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Caldwell Announces Another Key Endorsement Block in Bid for Commissioner of Agriculture

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Announces Support from Republican House Members from Central Florida

Representative Matt Caldwell today announced the endorsements of Republican House Members from Central Florida, in the sixth wave of endorsements announced by the campaign, which follows the unanimous support of Republican House members from South Florida, the Panhandle, Southwest Florida, and Northeast Florida delegations, as well as constitutional officers from across the state. Since launching his bid for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Representative Caldwell continues to travel the Sunshine State talking to voters, sharing his conservative message and building support for his grassroots campaign, which has raised $1.37 million to date and amassed nearly one million dollars cash-on-hand.
Representative Caldwell said, “I am proud to receive the endorsements from my colleagues from Central Florida. I hope to have the opportunity to serve the people of the great State of Florida as the next Commissioner of Agriculture and will continue to work hard in order to keep earning support from Floridians across the Sunshine State.”
The sixth wave of endorsements includes:

  • Rep. Tom Leek (R-Daytona Beach)
  • Rep. David Santiago (R-Deltona)
  • Rep. Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford)
  • Rep. Scott Plakon (R-Longwood)
  • Rep. Bob Cortes (R-Altamonte Springs)
  • Rep. Mike La Rosa (R-St. Cloud)
  • Rep. Rene Plasencia (R-Orlando)

Representative Brodeur said, “Matt’s in-depth grasp of the past and current state of Florida’s economy, along with his conservative principles make him the ideal candidate to guide our Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.”
Representative La Rosa said, “I am proud to endorse Matt Caldwell.  Matt’s expertise in water and agriculture policies uniquely qualifies him as the best candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture.”
The Commissioner of Agriculture serves as a member of the Florida Cabinet and is critical to the foundation of Florida’s economy. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services helps the agricultural industry with its daily challenges, promotes Florida’s agricultural commodities, manages state forests, safeguards consumers, implements the school lunch program, and oversees the concealed-weapon license system. The campaign continues to travel across the Sunshine State as a part of Caldwell’s statewide #2LaneTravels Work Days Tour that highlights and showcases industries overseen as Commissioner of Agriculture.

Gov. Scott: The U.S. Embassy Belongs in Jerusalem

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Also Leading Trade Mission to Israel Beginning This Weekend

Governor Rick Scott today announced that he will lead a delegation of nearly 70 Florida business and education leaders on a trade mission to Israel to continue to build on Florida and Israel’s strong relationship. In advance of the trip, Governor Scott today expressed his support for moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The Governor’s upcoming trade mission follows the successful trade mission led by Governor Scott to Israel in 2011.
Governor Scott said, “Florida has proudly stood with our friend and ally Israel for many generations, and I am proud to be leading a delegation of Florida business and education leaders on a trade mission to Israel. As we prepare for this important trade mission, it is clear that our entire nation must also continue to strengthen this partnership with Israel. I strongly believe that the U.S. Embassy belongs in Jerusalem and I am hopeful that a decision will be made to finally move the embassy to the its rightful destination in Israel’s capital city.
“Working with international partners like Israel is critical to strengthening Florida as a global destination for trade and to ensuring that our economy will continue to grow for years to come. Our previous trade mission to Israel was an astonishing success, and I look forward to sharing how far Florida has come in just seven years. We have fought relentlessly to make Florida the best place for businesses to grow and families to find opportunity, and we must make sure we are doing all we can to share our state’s success story across the world.”
The Governor’s trade mission to Israel will include:

  • Economic development meetings with Israeli economic leaders and business owners to encourage continued investment and job creation in the State of Florida;
  • Recognition of Israeli airline El Al’s recently launched direct flights from Miami to Tel Aviv, which is now one of only six direct flights offered by the airline to North America from Israel. This will support continued tourism and economic development in Florida;
  • The signings of multiple agreements between Florida and Israeli universities and economic development organizations to support continued partnerships, research opportunities and job creation; and
  • Honoring of the successful Florida-Israel Memorandum of Understanding Agreement between Space Florida and Israel, which was ultimately established following the Governor’s 2011 trade mission to Israel to support research, development, and aerospace and technology projects; and
  • Additional opportunities to continue to build on Florida’s economic development and trading partnership with Israel, which exceeds $286 million a year.

Additional details on the trade mission, including a comprehensive list of attendees will be finalized and released within the coming days.

