Governor Rick Scott today released the below statement following the release of the Army Corps of Engineers spending plan, which includes $29,300,000 in investments in Port Tampa Bay, JAXPORT and Port Everglades. The funds made available were included in the Fiscal Year 2017 Omnibus Appropriations Bill signed into law earlier this month by President Trump.
Governor Scott said, “It is great news that the Trump Administration is making major investments in Florida ports, including Port Tampa Bay, JAXPORT and Port Everglades. Since 2011, we have invested over $1 billion in state funding in our 15 world-class seaports and we appreciate the Trump Administration understanding the important role our ports have in supporting our economy and creating jobs. We will continue to work closely with our state and federal partners to make Florida a global hub for trade.”
The $29,300,000 federal investments includes $9,000,000 for Port Tampa Bay, $17,500,000 for JAXPORT and $2,800,000 for Port Everglades.
UCF Captures National Computer Programming Title, Places 13th in World
A team of three University of Central Florida students earned the title of national champions Wednesday and finished 13th in the world in an elite computer programming contest known as the “Battle of the Brains.”
In the competition at the Association of Computing Machinery’s International Collegiate Programming Contest in Rapid City, SD, the UCF trio beat teams such as the University of California at Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton, Cornell and the University of Texas at Austin.
The UCF team is made up of: Alex Coleman of Oxford, PA, a sophomore studying computer science; Timothy Buzzelli of Palm Bay, FL, a sophomore studying computer science; and Josh Linge of Jacksonville, FL, who earned a master’s degree in computer science in December.
ITMO University in St. Petersburg, Russia, won the world contest. Last year’s UCF team placed third in the nation and 28th in the world.
Last fall, more than 12,000 teams from 103 countries vied regionally for a chance to be one of only 133 teams to compete in the world contest. UCF earned its spot by winning the U.S. Southeast Regional competition in November. Other UCF teams also placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th out of 65 teams that competed in the regional contest. That contest also represented UCF’s fifth consecutive regional win.
The secret to UCF’s success is devoted practice, which is usually up to 20 hours a week, including a seven- to eight-hour practice session every Saturday, said computer science Professor Ali Orooji and faculty advisor for the team.
“Using a sports analogy, imagine how hard a football team has to work to win a national championship. This is the same thing. You have to work very hard to put yourself above the others,” he said. “It takes talented, devoted students who are willing to work hard, and coaches who volunteer so much of their time to coach these team members. It also takes the support from the university, which motivates us to keep going.” The team’s next practice is Saturday to prepare for next year’s competitions.
The contest challenges teams with complex, real-world problems under a grueling five-hour deadline. Huddled around a single computer, competitors race in a battle of logic, strategy and mental endurance. Teammates collaborate to rank the difficulty of the problems, deduce the requirements, design tests, and build software systems that solve the problems under the scrutiny of judges. The team that solves the most problems in the fewest attempts in the least cumulative time is declared the winner.
For 35 consecutive years, UCF has placed in the top three in the region, a record unmatched by any team in the nation.
“UCF is a powerhouse at the ICPC,” said contest director Jeff Donahoo, a computer science professor at Baylor University. “Virtually every year UCF has very competitive teams, and their region is extremely competitive. So just to make it to the world finals each year is amazing but to make it with the regularity that they do demonstrates the support of the university. I applaud UCF for getting behind their students and enabling them to be the best problem solvers by fostering competition.”
UCF’s remarkable record of competing at the world finals was noted at the opening ceremony Tuesday, when Orooji and UCF coach Glenn Martin received lifetime coaching awards.
Orooji was lauded for 24 world finals appearances and Martin for 20.
“I was definitely nervous going into the world finals for the first time, but I was happy that we were able to represent UCF well,” said Coleman, at age 18 the youngest competitor UCF has sent to the world finals.
Buzzelli added: “We not only exceeded our coaches’ expectations, we also exceeded those we had for ourselves.”
With world-level competition experience, the sophomores are well positioned to succeed next year, said Arup Guha, a lecturer in the UCF Department of Computer Science and a team coach.
Linge, who graduated in December, will head to Seattle to begin his job at Facebook after delaying his January start date to compete in the competition.
“This was my last year to participate in the ICPC and I’m glad I had Timothy and Alex as my teammates,” he said.
Gov. Scott Signs Counterterrorism Legislation
Governor Rick Scott today signed HB 457 which creates criminal offenses for people who engage in illegal activities in connection with terrorist organizations or commit acts of terrorism.
