters knew it. DeSantis performed respectably among African American voters in that election, drawing especially strong support from parents eager to expand the school choice programs championed by Republicans. Nearly one in five black women voted for DeSantis, double the number who voted for GOP Senate candidate Rick Scott.

    Notably, DeSantis was able to attract such an impressive number of African American votes despite the fact that his opponent was the first African American gubernatorial nominee in Florida history, former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.

    After entering the Governor’s Mansion, DeSantis immediately started to fulfill his campaign promises, and that seems to be paying dividends for his relationship with the black community. It’s closely reminiscent of President Trump’s governing style, which is also based on a rigorous commitment to keeping his promises.

    Recent polling claims that DeSantis boasts a 63 percent approval rating among African Americans, and a 67 percent approval rating among Hispanics. Those numbers sound striking, but they’re actually just a continuation of a trend that’s been evident over the past several months. In August, a different poll found that DeSantis enjoyed a 32 percent approval rating among African Americans, and yet another poll, released in October, put the figure even higher, at 50 percent.

    Paralleling the experience of Governor DeSantis, support for President Trump is rising in the black community. African Americans, like everyone else who felt left behind by the political establishment, are prospering under President Trump’s commitment to American citizens — and a growing number of prominent black leaders are passionately and persuasively arguing that four more years of plentiful jobs and rising wages is preferable to returning to the economic stagnation of the Obama era.

    Hispanics, too, are reacting far more positively to the strong and growing economy than most Beltway pundits expected. The president has been flirting with a 50 percent approval rating among Hispanic Americans, suggesting that he’ll be able to significantly improve upon his already-impressive 2016 vote tally with that demographic.

    All the smears in the world can’t change the fact that the America First agenda is resonating with minority voters who are tired of being taken for granted by Democrat politicians. Governor DeSantis’ surging approval ratings are a compelling sign that President Trump’s outreach efforts to the African American community will succeed. That could be the factor that seals his reelection, and I look forward to helping him do it.

     

    State Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, is a member of the Florida House of Representatives. He represents all of Hendry County and part of Collier County. He was first elected in 2016. 

     

     

     

  • Rick Scott: Time for a Senate Hearing on How Foreign Nationals Vetted Before Training at Military Bases

    In the aftermath of the terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is calling for a hearing of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, on which he sits, to look at how foreign nationals are vetted before arriving at U.S. military bases for training.

    Scott said he was open to a classified committee session if needed with federal law enforcement and intelligence services to study the matter.

    “The terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola was entirely preventable. It’s clear that there were failures in the vetting of this individual. What’s not clear is how the vetting process works, who does the vetting, and how much we’re able to monitor foreign nationals training in the U.S. We need to seriously reconsider the value of training foreign nationals on U.S. military bases, but in the meantime, it’s important that we get to the bottom of what went wrong so we can figure out how to improve the vetting process,” Scott said.

    At the start of last week, Scott appeared on Fox News, demanding an end to a program where foreign military personnel train at U.S. military flight schools. The terrorist behind the attack was a lieutenant in the Saudi Arabian Air Force who was training at NAS Pensacola.

    Scott is calling on the committee to explore the following questions:

    • There are many agencies involved in this program; who is ultimately responsible for ensuring the safety and security of our men and women in uniform?
    • Do U.S. law enforcement or intelligence agencies perform the vetting of foreign nationals training on U.S. military bases, or do we outsource that to the home country?
    • What process was used to vet the terrorist who committed this attack at NAS Pensacola?
    • What countries participate in this program and what is the strategic significance of these relationships?
    • Do participants of this program have to provide fingerprints, and are they interviewed/ background checked during the visa process?
    • What is the rate of visa denial/approval for participants of this program?
    • Is there any reason why the training of foreign nationals can’t occur in their home country?
    • Are U.S. law enforcement or intelligence agencies allowed to track the social media accounts of foreign nationals training, or seeking to train, on U.S. military bases?
    • Did this individual go through a standard background check before purchasing a handgun?
    • Once a foreign national arrives in the U.S., do American intelligence agencies continue to monitor their activities?

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Vern Buchanan’s, Marco Rubio’s Bill Hitting Mexico, China for Illegal Fentanyl Included in NDAA

    Vern Buchanan’s, Marco Rubio’s Bill Hitting Mexico, China for Illegal Fentanyl Included in NDAA

    A proposal from two Florida Republicans to crack down on fentanyl being brought in to the U.S. from China, Mexico and other nations was included in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which cleared the U.S. House last week.

