Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Contributor

Contributor

Gov. Scott: FEMA TSA extension will help Puerto Rico’s recovery

Posted on

Governor Rick Scott made the following statement today regarding FEMA extending the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program (TSA) for families who were displaced due to Hurricanes Irma and Maria. For more information click HERE.

Governor Scott said, “Florida has done everything possible to help our neighbors in Puerto Rico with their continued recovery from Hurricane Maria. Over the past seven months since Maria made landfall, we have remained in constant communication with Governor Ricardo Rosselló and his leadership team and I have made five trips to Puerto Rico to offer our full assistance and guidance. Florida remains the only state with a Host-State Agreement with FEMA to help families from Puerto Rico. I also recently spoke with FEMA Administrator Brock Long about our joint efforts to make sure we are doing everything possible to help those who evacuated here. This includes keeping the FEMA case managers I requested on the ground across our state to offer assistance. I’m glad to hear that FEMA is once again extending Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) for the many families from Puerto Rico in the Sunshine State and we continue to stand ready to assist in any way possible.”

Action taken by Governor Scott following Hurricane Maria:

  • On September 28th, at the request of Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló, Governor Scott traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico to help coordinate response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria.
  • On October 5th, the Governor entered into a host-state agreement with FEMA – Florida is the only state willing to enter into this type of agreement to help families displaced by Hurricane Maria.
  • On October 11th, Governor Scott met with Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture Congressman Mike Conaway, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security Congressman Michael McCaul, and Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón regarding Hurricane Maria recovery.
  • On October 30th, the Governor’s office sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget. See the letter HERE.
  • On November 3rd, Governor Scott led a delegation of Florida utility providers to Puerto Rico at the invitation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló.
  • On November 9th, the Governor activated the State Emergency Response Team to assist families displaced by Hurricane Maria. See the Governor’s press release HERE.
  • On November 15th, the Governor sent a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan urging them to support Florida’s efforts to support those displaced from Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria. See the Governor’s letter HERE.
  • On December 21st, Governor Scott spoke with Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón regarding Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane Maria.
  • On December 22nd, Governor Scott spoke with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen regarding recovery efforts for Florida and Puerto Rico.
  • On January 3rd, Governor Scott sent a letter to the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations urging the Senate to immediately pass a significant Hurricane Irma and Maria disaster relief package. See the Governor’s letter HERE.
  • On January 11th, Governor Scott spoke with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long regarding the FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program and the importance of continued communication between federal, state and local partners as families continue to recover from Hurricane Maria.
  • On January 12th, Governor Scott met with Governor Ricardo Rosselló and joined him for a Puerto Rico recovery town hall meeting to discuss ongoing relief efforts.
  • On January 24th, Governor Scott, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, California Governor Jerry Brown and Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló issued a joint letter urging the U.S. Senate to improve and expeditiously pass supplemental disaster funding, and for Congress to send the bill to the President. See the letter HERE.
  • On February 5th, Governor Scott visited Puerto Rico with Governor Ricardo Rosselló to assist with ongoing Hurricane Maria recovery efforts.
  • On February 7th, Governor Scott spoke with FEMA Administrator Brock Long regarding Governor Scott’s recent trip to Puerto Rico.
  • On February 7th, Governor Scott announced a new partnership to connect families displaced by Hurricane Maria with jobs in Florida. See the announcement HERE.
  • On March 5th, Governor Scott traveled to Puerto Rico to meet with Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón and attend the Puerto Rico State of the State Address.
  • On April 18th, Governor Scott met with Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón in Washington D.C. to discuss how Florida is working to help Puerto Rican evacuees in the state.
  • On April 18th, Governor Scott also spoke with FEMA Administrator Brock Long to discuss the FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program and the importance of keeping the FEMA case managers the Governor previously requested on the ground across the state.
  • On April 23rd, at the invitation of Puerto Rico Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State Luis G. Rivera-Marin, Governor Scott traveled to Puerto Rico for the fifth time since Hurricane Maria devastated the island to continue to offer guidance, advice and assistance regarding ongoing recovery efforts. Governor Scott met with emergency management officials, federal officials and Puerto Rican leaders. The Governor also visited with volunteer workers with the American Red Cross in Puerto Rico to thank them for their continued efforts.