Governor Scott said, “Last year, Florida came under attack when an ISIS-inspired terrorist stormed into Pulse Nightclub in Orlando and killed 49 innocent people. Today, while we continue to mourn this tragic loss of life, we are doing everything in our power to make sure that no family or community experiences that pain again. This important legislation will help ensure that those responsible for acts of terror like this are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and continue our efforts to prevent future attacks. I’d like to thank the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for their hard work on this bill. I’m proud to sign it into law today.”
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “I thank Governor Scott, the Florida Cabinet and the Legislature for their leadership and dedication to keeping Florida safe. Florida’s crime rate continues to drop thanks to the hard work and dedication of our brave law enforcement officers. It is imperative that law enforcement has the tools and resources it needs to investigate crimes related to terrorism.”
To view the transmittal letter, click HERE.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Recognizes School Gardens with “Golden Shovel” Awards
Tallahassee School of Math and Science in Leon
County Best New Garden, Secondary Division
Tallahassee School of Math and Science in Leon County
Best New Garden, Secondary Division
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services today announced the winners of the third annual Florida Farm to School “Golden Shovel” Awards, which recognize Florida students, educators and community members for their extraordinary school garden efforts. The five award categories include: Best New Garden, Best Revitalized Garden, Best Use of Produce, Most Community Involvement and Most Creative Learning Environment.
Applicants to the “Golden Shovel” Awards implemented numerous innovative gardening methods, including: irrigated raised beds, hoop houses, hydroponic towers, fruit tree orchards and aquaponics systems. Produce from the school gardens was featured in student and teacher meals, donated to the community and taken home for the weekend. The program received applications from 20 counties.
Numerous schools showcased fully integrated school garden programs that featured outdoor classrooms with decorative pergolas and arbors, butterfly gardens and atriums, as well as native wetlands and shoreline restoration projects.
The recipients of the 2017 “Golden Shovel” Awards are:
- Best New Garden
- Primary Division: Loughman Oaks Elementary, Polk County
- Secondary Division: Tallahassee School of Math and Science, Leon County
- Best Revitalized Garden
- Primary Division: Palmetto Elementary, Miami-Dade County
- Secondary Division: Santa Fe High School, Alachua County
- Best Use of Produce
- Primary Division: West Melbourne School for Science, Brevard County
- Secondary Division: Osceola Middle School, Marion County
- Most Community Involvement
- Primary Division: Dommerich Elementary, Orange County
- Secondary Division: Osceola Middle School, Marion County
- Most Creative Learning Environment
- Primary Division: Lawton Elementary, Seminole County
- Secondary Division: Sickles High School, Hillsborough County
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services operates the state’s school nutrition program, including school breakfast, lunch, Summer BreakSpot and the HealthierUS School Challenge certification program, in all 67 counties. In the past four years, the department has worked with dozens of schools across the state to implement and support school gardens. In addition, the department began its own garden in Tallahassee that helps educate students, teachers and parents about how to start and maintain a school garden.
For more information about the school garden program at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, please visit FreshFromFlorida.com/FarmtoSchool.
Florida Leaders Applaud Gov. Scott’s Signing of $180 Million Tax Cut Package
Governor Rick Scott today signed HB 7109, the “Tax Cut Package” which will cut $180 million in taxes for Florida families and businesses. This brings the total of taxes cut since Governor Scott has been in office to $6.7 billion. Here’s what Florida leaders are saying:
Senate President Joe Negron said, “I am pleased to see this comprehensive tax relief package become law. Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature have worked together for the last several years to reduce the tax burden facing Florida families and businesses in a broad-based and meaningful way. This good bill furthers that commitment.”
House Speaker Richard Corcoran said, “I’m grateful to all the members of the Florida House for their hard work on HB 7109 and to Governor Scott for signing it into law today. This tax cut package is a big win for every Floridian. It means real money back into the hands of families and businesses.”
Bryan Koon, Director of Florida Division of Emergency Management, said, “This tax cut will ensure that folks can obtain everything they need in order to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. I encourage all Floridians to take advantage of this great opportunity and save money while building their disaster supply kits.”
Tom Feeney, President and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, said, “I’d like to thank Governor Scott for his commitment to keeping Florida competitive and making it easier for businesses to thrive in our state. The reduction in the business rent tax will help Florida job creators continue to grow so they create even more opportunities for families across the Sunshine State.”
Bill Herrle, Executive Director of the National Federation of Independent Business said, “I applaud Governor Scott for signing this important bill to help Florida businesses thrive in our state. Every tax cut allows our job creators to reinvest more of their hard-earned money into growing their businesses and creating more jobs for our families, which is great news for our entire state.”
