Labor Day Message from Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo

By Cynthia R. Lorenzo
Director, Agency for Workforce Innovation

As our nation takes time to honor the achievements of American workers this Labor Day, we at the Agency for Workforce Innovation applaud the more than 9.2 million dedicated men and women who compose the workforce of our great state. The resilience, the talent and the ingenuity demonstrated by Florida’s workforce and our business community are helping pave the road to economic recovery while well-positioning our state for the new decade ahead.

Recognizing the unprecedented challenges Floridians have faced during this national recession, AWI and our partners in the workforce system have worked diligently to enhance the services we provide and to develop innovative strategies for ensuring Florida’s employers and workers have the support and assistance they need. … Continue Reading

FWC Outta’ the Woods

Get Your Hunt On
By Tony Young

Even though you can hardly tell, summer is officially over. Kids have returned to school, and hunting season’s already been going on for a month now in South Florida. Finally, the time of year we’ve been waiting for is upon us – the beginning of archery season.

Besides hunting the rut, archery season provides a great opportunity to take a trophy whitetail and arguably is one of the best times to do so. If you’re stealthy enough and have done your homework, you’ve got a good chance of having a nice one come within shooting range of your bowhunting setup. … Continue Reading

New EPA Water Regulations Threaten Floridians Surviving on Low and Fixed Incomes

By State Senator Chris Smith

The new water regulations proposed by the EPA would require the state’s water utilities to spend tens of billions of dollars to upgrade water treatment facilities. Although the goals of the new regulations are noble, at a time when the state of Florida is facing a $5 to $6 billion budget deficit and our counties and cities are facing proportional deficits, now is not the time to implement these new regulations. During this period of high unemployment, these costs could impede our state’s economic recovery, force Florida businesses to cut jobs, and increase the price of utilities, food and other necessities for Florida employers, families and consumers. … Continue Reading

A Glimpse of the Florida Legislature’s 2010 Special Session

By Representative Joe Gibbons
July 30, 2010

On July 20, the Florida Legislature was called into special session in response to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Recognizing the threats to our coastal communities and ecosystems, Governor Charlie Crist called the session for the sole purpose of asking the Legislature to allow voters to consider amending the Florida Constitution this fall to prohibit near-shore drilling in state waters 3 to 10 miles from our coastline.

House Speaker Larry Cretul began the session telling Florida House members that the governor lacked veto power over proposed constitutional amendments and the proposed amendment would not resolve the current issues caused by the spill. He said additional studies were needed before the House and Senate should respond. Rather than acting on the constitutional amendment, he established six workgroups to address problems facing Florida’s coastal communities. … Continue Reading

Florida Steps Up for Space

By Sen. Mike Haridopolos

“We cannot cede our leadership in space. That’s why I’m going to close the gap, ensure that our space program doesn’t suffer when the shuttle goes out of service…. by continuing to support NASA funding, by speeding the development of the shuttle’s successor, by making sure that all those who work in the space industry in Florida do not lose their jobs when the shuttle is retired, because we can’t afford to lose their expertise.”
Presidential Candidate Barack Obama
August 2, 2008, Brevard Community College – Titusville

When then-candidate Barack Obama visited Brevard County in August 2008, he made a clear promise to the Space Coast and to all Americans that our space program would be a priority of his administration. So when he visited again on April 15, 2010 with a different proposal, it became disappointingly clear that our leaders in Washington had turned their backs on the promises of the last election.

Despite Washington’s inaction, Florida’s Legislature has strengthened its commitment to making sure that our region remains the world’s premier spaceport. Our goal has always been to ensure that Florida continues to lead the world in space and that we do not lose badly needed jobs to other states. … Continue Reading

Gov. Crist Can Improve Florida Transportation by Signing HB 1271

By Doug Callaway
Floridians for Better Transportation

Gov. Crist has demonstrated strong leadership by vetoing the Legislature’s effort to raid $160 million from Florida’s Transportation Trust Fund, which pays for needed transportation projects with revenue collected from gas taxes.

This action will ensure that money paid by Florida motorists through state gas taxes will continue to serve its intended purpose — creating jobs and keeping Florida’s transportation system safe, efficient and effective.

With this accomplishment under his belt, Gov. Crist can now finish the job and leave a lasting and positive legacy on transportation issues by approving a second piece of the puzzle – HB 1271, a comprehensive bill containing key priorities for Florida’s transportation system. … Continue Reading

Be Prepared: The start of the 2010 Hurricane Season

By David Halstead, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management

In April Governor Crist gave me the distinct honor of appointing me as the Director of the Division of Emergency Management. While the vast majority of my time since that appointment and the time of the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) has been involved with preparing for the potential future impacts that may be caused by the Deepwater Horizon incident, it is time to shift some of that focus to the beginning of the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

The weather experts tell us that we can expect a busy hurricane season. The current forecast calls for an above average year for the formation of hurricanes. While we respect those that forecast these numbers, it is important that we remind our citizens and visitors that it only takes one storm to cause loss of lives and devastating property damage. Hurricane Andrew was a devastating Category 5 hurricane that struck our state in 1992. That was a year in which the forecast called for a below average year for the formation of hurricanes. So again while the higher numbers bring to light the start of the hurricane season, we have to remain focused on individual responsibility and being prepared for the one storm that may impact the state and your community. … Continue Reading

Gov. Crist Should Veto Sneaky Last-Minute Budget Bill That Hurts Injured Workers

By Sanford Silverman, M.D.
President-Elect of the Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians

This year was supposed to be different. With the stain on the Florida legislative process caused by the Ray Sansom saga just starting to dry, lawmakers promised a budget process conducted fully in the sunshine. This new transparency would best serve the taxpayers – and would provide all sides with an opportunity to weigh in on issues that affect them and get a chance to have their voices heard.