    Back in April, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., joined other senators–including Arkansas Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton and New York Democrat U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer–to bring out the “Fentanyl Sanctions Act” which, they insisted, will “provide the U.S. government with tools and resources to punish illicit fentanyl traffickers in China, Mexico, and other countries, and to hold accountable the Chinese government and other nations who fail to stop these trafficking networks.”

    “The flow of illicit fentanyl largely from China into the U.S. poses serious threats to our families, public health, economic vitality, and national security,” Rubio said. “With Florida suffering thousands of opioid-related deaths per year, we must do all we can to stop the opioid crisis sweeping across America and devastating our communities. This bipartisan effort to impose targeted sanctions on foreign illicit fentanyl manufacturers and traffickers makes clear that the U.S. will hold the Communist Chinese Government and other nations fully accountable when they turn a blind eye to international fentanyl trafficking.”

    “Combating the flow of illicit fentanyl into our country is imperative in the fight to save American lives from the opioid crisis.  We must hold China accountable for their role in the fentanyl trade. China’s new law to make all fentanyl categories illegal is an important step and the administration deserves praise for their efforts to secure this change. However, we have to demonstrate that we will demand China enforce these laws and take strong action against opioid traffickers,” Schumer said. “Our legislation would apply pressure on China to actually follow through and would equip the administration with tools to systematically go after the major manufacturers and traffickers of fentanyl before the killer drug gets to the U.S.”

    The bill would hit Chinese drug manufacturers in China “who knowingly provide synthetic opioids to traffickers, transnational criminal organizations like those in Mexico who mix fentanyl with other drugs and traffic them into the U.S. and financial institutions that assist such entities” with sanctions. The proposal would also fund various federal agencies to crack down on  international opioid trafficking and create the Commission on Synthetic Opioid Trafficking to “monitor U.S. efforts and report on how to more effectively combat the flow of synthetic opioids from China, Mexico and elsewhere.”

    Towards the end of April, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla,, paired up with U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., to bring out the House version of the bill.

     

    “Fentanyl and other opioids have ravaged Florida communities and torn apart many families and lives,” Buchanan said. “While I welcome China’s announcement that it will ban all forms of fentanyl, we must ensure that their words are followed through with meaningful action. I urge my colleagues to immediately approve this bipartisan bill to deliver another resource that could help combat the flow of opioids across our borders.”

     

    “Fentanyl has become the leading illegal drug in the opioid crisis in our country, and it’s time we attack the source. While China’s ban on producing fentanyl is a promising start, Congress should hold China to its word. This bill will target the fentanyl producers worldwide who profit from the overdose deaths happening in communities across our country, including Massachusetts where fentanyl is the leading cause of opioid-overdose deaths. Congress must act quickly,” Moulton said.

     

    The core of the bill was rolled into the NDAA with much of the language in the legislation included in the final version.

     

    “For too long, fentanyl and other opioids have continued to wreak havoc on communities in Florida and across the country,” Buchanan said after the NDAA cleared Congress. “We need to hold Beijing accountable for any lack of progress controlling the fentanyl freely flowing out of their country.”

     

    Last month, pointing to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which showed “drug deaths nationwide involving fentanyl or other synthetic opioids skyrocketed by more than 1000 percent in the past six years,” Buchanan urged the chairs of the U.S. House and Senate Armed Services Committees to include his bill in the final version of the NDAA.

     

    “This is a frightening development considering that just a few years ago the number of overdoses was declining,” Buchanan said.

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Marco Rubio Backs Chuck Grassley’s Accountability for World Bank Loans to China Act

    U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wants to change how the U.S. representatives at the World Bank vote on loans to China.

    Rubio joined U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., in backing U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s, R-Iowa, “Accountability for World Bank Loans to China Act,” which they defined as a bill “to instruct the U.S. representatives at the World Bank to vote against and use their best efforts to deny any loan or extension to countries like China and Russia that exceed the graduation thresholds or that are designated as a country of concern for religious freedom.”

    “This bill will provide the U.S. governor of the World Bank with the necessary guidance to uphold U.S. interests and to focus on the bank’s development mission,” Rubio said. “For too long, countries like China and Russia have been allowed to exploit the World Bank’s limited resources even after they should no longer qualify for assistance. I’m proud to co-sponsor this bill, which will also reaffirm our nation’s continued commitment to international religious freedom worldwide.”