Frank Walker, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said, “The signing of this year’s tax package marks the first step in what we hope will be the eventual complete elimination of the business rent tax. With his signature today, Governor Rick Scott once again demonstrated his commitment to reducing the tax burden on Florida families and local businesses.”
Florida Retail Federation President & CEO R. Scott Shalley said, “We are grateful to Governor Scott for signing these important tax measures that will allow retailers, consumers, and other businesses to see their money stretch farther and help grow this economy. The .2 percent reduction in the business rent tax will allow small businesses to keep more of their own revenue, allowing them to reinvest those funds and create jobs. The 3-day sales tax holiday for disaster preparedness will encourage both consumers and retailers to properly prepare for and purchase the supplies they need in the event of a hurricane, or other natural disaster. Lastly, the 3-day sales tax holiday for back-to-school is always incredibly successful as families are able to purchase more of the supplies their children need for the upcoming school year including expensive technology such as computers and tablets. All three of these tax relief measures will provide significant economic benefits to Florida families and business owners, and we thank Governor Scott for signing this important legislation into law.”
Maria Wells, 2017 President of the Florida Realtors, said, “I applaud Governor Scott for signing this bill and making these tax cuts a reality for Florida families. From a Realtor perspective, I am particularly excited about the first-ever cut to the business rent tax. The business community has been working to advance this tax cut for several years and this is a tremendous success for Florida Realtors and the entire Business Rent Tax Coalition. When businesses grow, communities prosper.”
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said, “I’d like to thank Governor Scott for signing HB 7109 into law today. This tax package is a win for state taxpayers, reducing their tax burden and allowing them to make their own decisions on how their hard-earned money is spent. The package addresses the onerous business rent tax, a long-standing TaxWatch recommendation, which is the only statewide sales tax on commercial leases in the nation and establishes beneficial sales tax holidays for back-to-school and disaster preparedness.”
3Cinteractive Founder and CEO John Duffy said, “We as a Florida based business are thankful that Governor Scott signed this bill today. We are glad that the Governor is cutting taxes for commercial leases, as this will help our business invest money back into our community”.
Senator Denise Grimsley Announces June Mobile Office Hours
Senator Denise Grimsley’s staff will hold “mobile office hours” during the month of June to assist constituents with state agency concerns and to gather public input on legislative issues.
“In an effort to reach out to constituents in their community, our office is traveling to provide constituent services for those that need help. This is an opportunity to speak with my professional staff in person,” said Senator Grimsley.
The following are the mobile office hours for Senate District 26:
DeSoto County Mobile Office hours:
Tuesday, June 13th, 2017
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
County Administration Building
2nd Floor, Conference Room
201 East Oak Street
Arcadia, FL 34266
Okeechobee County Mobile Office hours:
Tuesday, June 13th, 2017
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce
55 South Parrott Avenue
Okeechobee, FL 34974
Glades County Mobile Office hours:
Tuesday, June 13th, 2017
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Glades County Courthouse
1st Floor, Conference Room
55 Avenue J, SW
Moore Haven, FL 33471
Polk County Mobile Office hours:
Wednesday, June 21st, 2017
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Mulberry Library
1st Floor, Civic Center
905 NE 5th Street
Mulberry, FL 33860
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Bartow Public Library
2150 S. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Fort Meade Community Center
10 SW 3rd Street
Fort Meade, FL 33841
Hardee County Mobile Office hours:
Wednesday, June 21st, 2017
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Hardee County Chamber of Commerce
135 E. Main Street
Wauchula, FL 33873
Senator Denise Grimsley represents Senate District 26, which consists of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, and parts of Charlotte, Lee, and Polk counties. Senator Grimsley served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2004-2012 and elected to the Florida Senate in 2012.
Rutherford Leads Letter Fighting to Base F-35s in Jacksonville
Congressman John Rutherford in partnership with Senator Rubio, Senator Nelson, and the entire Florida delegation today sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson to advocate for the basing of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters at the 125th Fighter Wing in Jacksonville.
Congressman John Rutherford said, “Jacksonville is the ideal home for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter due to our strategic location with unmatched training infrastructure and airspace. In addition to this being the right use of force at the right location, the State of Florida has a long history of supporting our military, and Northeast Florida presents unparalleled quality of life opportunities for the personnel this decision would bring. We appreciate the Air Force’s recent visit to the 125th and look forward to the new Secretary’s decision later this summer.”
