As the nation pauses this weekend to honor the brave men and women who served in our nation’s Armed Forces, U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today filed legislation to ensure some of our most severely disabled veterans have access to the health care they need.
The legislation, known as the FAIR Heroes Act, would make disabled veterans who were medically retired from the military eligible for both Medicare Part B and TRICARE, a health care program for retired veterans and their families, and allow them to choose which health plan works best for them.
Under current law, severely disabled veterans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, or SSDI, for two or more years don’t have a choice. They are required, by law, to purchase Medicare Part B coverage – and, in some cases, maintain that coverage even if they return to work.
By giving these veterans the choice to enroll in TRICARE instead of the more costly Medicare Part B program, the lawmakers’ bill could save many veterans up to $1,300 a year.
“These brave men and women are American heroes,” Nelson said. “They have made tremendous sacrifices in service to their country and making sure they have access to the health care that best fits their needs is the least we can do.”
If these medically retired veterans fail to immediately purchase Medicare Part B coverage when they become eligible, or fail to maintain that coverage for at least eight years after returning to work, they are forced to pay a late enrollment fee and higher premiums if they try to enroll in Medicare later in life.
For some disabled veterans, the late-enrollment penalty and higher premiums make Medicare coverage unaffordable.
Nelson and Blumenthal’s legislation seeks to change that, not only by giving these disabled veterans the option to enroll in TRICARE instead, but also by eliminating the eight-year Medicare requirement and late-enrollment penalties for those who were medically retired from the military.
The legislation has been endorsed by several veterans organizations including the Wounded Warriors Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Got Your 6, Association of the U.S. Army and the National Military Family Association.
A copy of the legislation is available here.
Winter Haven man wins top prize playing $2,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game
The Florida Lottery announces that Darwin Emmanuel, 33, of Winter Haven, claimed a top prize in the $2,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,600,000.00.
Emmanuel purchased his winning ticket from Grab-N-Go, located at 2477 Rifle Range Road in Winter Haven. The retailer will receive a $4,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $10 Scratch-Off game, $2,000,000 CASHWORD, launched on August 7, and features six top prizes of $2 million and over 6,000 prizes of $1,000 to $2 million! The overall odds of winning are one-in-3.38.
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.
Gov. Scott Highlights $180 Million in Tax Cuts for Florida Families
Governor Rick Scott visited Weather Tite Windows, a family-owned and operated window and door replacement company in Tampa Bay, to highlight his proposal for $180 million in tax cuts for Florida families as part of his 2018-2019 recommended budget. The Governor’s proposal includes sales tax holidays to help families prepare for the school year and hurricane season, and reductions to many of the fees on driver’s licenses. Since 2010, the Governor has cut taxes more than 75 times, saving Floridians more than $7.5 billion. In August, Governor Scott also announced that he will propose an amendment to Florida’s Constitution to make it harder for politicians to raise taxes by requiring a supermajority vote by future Florida legislatures to raise any taxes or fees. Read more HERE.
Governor Scott’s $180 million tax cut package includes:
- Sales Tax Holidays to Save Families $88 Million – The Governor’s recommended budget includes funding for four sales tax holidays which will save Floridians an estimated $88 million in the upcoming fiscal year. These sales tax holidays include:
- $73 million from a 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday; and
- $15 million from three one-week disaster preparedness sales tax holidays which would take place in May, June and July.
- Reduction in Driver’s License Fees to Save Floridians $87 Million – Governor Scott is proposing to reduce the fees for driver’s licenses. These fees were increased in 2009, prior to Governor Scott taking office. These fee cuts include:
- $67 million in savings from reducing the fee for a renewal of a regular driver’s license by more than 58 percent from $48 to $20; and
- $20 million in savings from reducing the fee on an original regular driver’s license by more than 43 percent from $48 to $27 and the fee on an original Commercial Driver’s License by more than 10 percentfrom $75 to $67.
- Reduction in Traffic Citation Fines to Save Floridians $4 Million – Governor Scott is proposing to reinstate the 18 percent reduction of eligible traffic citation fines, which was repealed in 2009 prior to Governor Scott taking office, for individuals who attend a basic driver improvement school.
Ponte Vedra woman gets early birthday present playing $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH
Linda Danish poses with her husband and oversized check after claiming a
$1 million prize in the $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game.
The Florida Lottery announces that Linda Danish, 67, of Ponte Vedra, claimed a $1 million prize in the $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $748,000.00.