Vietnam veteran claims $1 million prize from new FLORIDA 100X THE CASH Scratch-Off game

Posted on

The Florida Lottery announces that Robert Hughes, 67, of New Port Richey, claimed a $1 million prize in the new FLORIDA 100X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $770,000.00.

Hughes purchased his winning ticket from 7-Eleven, located at 6315 Rowan Road in New Port Richey. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.

The new $30 game, FLORIDA 100X THE CASH, launched on February 26, and features eight top prizes of $15 million – the largest Scratch-Off top prize ever offered by the Florida Lottery! The game also offers 20 prizes of $1 million. Overall odds of winning are one-in-2.59.

Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.

Stetson University to Celebrate 132nd Commencement Next Week

Posted on

828 students will receive degrees, third-highest total of honorees

Stetson University will celebrate its 132nd commencement in DeLand next week, honoring 828 graduate and undergraduate students. That number represents the third-highest total number of graduating students Stetson has honored at commencement. Again this year, the graduate and undergraduate ceremonies will be divided.

Stetson will confer master’s degrees on 180 graduate students from the College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Business Administration on Thursday, May 10, in the Edmunds Center, 5-6 p.m., with a reception for students, family and friends in the Edmunds Center immediately following the ceremony. Doors open for guests at 3:45 p.m. The Edmunds Center is at 143 E. Pennsylvania Ave., DeLand, Florida, 32723.

Stetson will honor 648 undergraduate students at their commencement on Saturday, May 12, 8-10 a.m., in Spec Martin Memorial Stadium. Doors open for guests at 6:45 a.m. Receptions for students, family and friends will be held on the DeLand campus immediately following the ceremony. Visit the commencement website for times and locations. The stadium is at 260 E. Euclid Ave., DeLand, Florida, 32724.

On the DeLand campus, students and faculty nominate and vote on the keynote speakers. This year the graduate ceremony keynoters are Rachel Faircloth, business, and Lucianna Chixaro Ramos, creative writing. The undergraduate speakers are Kaitlyn Orien Silva Forsythe, digital arts, and Lucas Ludwig Coura, voice.

In addition to the two commencement ceremonies, Stetson celebrates student achievement with the ROTC Commissioning Ceremony and Undergraduate Awards & Recognition. Both events will be on Friday, May 11, in Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, Florida, 32723. ROTC’s commissioning will be 10-11 a.m. and the awards event is 3-5 p.m.

Live streaming of the commencement ceremonies can be seen on Stetson Broadcast Productions. For more information and details on commencement 2018 events, please visit the commencement website.

Gov. Scott Directs DEO to Enhance Workforce Housing in the Florida Keys

Posted on

Governor Scott today directed the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to propose enhanced workforce housing in the Florida Keys as part of the continued efforts to recover from the tremendous impact Hurricane Irma had on the Keys. Hurricane Irma destroyed much of the housing that served the workforce population and the proposed Keys Workforce Housing Initiative will allow local governments to grant additional building permits for rental properties. This initiative will be presented to the Florida Cabinet at the next meeting.

Governor Scott said, “Hurricane Irma left a devastating impact on our state, especially in the Florida Keys and since the storm we have been working hard to rebuild even stronger than before. For business owners across the Keys, the availability of affordable workforce housing has been a challenge that was compounded by Hurricane Irma. The Keys Workforce Housing Initiative will provide much-needed access to workforce housing, allowing businesses the opportunity to grow while providing a plan to ensure Keys residents can evacuate safely before a storm.”

DEO is charged with reviewing local development decisions in the Florida Keys due to its legislative designation as an Area of Critical State Concern. State law requires that growth be limited in the Keys to ensure that residents can evacuate safely within 24 hours in advance of a hurricane. To meet the increased demand for workforce housing, the innovative Keys Workforce Housing Initiative will require new construction that participates to commit to evacuating renters in the 48-hour window of evacuation.

The initiative will allow up to 1,300 new building permits for workforce housing throughout the Florida Keys. Local governments that choose to participate in the initiative will work with DEO to amend their comprehensive plans to allow for additional building permits that meet these safety requirements.