Earlier this year, the Air Force named Jacksonville’s Florida National Guard wing as one of the five finalists for the current basing rounds under consideration. The Secretary of the Air Force will make her basing decision late this summer two of the five finalists, which include facilities in Montgomery, AL; Boise, ID; Selfridge, MI, and Madison, WI. If Jacksonville is selected, the F-35 will replace aging fighter jets, many of which date back to the 1970s. The F-35 will be the world’s most advanced fighter jet.
The text of the letter can be found below:
May 25, 2017
The Honorable Heather Wilson
Secretary of the Air Force
1665 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20330
Dear Secretary Wilson:
We are writing to thank the Air Force for its recent visit to the 125th Fighter Wing and to again express our support for basing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with Florida’s Air National Guard.
As you know, the Florida Air National Guard installation in Jacksonville is home to the 125th Fighter Wing, which currently maintains and flies F-15 C/D Eagles. Due to the wing’s critical southeastern United States air defense mission and strategic location, we must partner together, in the interest of our national security, to ensure that the 125th FW is equipped with the most capable combat aircraft within the U.S. inventory. As representatives from both SAF/IE and Air Combat Command have now seen, the 125th FW best meets the F-35 basing requirements at the lowest cost to the taxpayer and has unparalleled training infrastructure and airspace.
The City of Jacksonville and the State of Florida have a long history of supporting our military. Due to our nearby and surrounding installations, Northeast Florida has unmatched quality of life opportunities for personnel and their families. Additionally, Jacksonville has uniquely taken great care in creating buffer zones and reducing encroachment issues.
We are confident that your continued review will show that 125th Fighter Wing is highly capable of supporting this fifth-generation fighter platform and that basing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in Jacksonville applies the right force at the right place. We look forward to your upcoming decision and standby to assist in any further way.
Sincerely,
Nelson introduces bill to speed up Everglades projects
Florida lawmakers in both the U.S. House and Senate reintroduced legislation today to expedite future Everglades-restoration projects by streamlining the process from planning to construction of a project.
The legislation – introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) – would automatically authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward on any Everglades-restoration project that is ready to begin, without having to wait for additional approval from Congress.
“Restoring the Everglades is a top priority,” Nelson said. “There’s simply too much at stake here in Florida to wait around for Congress to pass a water bill every few years. This bill will allow the Corps to begin work on these projects as soon as they are ready.”
Under the current system, the Corps must inform Congress once they are ready to begin work on a project, and then wait for Congress to authorize that project in a broader water resources bill.
Between 2001 and 2016, Congress only passed three water resources bills, delaying several Everglades projects for years. The $1.9 billion Central Everglades Planning Project, for example, was deemed shovel-ready in Dec. 2014, but wasn’t authorized by Congress until Dec. 2016.
Three Everglades-restoration projects are currently in the planning stage: the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project, the Western Everglades Project, and the Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project.
If Nelson’s bill is approved, construction on these three projects could begin as soon as the Corps deems them ready – instead of waiting years for Congress to authorize them in a future water bill.
Text of Nelson’s bill is available here.
Broad-Based Tax Relief Package Becomes Law
Back-To-School and Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays, Sales
Tax Exemption for Feminine Hygiene Products, Lower Business Rent Tax
Florida Governor Rick Scott today signed House Bill (HB) 7109, Taxation. The legislation, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland), Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and Tax, will deliver broad-based tax relief to families and businesses across the state.
“I am pleased to see this comprehensive tax relief package become law,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart). “Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature have worked together for the last several years to reduce the tax burden facing Florida families and businesses in a broad-based and meaningful way. This good bill furthers that commitment.”
“From tax savings for parents and students preparing for the new school year, to permanent savings for women’s health products, the Senate is advancing legislation that will keep more money in the pockets of the hardworking Florida families who earn it,” said Senator Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland). “This tax relief package incorporates many of the ideas suggested by Senators and vetted by our Committee, and I am pleased to see it become law today. My colleagues and I want to remind all Floridians that they can begin taking advantage of this tax savings by stocking up on critical supplies during the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which runs from June 2 through June 4, just in time for hurricane season.”
Establishes the 2017 Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday
The legislation creates a three-day “back-to-school” sales tax holiday from August 4-6, 2017, for clothing and footwear costing $60 or less, school supplies costing less than $15, and for a personal computer or personal computer-related accessories, including tablets, costing $750 or less.
Establishes the 2017 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday
The legislation creates a three-day “disaster preparedness” sales tax holiday from June 2-4, 2017, for disaster preparedness supplies. Tax-free items include: flashlights and lanterns costing $20 or less; radios and tarps costing $50 or less; coolers and first-aid kits costing $30 or less; and, generators costing $750 or less, among others.