    “China has been lending development money outside its borders to extend its influence for years while taking in U.S. taxpayer dollars via World Bank loans. It’s confounding that these loans still continue and they ought to stop,” Grassley said. “What’s worse is that these loans might have helped free up resources used to violate human rights and force Uighurs into internment camps. Our bills provide a short-term and longer-term means to take away the status that allows China to receive loans and halt loans to any country like China that exceeds the World Bank graduation thresholds or poses a risk to religious freedom.”

    “The World Bank is sending development aid meant for poor countries to China, the second largest economy in the world with access to plenty of capital,” Cotton said. “The ruling Chinese Communist Party uses these loans to fund its repression of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities. The United States must urge the World Bank to end these loans, which are contrary to its own guidelines and the demands of justice. Every dollar loaned to China is a dollar spent on strengthening the CCP’s grip over the Chinese people.”

    Grassley introduced the bill on Wednesday and Rubio’s office offered some of the details on it.

    “The programs of the World Bank Group’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is designed to provide loans for economic-development purposes to middle-income developing countries. The threshold for graduation from the IBRD program currently stands at a gross national income per capita level of $6,975, which China has exceeded since 2016. China currently has a World Bank calculated gross national income per capita of level of $9,470. The Accountability for World Bank Loans to China Act codifies Congress’ support for administration efforts to graduate China from IBRD lending in a vote at the World Bank,” Rubio’s office noted.

    The bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee this week. So far, there is no counterpart over in the U.S. House.

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Congressional Reps Weigh in on VA Fraud Arrests in South Florida

    Members of the Florida delegation on Capitol Hill are weighing in after ten officials at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and five vendors were arrested in a fraud scheme based out of South Florida.

    “Fraudulent suppliers stole millions from the federal government by bribing purchasing agents and others at South Florida veterans hospitals and then billing for orders that were non-existent or grossly overpriced, federal prosecutors said Wednesday,” NBC Miami reported.

    “Ten Veterans Affairs employees and five vendors have been charged, U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan told reporters at a West Palm Beach news conference. She said the scam began almost a decade ago and involved hospitals in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. According to Fajardo Orshan and court documents, the employees ordered medical equipment and other supplies such as toilet paper and laundry detergent from the vendors. The vendors would then ship nothing or a partial order, but the employees would mark it in the computer system as fully received. When the government paid the vendors for the full order, the employees received a kickback, prosecutors allege. The payments to the charged employees ranged from about $2,000 to more than $10,000, documents allege,” NBC Miami added.

    From her perch as the chairwoman of the U.S. House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., weighed in on the charges.

    “Our veterans have earned all the care and compassion we can provide,” Wasserman Schultz said on Wednesday. “They do not deserve to be victims of kickback and bribery schemes. I join all taxpayers in thanking federal authorities who uncovered this corruption for their diligent efforts, especially Inspector General Michael Missal. However, these suspects in no way reflect the thousands of devoted VA workers who care for, protect, and serve our veterans every day. I know I am joined by my congressional colleagues in our commitment to protecting the interests of our veterans.”

    U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., who lost his legs during his service in Afghanistan for the Army, came out swinging at the alleged perpetrators. At the start of 2018, Mast became the first member of Congress to open an office in a VA facility when he set up shop in the West Palm Beach VA. Since then, he was joined by three Democrats who represent the area — U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch, Lois Frankel and Alcee Hastings — as they all took turns in the office meeting with constituents and helping veterans. But the VA has said that arrangement will end at the start of the new year, leading Mast to push back and note that his office has met with more than 500 veterans in the office hosted by the VA.

    “It is beyond reprehensible that staff at the VA would line their own pockets with dollars intended to help veterans, and I am grateful to both the VA Inspector General and the Department of Justice for taking action,” Mast said. “Although I know there are many amazing and talented people at the VA who cherish the opportunity to serve our veteran community selflessly, unfortunately, this is yet another example of the VA limping from scandal to scandal, and it’s exactly why the VA should be begging for increased oversight. But instead, at the end of this year, the VA will be evicting members of Congress from their facilities—limiting the resources available to uncover issues exactly like this one. With this news, I am again calling on VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to reverse his decision so that we can work together to make the VA a more effective, transparent and accountable organization. If he refuses, I hope all 435 members of Congress will join me in passing the Improving Veterans Access To Congressional Services Act so that Congress can help implement the culture change that the VA has been either unwilling or unable to accomplish.”