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of DEO, said, “As I have toured the damage from Hurricane Irma, the number one priority of business and community leaders is the need for more workforce housing. We are proud to provide an option to local governments that will help businesses have the talent they need to remain in the Keys and grow their companies. This solution will not only provide workforce housing for private-sector businesses but public servants, like law enforcement and teachers, as well. Our agency is committed to working with our partners in the Keys to provide ample workforce housing without compromising the safety of Floridians. We appreciate our partners at the Florida Division of Emergency Management for working with us to make sure Keys residents are still able to safely evacuate.”

Representative Holly Raschein said, “Hurricane Irma pushed the affordable housing problem in the Florida Keys to a critical state, decimating an already strained stock of housing for our workforce. I have discussed this concern with Governor Scott and the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) both in Tallahassee and during the Governor’s many visits to the Keys as he’s lead us through our recovery efforts. The plan Governor Scott has directed DEO to bring before Cabinet is a creative solution to the most pressing recovery challenge still facing the Florida Keys and I encourage all Cabinet members to support this proposal.”

Wes Maul, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said, “Our agency’s primary goal is the safety of Florida residents during disasters. The Keys Workforce Housing Initiative ensures the safety of tourists and residents of the Keys during major storms, while allowing critical economic development activities to continue. We appreciate DEO’s partnership in this endeavor.”

Statewide Poll Shows 74 Percent of Floridians Back Amendment 4

Posted on

A new bipartisan poll conducted jointly by North Star Opinion Research and EMC Research shows that nearly three-quarters of Florida voters support Amendment 4—the Voting Restoration Amendment—on the ballot this November. Amendment 4 gives Floridians who have made past mistakes the eligibility to vote after they have paid their full debt to society. An amendment to Florida’s constitution requires 60 percent of the vote to become law.

“This amendment has the strong bipartisan support needed to pass with Florida’s 60 percent threshold,” said, Dan Judy of North Star Opinion Research, the pollster for Senator Marco Rubio. “Regardless of party, gender, race, or region of the Sunshine State, Floridians strongly support Amendment 4.”

The poll shows that a supermajority of Floridians from each political party support the amendment. According to the survey, 61 percent of Republicans, 78 percent of Independents, and 88 percent of Democrats are in support. In terms of ideology, 92 percent of those who call themselves liberal support the amendment as do 59 percent who identify as conservative.

“In an added indication of the measure’s strength, there are very few undecided voters on the amendment,” said Dave Beattie of EMC Research. “Only 3 percent of voters surveyed said they didn’t know about or had no opinion about the issue.”

EMC Research and North Star Opinion Research conducted a live telephone survey of 1,303 likely November 2018 general election voters in the state of Florida from March 22 – April 2, 2018. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish, and both landlines and mobile phones were included. The margin of error for overall results is ±2.7 percentage points.

Amendment 4 restores the eligibility to vote of Floridians with felony convictions only after they complete all terms of their sentence and pay their full debt to society – including parole, probation, and restitution, if imposed by a judge. Those convicted of murder or felony sexual offenses will not be eligible under Amendment 4.

“These poll results reflect what our grassroots movement has found after literally hundreds of thousands of conversations,” said campaign manager Jackie Lee. “Floridians believe in second chances and support the ability of people who have made a mistake to earn back their eligibility to vote. They strongly support Amendment 4 because it impacts people and families from every community and all walks of life. Vote YES for Second Chances and vote YES on Amendment 4 in November.”

To learn more about the Second Chances Campaign, please visit SecondChancesFL.org.

About North Star Opinion Research
North Star Opinion Research provides strategic guidance to Republican candidates, trade associations, non-profit organizations, and corporations. Located in Washington, D.C., North Star is a full-service research firm offering a broad range of capabilities and expertise. For more information about North Star Opinion Research, visit northstaropinion.com.

About EMC Research
EMC Research is a national public opinion and data analytics firm with offices in Columbus, OH, Irving, TX, Oakland, CA, Orlando, FL, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA and Washington, D.C. EMC Research tailors unique research solutions to complex problems for government agencies, private companies, non-profit organizations, ballot measure campaigns and candidates for public office. For more information about EMC Research, visit emcresearch.com.

Pd. pol. adv. paid for by Floridians for a Fair Democracy, Inc.