Apparently, old habits die hard at the Capitol. … Continue Reading

Increased Monitoring of Repeat DUI Offenders will Protect Floridians

By Linda Unfried

Gov. Charlie Crist should approve legislation to provide new state supervision and require installation of ignition interlock devices for repeat drunk-driving offenders.

More than any other policy option, ignition interlock devices save lives and reduce DUI recidivism. Since 2003 when New Mexico implemented the nation’s toughest interlock law, that state’s drunk driving re-arrest rate has dropped by 37 percent and alcohol-related fatalities have declined by 35 percent. … Continue Reading

Florida’s White-Knuckle Moment

By State Senator Dan Gelber
May 20, 2010

http://www.dangelber.com/blog/view_blog.php?ID=226

As I’m driving back from Key West today and looking over the vistas and businesses that make up this area, it’s painful to fathom the potential impact of the oil spill. Perhaps that is the challenge we are facing. Imagining the unimaginable. Floridians know hurricanes. We can plot coordinates, know how to prepare our homes and families, and have cleaned up the mess left in the wake of some real monsters. A hurricane is a body shot from nature and we know how to brace ourselves for the hit. But an oil spill does not have the forensics of a blunt trauma; it’s more like a cancer. It is subterranean, quiet and unpredictable. Unlike a hurricane, its wake may be more permanent and wounds less likely to heal. … Continue Reading

How to Read the Sink/Scott Rasmussen Poll

By Steve Schale
http://steveschale.squarespace.com/

Today, Rasmussen released a poll which showed Rick Scott and Alex Sink in a statistical dead heat. As usual, the punditocracy overreacted. Here’s why.

First, Rick Scott has been on statewide TV and radio for a month, to the tune of $4-6 million. At this level, voters in every market in the state–including the very expensive Miami market, have seen his ads 7-10 times a week. … Continue Reading

Insurance Reform: Capital is Key to a Healthy Florida Market

Guest Column by Ernie Csiszar

The Florida Legislature is considering some important reforms to its property insurance laws that will shore up the state’s weakened private insurance market.  Among these are provisions aimed at stopping fraud, limiting the timeframe in which hurricane claims can be filed and providing more scrutiny for questionable sinkhole claims. … Continue Reading

Florida Should Stop Surrendering to Big Tobacco and Start Protecting the Public Interest

By Lawton “Bud” Chiles
587 words

The greatest victory of my father’s political career was his 1997 landmark settlement victory over Big Tobacco. Against all odds, Gov. Lawton Chiles helped settle the score against this dangerous industry by bringing in a windfall worth $13 billion over the first 25 years to benefit the people of Florida. … Continue Reading

Insurance Reform: Get It Done . . . Right.

by Florida-Based Property Insurance CEOs Group

This year’s hurricane season is especially worrisome for Floridians.  In addition to the prospect of devastating storms, there is deep concern about the ability of the insurance industry to cover hurricane losses and a debate over why many insurers are not building surplus when Florida has gone five years without a hurricane. … Continue Reading

Schools Need Flexibility Now: Outdated Spending Rules Limit Learning

Guest Column by Mike Jennings

Most of us take for granted the ability to use technology to access and convey information. In fact, it would be hard to imagine any serious business operating without computers and the workers who know how to use them.

What is expected in the workplace is often unavailable in the very classrooms where we are training tomorrow’s workforce. … Continue Reading

Floridians Deserve Responsible Insurance Regulation

Guest Column by Jay Newman
Hurricane season is less than two months away and, as Chairman of the Board of Sawgrass Mutual Insurance Company, I am interested in legislative efforts this session to strengthen insurance companies so that claims can be paid fully and quickly when hurricanes strike Florida. … Continue Reading

Commentary: Crist’s NPA Challenge

By Steve Schale

With the Governor’s vetoing of SB 6, it seems Crist’s fortunes in the GOP primary are set. Now the big question, what’s next.

NBC’s First read suggested his advisors were weighing two choices: a run as an NPA and a run against Nelson in 2012. Let’s take a quick look. … Continue Reading

Senate Bill 6 rewards great teachers with higher salaries

By Jeb Bush
April 15, 2010
A quality education can change a life. It opens the door to opportunity by preparing a person for success after school. It can end the cruel cycle of poverty and prevent a lifetime of dependence on government. It can instill a lifetime love of learning. … Continue Reading

Unemployment Underscores Economic Benefits of Energy Exploration

By Hank Fishkind

As debate swirls around the proposal to open Florida’s coastal waters to energy exploration, and with Florida’s unemployment rate now more than 12 percent, it is more important than ever to analyze the potential economic effects that the creation of a new energy industry could have on our state. … Continue Reading

Funding Growth in The Florida College System is Critical to Helping People Change Their Lives in the “New Economy”

By Edwin R. Massey, Ph.D.

The Florida College System is a life-changer for students and a game-changer for Florida. At a time when unemployment is at a record high with more than 1 million Floridians out of work, the Florida College System is almost 1 million students strong. … Continue Reading