Danish, whose birthday is this Sunday, purchased her winning ticket from Publix, located at 120 Marketside Avenue in Ponte Vedra. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $25 game, $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH, launched in February and features more than $549 million in total cash prizes, including two top prizes of $10 million and 46 prizes of $1 million! Overall odds of winning are one-in-2.89.
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.
Gov. Scott directs activation of State Emergency Operations Center to assist families displaced by Hurricane Maria
Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to activate the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to Level 2. This means the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) has activated, enhancing coordination between federal, state and local emergency management agencies. Today’s activation is in response to theFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offering Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) to Puerto Rican families in Florida who were displaced by Hurricane Maria.
Governor Scott said, “Since Hurricane Maria made landfall and devastated Puerto Rico, Florida has taken every opportunity to help families impacted by this storm and assist Puerto Rico in its recovery. Last week, I traveled to Puerto Rico for the second time since Hurricane Maria at the request of Governor Ricardo Rosselló to help with their power restoration efforts. Today, with more than 140,000 Puerto Ricans having arrived in Florida following Hurricane Maria, I have directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to upgrade the activation status of the State Emergency Operations Center. This will ensure that local, state and federal agencies are all working together and enhance the delivery of resources at the state’s Disaster Relief Centers at Miami and Orlando international airports as they prepare to assist more families with services like crisis counseling, educational resources, job placement services, medical services and help getting housing and drivers licenses. This direction will also facilitate greater planning and support a more efficient and coordinated response as we respond to the needs of these families.”
All TSA expenses and costs will be paid for directly by FEMA with federal funding. All state emergency management costs related to sheltering for displaced Puerto Rican families in Florida are 100 percent reimbursable by FEMA due to the Florida’s federal Host State Agreement. For more information on the federal Host State Agreement between the State of Florida and FEMA, click HERE.
For more information on FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance, click HERE.
Caldwell Announces Successful Fundraising Month
In his bid for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture,
Caldwell amasses nearly million dollar war chest
Representative Matt Caldwell announced another successful fundraising month in his bid for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. In October, Caldwell’s campaign and Political Committee raised a combined $111,235 and has amassed nearly one million dollars cash-on-hand.
In October, Caldwell’s campaign for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture raised $45,235 and Friends of Matt Caldwell, a Political Committee supporting his bid, will report $66,000. In addition to another strong month of fundraising, the campaign and Political Committee have raised $1.37 million to date.
Representative Caldwell said, “We are blessed by the amount of support we have received and will continue to work tirelessly as we travel the Sunshine State, engage with Floridians and build our grassroots campaign. As we visit rural and urban parts of our state one thing is clear, Floridians are looking for a trusted conservative that will fight for critical issues overseen by the Commissioner of Agriculture on day one.”
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 recently announced the endorsements of Republican House members from South Florida, which follows the unanimous support of Republican House members from the Panhandle, Southwest Florida, and Northeast Florida delegations. 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. WATCH: Highlights from our #2LaneTravels Work Days, including oysters, timber, cattle, and more!
Paid by Matt Caldwell, Republican, for Commissioner of Agriculture
AIA Florida Aerospace & Defense Workforce/STEM Summit
MEDIA ADVISORY
Collaborating to Inspire and Build the Aerospace Workforce of Tomorrow
The Aerospace Industries Association in partnership with Harris Corporation invites you to attend the AIA Florida Aerospace & Defense Workforce/STEM Summit Nov. 15 and 16 at the Harris Technology Center in Palm Bay, Florida.
Key stakeholders from across government, industry and Florida universities will meet to discuss issues, trends, ideas and best practices impacting the effort to inspire and build the aerospace workforce of the future. The first panel is a discussion among company leaders led by AIA President and CEO David F. Melcher and Harris Chairman, President and CEO Bill Brown at 9:35 Wednesday, Nov. 15.
More information on specific panels and speakers can be found at this link.