CFO Jimmy Patronis: Lobby Registration Requirement Should Apply to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation

Posted on

Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis sent the below letter to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation President and CEO Barry Gilway today regarding the lack of a requirement for those lobbying the Corporation. The letter can also be found here.

May 2, 2018

Mr. Barry Gilway, President, CEO and Executive Director
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
301 W. Bay Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Dear Mr. Gilway:

As Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Financial Services Commission, I believe that transparency should be a key component to any organization. Currently, lobbyists are not statutorily required to disclose their efforts on behalf of clients and private interests they represent before Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Florida’s state-backed insurer should be subject to the same rules as state agencies and organizations such as water management districts.

Transparency is one of the best ways we can ensure accountability. It should be crystal clear who is interested in influencing Citizens policy changes or securing contracts with the Corporation. The Citizens internal Code of Ethics should address lobbying activities. Considering the lack of a statutory requirement, I am requesting Citizens attend the next meeting of the Governor and Cabinet to discuss the Corporation’s plan of action and timeline to correct this shortcoming.

Citizens should examine its internal Code of Ethics and consider options such as publicly documenting entities that lobby Citizens. These options would be a proactive approach while awaiting the next legislative session to address this statutorily.

A public entity that provides insurance to more than 444,000 policyholders in Florida, and the potential financial impact that Citizens has for all Floridians’ insurance policies, should ensure all lobbying activities are conducted in the sunshine.

Regards,

Jimmy Patronis
Chief Financial Officer

c: Christopher B. Gardner, Chairman

DSC to honor graduates at 58th commencement

Posted on

More than 3,400 students will join the ranks of Daytona State College alumni during commencement ceremonies on Monday, May 14, at the Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.

In keeping with tradition, DSC’s 58thcommencement will take place in two parts; however, ceremonies have been moved to earlier in the day to allow graduates more time to celebrate their accomplishments with family and friends. The first ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. for associate of science, certificate and adult education candidates. The second ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. for all bachelor’s and associate of arts degree candidates.

DSC’s commencement exercises will honor over 400 bachelor’s degree recipients. Among them are 239 graduates of Daytona State’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management degree, which the college began offering over a decade ago, and 80 graduates of the college’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which DSC launched in 2014. The college offers 11 baccalaureate degrees in business, nursing, education, engineering and information technology, and has conferred nearly 3,500 bachelor’s degrees since it transitioned in 2006 from a community college to a four-year-degree-granting state college.

Many of Daytona State’s baccalaureate recipients are working parents or have responsibilities that prohibit them from commuting long distances to go to class. Many went back to school to improve their chances of promotion to higher positions. Some chose Daytona State to prepare for change in their careers. Others weighed the substantial cost savings gained by choosing a bachelor’s degree from DSC.

The Class of 2018 also features over 1,500 associate of arts graduates. Many will continue their studies in a DSC baccalaureate degree program or smoothly transition as juniors to the University of Central Florida through DSC’s Direct Connect to UCF partnership, or to other universities.

Over 600 students will have earned their associate of science or associate of applied science degree, while another 800-plus will have taken the first step on their educational and career pathway by earning a certificate credential.

This year, over 2,000 are graduating with honors, including 539 with high honors, and 49 have been inducted into the international honor society Phi Theta Kappa, based on their leadership skills, scholarship and community service. An additional 24 graduates were inducted this year into Sigma Beta Delta, the highest international recognition a business student can receive at a college or university. Sixty Associate Degree Nursing graduates this year were inducted into the Alpha Delta Nu national honor society, and 25 students were inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi international honor society for education graduates. Fifteen students were inducted into the Daytona State College Hall of Fame, the highest honor that faculty can bestow upon a student.

More than 200 veterans earned their academic credentials this year.

And, 208 graduates are earning their associate of arts degree, associate of science or program certificate days before they receive their high school diploma through Daytona State’s popular dual enrollment program, which provides opportunity for high school students to earn college credits free of charge and get a head start on their college education.

Nearly 350 grads will have earned their adult high school diploma or GED as part of the Class of 2018.

Since its founding in 1957 as Florida’s first comprehensive community college, Daytona State has awarded over 100,000 degrees and certificates.