    This week, after the arrests, Mast once again wrote U.S. VA Sec. Robert Wilkie urging him to change his decision about having congressional offices at VA facilities.

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

     

  • Jimmy Patronis Meets With FEMA to Talk Hurricane Response Efforts, Flood Insurance

    More than a year after Hurricane Michael hit the Panhandle, state CFO Jimmy Patronis is working with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make sure the federal government and the state government work better in the future.

    On Thursday, Patronis, who is based out of Bay County which was slammed by Hurricane Michael back in October 2018, met with FEMA Acting Administrator Pete Gaynor in Washington D.C. to talk about a host of issues.

    Patronis weighed in after the meeting.

    “I was proud to meet with FEMA Acting Administrator Peter Gaynor today on issues most critical for Florida, such as flood insurance and hurricane response,” Patronis said. “Serving as our state’s CFO, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Michael, and I know building relationships with our federal partners in Washington is important for the recovery process.”

    After eight years in the Florida House and serving on the state Public Service Commission (PSC), Patronis was named to his current post in the summer of 2017 by then Gov. Rick Scott after Jeff Atwater resigned the position to take a job at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Back in November 2018, Patronis beat former state Sen. Jeremy Ring to win a term in his own right.

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Florida Wants Only U.S. Citizens to Vote, More Divided on Recreational Marijuana, Raising Minimum Wage

    Florida Wants Only U.S. Citizens to Vote, More Divided on Recreational Marijuana, Raising Minimum Wage

    St. Leo University showcased a recent poll on Thursday looking at proposed amendments to Florida Constitution that voters could decide on in November. To be added to the Florida Constitution, an amendment needs 60 percent support from voters.

    Frank Orlando, the director of the Saint Leo University Polling Institute and a political scientist at hat school in Pasco County, weighed in on the poll.

    “2020 seems to be shaping up as a big year in Florida. The sponsors of new initiatives are hoping to capitalize on expected elevated turnout at the polls come next November for the presidential election,” Orlando said.

    The poll showed a proposed amendment to legalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for Floridians 21 and older could be close with 59 percent supporting the idea and 31 percent opposing it with the rest not sure.

    “Advocates say this measure would essentially regulate personal marijuana usage in the same way alcohol is regulated—as available to adults. But Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has said that other permissions are also discussed in the current language, covering cultivation and licensing, and, in fact, too many related topics are packed into the language for voters to know exactly what they would be voting on in this proposal. She will make arguments to this effect before the Florida Supreme Court,” St. Leo University noted.

    While that proposed amendment looks close, the poll finds Floridians are much more willing to have only American citizens vote in the Sunshine State.

    “Some want to see this exact language below used in the Florida Constitution to establish who in the state may lawfully vote,” St. Leo University noted. “In practical terms, Florida already states that one must be a citizen to vote. The difference is the use of the word ‘only,’ as the current law says ‘every citizen’ of the United States who meets residency and age requirements in Florida can vote in the county where the citizen is registered. That has led some skeptics to wonder if this proposal is actually a means of inspiring fear of immigration by raising concerns that some people are voting without the legal right to do so. Advocates, however, have pointed out that some U.S. cities allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. By contrast, they say they want Florida to set a standard now that makes it clearer that people living in the state without citizenship will not be able to vote in any election held in Florida.”

    An overwhelming majority–80 percent–of those surveyed want only citizens to vote while only 10 percent are opposed to the idea.

    “Despite the relative minor change in language, this amendment seems to be in great shape to receive broad support. Those who are familiar with the issue want to make it more difficult to roll back this rule in the future, whereas those only casually reading the amendment seem to see it as common sense,” Orlando said on Thursday.

    Asked about raising the minimum wage gradually to $15 an hour, 63 percent of those surveyed back the idea while 26 percent oppose it.

    The survey of 500 Florida voters was taken from Nov. 13 through Nov. 18 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent.

     

  • Florida Divides on Region Over Whether Teachers Should Be Allowed to Carry Guns at Schools

    Florida Divides on Region Over Whether Teachers Should Be Allowed to Carry Guns at Schools

    A new poll shows Florida is divided by region on whether trained classroom teachers should be allowed to carry guns at school on a voluntary basis.