Kissimmee man charged with 10 counts of child pornography

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Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Orlando Cyber Crime Task Force arrested Rajiv Israel Kevin Gobin, 20, of 3488 Forest Ridge Lane, Kissimmee, today and charged him with 10 counts of possession of child pornography.
FDLE agents went to Gobin’s home after a preliminary investigation determined child pornography files were being downloaded and shared on the Internet from a specific IP address. Agents obtained a search warrant and executed the warrant. During a forensic preview of a digital device, agents located several files with images depicting child pornography.
Gobin was transported to the Osceola County Jail with a $50,000 bond status until his initial appearance. The Office of the State Attorney, 9th Circuit, will prosecute.

CFO Jimmy Patronis: Florida Must End Credit Report Freeze Fee

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Make it Easier for Data Breach Victims to Protect Themselves from Fraud

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced today that he wants Florida to end all fees imposed to freeze credit reports, and remove requirements for data breach victims to submit investigatory paperwork to prove they were victimized in order to waive this fee. The recent major data breaches underscore the importance of eliminating the credit report fee.
“Recent widespread data breaches at major companies have huge implications for our 20 million residents. Every Floridian should have the power to easily protect themselves and their families,” said CFO Jimmy Patronis. “No one should have to jump through hoops to prove their identity was compromised just to get a fee waived.”
This legislative session, CFO Patronis will work with Commissioner Adam Putnam to entirely remove the credit report freeze fee in Florida, under all circumstances.
“I applaud CFO Patronis for his leadership on this consumer protection initiative, which will eliminate the financial burden of placing a security freeze on credit reports. We must continue to do all we can to help protect consumers from fraud,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
CFO Patronis stated, “There shouldn’t be a fee, in any case, for credit report freezes. These fees serve one purpose: to generate more money for reporting agencies.”
Florida law currently allows credit report agencies to charge a fee of up to $10 to freeze credit reports, and data breach victims are required to submit paperwork to prove their identity is in jeopardy just to avoid paying the fee. Four states (Indiana, South Carolina, Maine, North Carolina) already do not charge fees to freeze credit.

Public invited to Tosohatchee WMA to have fun, explore Florida’s 75-year legacy of conserving wildlife

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On Saturday, Dec. 9, the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area will host a day of fun and exploration celebrating Florida’s 75-year history of conserving native species and habitats on its wildlife management areas.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites the public to enjoy this free, family-friendly Tosohatchee WMA event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Only 15 minutes from downtown Orlando, Tosohatchee WMA has woodlands and waterways reminiscent of Florida in the 1940s, when the first wildlife management area was created in the state. Osceola wild turkey and white-tailed deer roam here. Purple gallinules and roseate spoonbills pick their way through marshes flowing into the St. Johns River. Bald eagles and swallow-tailed kites can be spotted, as well as flocks of migratory birds such as painted buntings making their winter stopovers.
“Tosohatchee is a spectacular piece of old Florida. We are a great getaway from urban areas,” said FWC wildlife biologist Tom Shupe.
On Saturday, participants at the Tosohatchee event will have opportunities to go on hay rides with biologists, meet FWC law enforcement officers and their K-9 companions, admire and judge the finalists submitted in the year-long WMA photo contest, and learn about the science behind the comeback of the Osceola wild turkey, which lives only in Florida.
“The 75th anniversary of Florida’s wildlife management areas inspired us in 2017 to throw outdoors celebrations all year long, from bioblitzes and bird-watching tours to geocaching and photo contests and volunteer work days,” said Jerrie Lindsey, who leads the FWC’s public access services office. “The Tosohatchee event tops off our quest to get more people out on WMAs enjoying both the wildlife and the recreational opportunities. We invite you to keep coming back to our WMAs year after year.”
“Wildlife management areas throughout the state give people of all ages and backgrounds a chance to experience beautiful areas that Florida is conserving for wildlife,” said David Johnson, head of the FWC’s Wildlife and Habitat Management Section that manages the WMAs. “There are a variety of outdoor activities, ranging from hunting and fishing to wildlife viewing, hiking, biking and primitive camping. There is also the simple pleasure of taking a leisurely drive through a WMA and stopping along the way for a picnic.”
What other fun activities can you expect at the Tosohatchee event?
You can experience muzzleloading and campfire cooking demonstrations, check out the variety of hands-on activities for kids, join Florida Trail Association volunteers on short woodland walks and take tours on how to identify native plants.
More about the WMAs’ 75th anniversary and the experiences that WMAs offer to Floridians and visitors all year-long is at MyFWC.com/WMA75.