WHO: David F. Melcher, President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association
William M. Brown, Chairman, President and CEO, Harris Corporation
Key stakeholders across government and industry
Leaders from the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering, Florida Tech, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Florida International University
K-12 education leaders from Brevard, Osceola, Hillsborough and Pasco counties
WHAT: AIA Florida Aerospace & Defense Workforce/STEM Summit
WHEN: Nov. 15-16, 2017
WHERE: Harris Technology Center, 1395 Troutman Blvd NE,
Palm Bay, FL, 32905
CONTACTS: Matt Grimison
Harris Corporation
(321)724-3446 office
[email protected]
Dan Stohr
Aerospace Industries Association
(703) 358-1078 office
[email protected]
FHCA Statement: AHCA Uses Media to Release Unfavorable Information About Nursing Homes
“FHCA is extremely disappointed with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), which today chose to use the media as a vehicle to release unfavorable information about nursing homes that are in fact working to comply with the Governor’s Emergency Power Plan Rule. Several facilities on the list not only submitted their documentation, but those variance requests have also been published on the AHCA website since October 16. The agency appears to have made no attempt to contact facilities in advance to verify the accuracy of this ill-conceived list before releasing it to the public.
FHCA has consistently stated its willingness to work with the agency to strengthen the emergency procedures in nursing centers and assisted living facilities in order to ensure that residents are safe during disasters. It appears AHCA is more interested in generating news stories than in gathering facts and arriving at a place of consensus to will ensure that nursing homes meet the Governor’s mandate, despite its unrealistic timeline. Despite this disappointment, we remain committed to working with the Governor and his administration to adopt workable procedures to protect the well-being of those entrusted to our care.”
Gov. Rick Scott Proposes Record Investments in Florida’s Environment
Governor Rick Scott last week announced his proposal for $1.7 billion in funding for Florida’s environment as part of his 2018-2019 recommended budget. This $1.7 billion funding for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is a more than $220 million increase over the current year.
The proposed funding includes:
- $50 million to expedite repairs for the federal Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechobee;
- A record investment of $55 million for Florida’s springs;
- A record investment of $100 million for Florida’s beaches;
- A record $355 million for Everglades restoration;
- A record $50 million for Florida’s state parks; and
- $50 million for Florida Forever to help preserve and protect our natural lands
This April, Governor Scott met with President Donald Trump regarding the importance of fixing the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike and received his commitment to fixing the dike. Last month, President Trump instructed White House Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney to accelerate the completion of repairs to Florida’s Herbert Hoover Dike. See more HERE.
From orphans to opportunities: The evolution of Children’s Home Society of Florida
115 years of doing good for Florida’s children
On November 17, 1902, Children’s Home Society of Florida first opened its doors as an orphanage to care for the growing number of children arriving on the infamous Orphan Trains that transported homeless children from the streets of New York City hoping to find families. The final stop was in Jacksonville, where more than 400 children arrived with nowhere to go.
Under the guidance of Rev. D.W. Comstock, CHS was established to address this pressing need. With a staff of two and a budget of $400, CHS cared for 34 children that first year, finding permanent homes for 21. It was the beginning of a 115-year legacy of providing solutions to society’s ever-changing challenges affecting children.
With an increasing demand for services, CHS grew beyond Jacksonville – and greater than an orphanage and adoption agency – in 1920, opening its first satellite office in Pensacola. Over the next 100 years, the organization’s presence and influence continued to expand, and the first office in Tampa Bay was established in 1958.
Over the past century, CHS has been the leader in identifying and addressing key issues facing children and families. While remaining true to its roots in adoption, CHS has evolved to also deliver early childhood programs, in-home solutions that stabilize and strengthen families, counseling and telehealth, foster care, and, most recently, the innovative community partnership school TM model that’s transforming outcomes in nearly a dozen Title I schools. Mort Elementary in Tampa adopted the model in 2016.
More than one million lives have changed because of CHS, including 1,200 every year in the Tampa Bay area. Annually, CHS builds bridges to success for more than 50,000 children and family members.
But CHS’ legacy of enacting change for children extends beyond service delivery, as its legislative influence helped establish child labor and compulsory education laws, and also played a pivotal role in the founding of the Child Welfare League of America, the agency now known as the Florida Department of Children and Families, the creation of Community Based Care, the privatization of child welfare that became the turning point for improved outcomes in Florida.
“Since our founding in 1902 as a single-site adoption agency, CHS has grown and evolved with each passing decade to remain the leader in addressing the shifting social needs of children and families,” said CHS President and CEO Michael Shaver. “Through the changing times, one constant has remained: our commitment to providing the right solutions at the right time to help more children realize their full potential.”
In Tampa and along the gulf, CHS is also providing safety and guidance while empowering youth to reach their full potential through Joshua House.