    St. Leo University released a poll on the subject on Thursday. Currently, only seven of the 67 counties in Florida have such a policy but 42 percent of those surveyed want to see their counties allow teachers to carry guns while 50 percent oppose the idea.

    “On a more regional basis, however, some clearer majority preferences emerged. For instance, survey respondents from 16 counties in the northwest part of the state show that 60 percent strongly or somewhat support allowing trained classroom teachers to carry firearms. That area (designated Florida’s Northwest District by the Florida Association of City Clerks) includes Bay County, home to Panama City in the Florida Panhandle, which is one of the seven school districts to move ahead with the option of offering training to teachers,” St. Leo University noted. “In the 17-county Northeast District, though, only 48 percent of respondents overall strongly or somewhat support the allowing teachers to carry firearms in the classroom. That result may be influenced by the presence of Duval County, home to the city of Jacksonville; Duval County schools do not support arming teachers. Other nearby rural counties in the same geographic district said they were proceeding with the firearms training program for teachers earlier this year: Gilchrist, Lafayette, Putnam, and Suwannee.

    “The other two county school districts that were reported to be moving forward with the training for arming teachers are Republican-leaning Okeechobee (inland and north of Palm Beach) and Levy (on the central Gulf Coast) counties,” the university added.

    Frank Orlando, the director of the St. Leo University Polling Institute and a professor of political science at that Pasco County school, weighed in on the poll on Thursday.

    “The way individual counties move forward “could be an interesting experiment in state and local governance,” Orlando said. “Larger counties in Florida tend to be more Democratic, but smaller, more Republican counties will have the chance to test the system for themselves.”

    The survey of 500 Florida voters was taken from Nov. 13 through Nov. 18 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent.

     

  • Rick Scott: After Terrorist Attack in Pensacola, Feds Need to Be More Transparent on Vetting Foreign Nationals

    Following up on his efforts in the aftermath of last week’s terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is calling for more transparency.

    At the start of the week, Scott appeared on Fox News, demanding an end to a program where foreign military personnel train at U.S. military flight schools. The terrorist behind the attack was a lieutenant in the Saudi Arabian Air Force who was training at NAS Pensacola.

    Scott weighed in again on the attack on Wednesday and called for more transparency on the vetting process used by the federal government for foreign nationals. He also said that the terrorist should never have been allowed on a military post.

    “The safety and security of American men and women in uniform is my number one priority,” Scott said. “It should be the number one priority of our entire government. While our alliances around the world are invaluable in defending American national security and our interests abroad, the tragic terrorist attack in Pensacola last week revealed an unnecessary risk. This terrorist should never have been allowed in our country, let alone on an American military base with easy access to American military men and women.

    “Federal agencies have not been transparent about the vetting process used for foreign nationals training on U.S. military bases. Today, I’m calling to end the training of any foreign nationals who haven’t been fully vetted by U.S. intelligence agencies. Any foreign national currently training on U.S. military bases that hasn’t been fully vetted by U.S. intelligence agencies should immediately be sent back to their home country, with the exception of those being held in connection with the terrorist attack in Pensacola. Every federal agency has a responsibility to be clear and transparent with the American people about what processes we use to vet foreign nationals training on our bases. We cannot continue to take unnecessary risks,” Scott added.

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Florida Democrats, Republicans Join Mayors for Solar Energy

    On Wednesday, 22 current and former mayors from Florida signed a letter from Environment America Research and Policy Center calling for more solar power.

    There are more than 300 “Mayors for Solar Energy” across the nation with mayors from every state behind the effort.

    Both Republicans and Democrats from the Sunshine State, including Mayor Francis Suarez of Miami, Mayor Lenny Curry of Jacksonville, Mayor Bill Barnett of Naples and Mayor Buddy Dyer of Orlando signed the letter. Dyer was the Democratic candidate for attorney general back in 2002 and Curry led the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF). Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate last year, also signed the letter.

    “Solar energy is charging forward at a pace we once thought to be impossible, and America’s cities are at the forefront of spurring that progress,” said Ryann Lynn, a climate and clean energy advocate with Environment Florida Research and Policy Center. “Local officials are unlocking the power of the sun by taking advantage of millions of available rooftops and broad public support to bring cleaner, greener and more resilient energy to their communities.”