Commissioner Adam Putnam Requests Federal Disaster Relief for Florida Agriculture

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Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today sent a letter to the Florida’s congressional delegation requesting much-needed disaster relief for Florida agriculture, which suffered a more than $2.5 billion hit due to Hurricane Irma. Excerpts from the letter are below:
“As you know Hurricane Irma, among the strongest hurricanes ever to make direct landfall in the United States, dealt a devastating blow to many sectors of Florida’s $120-billion-dollar agriculture industry.
“While members of our Florida delegation – under your leadership – worked tirelessly to include much-needed disaster assistance to help Florida’s agriculture industry in the face of mounting catastrophic losses, we were ultimately left out of the last aid package Congress considered. This omission was despite receiving commitments from leadership in both houses that our state would find relief in that round of funding.
“We all recognize that OMB’s request is only the Administrations’ recommendation and that Congress, considering the advice of the OMB, will now create a relief package that is responsive to and reflective of the damage sustained by the industry. Nonetheless, I am alarmed by the apparent lack of concern shown by OMB towards the needs of agriculture in the aftermath of such a historic storm.
“Congressman Tom Rooney has crafted language that will enable the USDA to provide $1.5 billion in emergency disaster assistance to address the catastrophic crop losses producers suffered due to this storm. I am hopeful that the entire delegation will support its inclusion in the next disaster relief supplemental.
“I look forward to working with you to address this dire situation and stand ready to provide any additional information necessary to support our request.”
To access the letter, click here.

Attorney General Pam Bondi Joins Letter of Support for Mick Mulvaney’s Appointment to CFPB

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Attorney General Pam Bondi today joined five other attorneys general to support President Donald Trump’s appointment of Mick Mulvaney as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In a letter to President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the attorneys general expressed their support for the President to select the acting director, not the outgoing agency head.
“I fully support the President’s decision to appoint Mick Mulvaney as the director of the CFPB,” said Attorney General Bondi. “Executive staff at the CFPB should strive to protect consumers from abusive powers, as the agency’s mission claims, not cause turmoil and instability throughout a federal protection agency.”
Last week, Director Richard Cordray resigned from the CFPB and selected Deputy Leandra English for acting director. However, President Donald Trump appointed Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney as the federal agency’s director. English has since filed a complaint against the President and Mulvaney in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, requesting the Court block Mulvaney’s appointment and grant her temporary authority as acting director of the CFPB until the U.S. Senate confirms a new director.
Attorney General Bondi’s Consumer Protection Division works regularly with the CFPB to protect all consumers from businesses engaging in deceptive and unfair behavior.
In addition to Attorney General Bondi, the letter was signed by attorneys general from Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia and Arkansas.
To view the full letter, click here.  

Gov. Scott to Highlight Record K-12 Education Investments in Securing Florida’s Future Budget

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Tomorrow, November 29th, Governor Rick Scott will visit Englewood Elementary School in Jacksonville to highlight record K-12 education investments in his Securing Florida’s Future budget.
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: 10:30 AM
WHERE: Englewood Elementary School
4359 Spring Park Road
Jacksonville, FL 32207

New Port Richey woman claims top prize playing $5,000,000 MONOPOLY™ FLORIDA EDITION Scratch-Off game

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The Florida Lottery announces that Mary Olbruck, of New Port Richey, claimed a top prize in the $5,000,000 MONOPOLY™ FLORIDA EDITION Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $3,840,000.
Olbruck purchased her winning ticket from Donia Food Mart & Deli, located at 4015 Little Road in New Port Richey. The retailer will receive a $10,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $20 Scratch-Off game, $5,000,000 MONOPOLY FLORIDA EDITION, launched in July 2016, and features more than $346 million in prizes, including six top prizes of $5,000,000 and 20 prizes of $1 million! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-2.97.
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.

Governor Scott Highlights Record K-12 Education Investments in Securing Florida’s Future Budget

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Governor Rick Scott today visited Kissimmee Elementary School in Osceola County to highlight record K-12 education investments in his Securing Florida’s Future budget. Since Governor Scott took office, state funding for Florida’s K-12 public schools has increased by $3.2 billion or 36.7 percent, from a total amount of $8.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2011-12 to nearly $12 billion in the 2018-19 Securing Florida’s Future budget.
The Securing Florida’s Future budget includes:

  • More than $21.4 billion in state and local funding for Florida’s K-12 public schools. This historic funding equates to $7,497 per student – an increase of $200 per Florida student – the highest total funding, state funding and per-student funding for K-12 in Florida’s history;
  • $15 million in funding for a brand-new program to expand opportunities for middle and high school students to learn coding and computer science;
  • $10 million, for a total of $74.5 million, in funding for school safety initiatives that promote a safe learning environment;
  • $12 million in funding to establish the English Language Learners Summer Academics program. This program will be focused on reading improvements and making sure students in grades 4 – 8 displaced by Hurricane Maria have access to summer academies; and
  • Nearly $18 million, for a total of more than $63 million, in funding for the Teacher Classroom Supply Assistance Program. This proposal will increase funding by $100 per teacher from $250 to $350 annually.