    “Solar energy presents a bright opportunity for our city to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, improve air quality and public health, diversify our local economy and create quality jobs in the green industry, and address one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity — the climate change crisis,” said Dyer who then showcased efforts in his city.

    “Orlando just launched another solar co-op this summer, now with over 200 homeowners currently signed up and over 1MW of new rooftop solar capacity in the pipeline. We also plan to launch a ‘100 percent committed’ campaign to encourage the business community to subscribe to the community solar farms and begin taking the first step in achieving our 100 percent renewable energy goal by 2050,” Dyer added.

    “Mayors for Solar Energy is proof that regardless of geography, demographics or political affiliation, local leaders understand how beneficial solar can be for a wide array of communities,” Lynn said. “The future of energy will be clean and close to home, and these mayors represent the first wave of leaders who will bring the benefits of solar to communities coast-to-coast.”

    Other signers include Mayors Steven Grant of Boynton Beach, Raul Valdes-Fauli of Coral Gables, Dean Trantalis of Fort Lauderdale, Lauren Poe of Gainesville, Joseph Corradino of Pinecrest, Sandra Bradbury of Pinellas Park, Joseph Ayoub of Safety Harbor, Philip Stoddard of South Miami, Michael Ryan of Sunrise and Daniel Dietch of Surfside and former Mayors Becky Tooley of Coconut Creek, Peggy Bell of Cutler Bay, Tamara James of Dania Beach, Craig Cates of Key West, Lamar Fisher of Pompano Beach, Jeri Muoio of West Palm Beach and Gary Resnick of Wilton Manors.

     

    Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Matt Gaetz Asks Defense Secretary About Saudis at NAS Pensacola in Congressional Hearing

    On Wednesday, in a U.S. House Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., questioned U.S. Defense Sec. Mark Esper about the current status of the flight program training Saudi Arabian students in the United States and what steps the Department of Defense is taking to address Saudi Arabian students currently at NAS Pensacola.

    Rep. Gaetz asked Esper whether the U.S. military is currently accepting new students into the program and urged him to make a public statement with information regarding the status of the program and if the application process has been halted.

    A rough transcript is below:

    Rep. Gaetz: Mr. Secretary, I want to thank you and I want to thank the president for instituting a review of the Saudi program. I also wish I had more time to reflect on the heroism of the sailors who ran toward gunfire and who also informed on the location of the shooter during this terrorist attack. During this review that you are conducting, is the program paused? Are we going to be taking in new Saudi students?

    Sec. Esper: First of all, my condolences to your constituents. You’re right – there was a lot of heroism on the ground that day. A very tragic day for everybody. So yes, we have directed, if you will, a stand-down that would limit Saudi participation in our US-based training to classroom training only until we can do expedited vetting of all Saudi students here in the United States. I spoke to their deputy defense minister yesterday, by the way, a graduate of Pensacola Naval Air Training, he agreed, he fully supports this, they are going to do parallel vetting a well to make sure they understand…

    Rep. Gaetz: During that time, new incoming students or not new incoming students.

    Sec. Esper: I can’t answer that affirmatively – I’d have to get back to you on that.

    Rep. Gaetz: Mr. Secretary, this is an issue of great importance to my constituents.

    Sec. Esper: It’s a very fair question.

    Rep. Gaetz: I would hope that very soon, perhaps within the day, you would be able to make a public statement as to whether or not we are taking news students while you are undergoing that vetting process.

    Sec. Esper: I think I know the answer, but I want to be affirmative in what I tell you. I think that’s a very reasonable thing to do.

    Rep. Gaetz: There are a number of Saudis that are currently with us on your base, NAS Pensacola – who currently has access to those people during the investigation?

    Sec. Esper: Of the dozen or so that were immediate friends, acquaintances, etc. of the alleged killer, the FBI. Department of Justice has control of them on the base.

    Rep. Gaetz: So who has access to those people? I specifically want to know like, are the embassy personnel, clerics, others, speaking with, talking to, perhaps providing communication with these people we’re holding for questioning?

    Sec. Esper: I don’t know exactly – I want to say a Navy Muslim chaplain may have access to them, certainly the FBI and DOJ does.

    Rep. Gaetz: Do any other Saudis have access?

    Sec. Esper: I think the Saudi commander has access to them – he’s the one that’s keeping them restricted onto that site.

    Rep. Gaetz: How about Saudi embassy personnel?

    Sec. Esper: I don’t know.

    Rep. Gaetz: That’s also really important because to me, this is…

    Sec. Esper: I can assure you somebody knows, I just don’t know right here as I sit. We’ll get back to you on that too.

    Rep. Gaetz: I appreciate your prompt attention to this because again that deeply informs on what we can do as policymakers to try to improve this relationship with the kingdom because, at some point, there’s only so much of this that we’re going to be able to take where the Kingdom tells us there’s some quirky part of the Royal Family that’s off doing some different thing. These Saudi students – they’re connected folks when they end up in Pensacola. I appreciate your great efforts and I look forward to those answers.

  • News From Around Florida

    Florida Overwhelmingly Leads the Nation in Obamacare Enrollments

    The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) notes that almost 3 million people have enrolled in the Affordable Care Act, the federal healthcare plan supported by former President Barack Obama.

    Florida is leading the nation with around 800,00 residents of the Sunshine State having already entered the program. This is easily the most in the nation with Texas coming in distant second with less than 400,500 enrollments and Georgia in third with less than 173,400.

     

    School Officials Back Ron DeSantis’ Call for Higher Teacher Salaries

    Gov. Ron DeSantis wants the starting teacher salary to begin at $47,500 a year.  Some members of teachers unions, including the Florida Education Association, want more, pointing out that existing teachers won’t be receiving a pay bump.

    But the Florida School Boards Association and the Florida Association of District School Superintendents are getting behind the governor’s proposal.

    “We applaud the governor for making education a top priority and see his teacher salary proposal as a step in the right direction towards attracting the best talent to the state of Florida,” said Tim Weisheyer, the president of the Florida School Boards Association.

    With the Legislature getting ready to hold its regular session next month, DeSantis could have some problem with Republicans, especially in the House, who want to know how to pay for the increased salaries.

     

    Naturalized Citizens Could Determine the 2020 Elections in Florida

    New American Leaders (NAL) has a recent report which finds that naturalized citizens– immigrants who have become U.S. citizens–could play a decisive role next year’s elections in the Sunshine State.

    The organization maintains its role is to help immigrants, women and other underrepresented Americans get into public office and exercise their voting rights.

    “There is the ability in Florida, right now with the existing number of registered naturalized citizens to change the outcome of the election in one direction or another,” said NAL President Sayu Bhojwani.

    The group also looked at other states, including stressing there are 64,000 newly naturalized citizens in Michigan, a state which Donald Trump won by around 10,000 votes in 2016 and which is expected to be a battleground next year.

    Bhojwani said some groups of naturalized citizens, including Asian-Americans and Latinos, are being overlooked.

     

    Reach Ed Dean at ed.dean@floridadaily.com.

     

  • Florida Doesn’t Make Top 10 Judicial Hellholes But It’s on the Watch List

    The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) released its annual report looking at “Judicial Hellholes” across the nation–and showcased Florida’s legal climate even as it seems to be improving.

    Florida did not make the top ten “Judicial Hellholes” but it was included on the “Watch List.”

    “A former No. 1 Judicial Hellhole, Florida took great strides toward improving its legal climate in 2019. Although there is much work to be done, the election of Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has heralded a sea change in Florida’s legal landscape, beginning with the appointment of several new Florida Supreme Court justices. This new court is deferential to legislative efforts to stop lawsuit abuse and poised to correct the course set by the prior activist court,” the American Tort Reform Association noted.

    Bill Herrle, the Florida executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), weighed in on the report on Wednesday when he spoke at Small Business Day at the Capitol in Tallahassee, noting “Floridians lose out on billions of dollars in income, and over a hundred thousand jobs are lost each year due to lawsuits.”

    “Small businesses are especially vulnerable to unwarranted and frivolous legal attacks,” Herrle said. “Small, family businesses don’t have teams of lawyers to help defend them against every nuisance suit or bogus accusation.

    “When a small business is sued, it has to spend thousands of dollars to defend itself, even if the judge eventually throws out the case,” Herrle added. “Just one lawsuit can be enough to put a small business out of business.”

    Herrle said the NFIB is focused on lawsuit reform as the Legislature gets ready to start its regular legislative session next month.

    “Our members will be working with their local legislators to stop predatory practices such as third-party litigation financing, jury awards that are based on inflated and even fictional medical costs,” Herrle said.  “We need the Florida Legislature to balance the scales of justice and create an environment where small businesses can succeed.”

     

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