Creates a Sales Tax Exemption for Feminine Hygiene Products
The bill creates a permanent sales tax exemption for essential hygienic products for women. Currently, Florida law imposes a sales tax on luxury items such as cosmetics and toiletries, while providing tax exemptions for medical products used to prevent or treat illness. HB 7109 makes it clear that feminine hygiene products are not luxury items in the same category as toiletries, but rather a necessity for women’s overall health, hygiene, and well-being. Several states including: Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, and the District of Columbia currently exempt these items.
Legislation to exempt the sales tax on feminine hygiene products was originally filed as Senate Bill 176 by Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples).
“This common sense legislation will result in a tax savings for women all over the state who purchase these necessary products,” said Senator Passidomo. “Through this bill, Florida stands to join other states that currently exempt these items.”
Reduces Business Rent Tax
House Bill 7109 permanently lowers the sales tax charged on commercial leases. The state currently levies a six percent tax on the total rent or license fee charged for renting any real property. Residences are exempt from this tax, and Florida is currently the only state in the country to impose this type of tax on businesses. The bill permanently lowers the rate from 6 percent to 5.8 percent.
During the 2017 Legislative Session, the Senate Committee on Finance and Tax passed Senate Bill 378 by Senate President Pro Tempore Anitere Flores (R-Miami, Monroe) to lower the business rent tax.
“Cutting this business tax will help the small, local businesses in our communities that lease property,” said President Pro Tempore Flores. “This legislation is a great step towards reducing and hopefully one day eliminating this burdensome tax on business.”
Increased Homestead Property Tax Exemption
During the 2017 Legislative Session, the House and Senate also passed House Joint Resolution (HJR) 7105, Increased Homestead Property Tax Exemption, sponsored by former Senate President Tom Lee (R-Thonotosassa). The joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to provide an additional homestead exemption of $25,000. The amendment will take effect January 1, 2019, if approved by Florida voters. Homestead property owners will receive an exemption from ad valorem taxes, except levies by school districts, for the assessed valuation greater than $100,000 and up to $125,000.
Background: As Florida continues to recover from the Great Recession, the Legislature has prioritized broad-based tax relief for Florida’s families and businesses.
2016: House Bill 7099 provided broad-based tax relief for Florida families and businesses by permanently eliminating the sales tax exemption for machinery and manufacturing equipment, establishing a three-day Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday, and reducing local property tax millage rates.
2015: House Bill 33-A permanently decreased the communication services tax (CST) on Floridians’ phones and television services, instituted a 10-day Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday, and among other tax relief measures, eliminated the sales tax charged to returning service members and their families who have purchased a vehicle overseas.
2014: Senate Bill 156, by President Negron, provided a nearly $400 million reduction in vehicle registration fees. The legislation reduced certain annual fees paid to register a motor vehicle to the amount paid prior to 2009. Annual vehicle registration fees were raised during the height of Florida’s economic decline in 2009, a year when state general revenue collections had declined more than 22 percent since their high in 2005-2006. In addition to other tax relief measures passed in 2014, this legislation provided fee relief to every Floridian who registers a car or truck.
Perez on Florida Victim Detained by Border Patrol
Instead of Offering Medical Assistance,
Police Officer Demands Victim’s Papers
Univisión reported yesterday that a police officer in Florida demanded to know a victim’s immigration status before offering medical assistance. Caught on body camera, a Florida man who had been run over by a car was not offered emergency medical care until after a series of intrusive questions from the police officer. After receiving care at a local hospital, the victim was asked to return to the scene of the accident and was detained by border patrol. DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement on the disturbing incident:
“This horrific incident demonstrates the sick culture the Trump Administration is fostering that undermines the relationship between polices and communities. Trump’s inflammatory words have made a select few feel as though they have license to abdicate their duties to the communities they serve and forgo human decency. The Trump Administration’s crusade against immigrants, and Latinos in particular, is making our communities less safe. It tears at the very fabric of our communities and erodes the American culture of opportunity. Simply put, this is not who we are as a nation.”
[VIDEO] Univisión: “Are you illegal?” A policeman’s question to a Honduran who had just been run over by a car
Everything was recorded on the body cameras of the police who responded to the accident.
Marcos Antonio Huete, a 31-year-old Honduran immigrant, was lying on a sidewalk next to his bicycle after being hit April 27 by a GMC Sierra pickup truck on his way to work in Key West in the Florida Keys.
“You illegal? Are you a legal citizen or no? Speak English? You got ID? Passport, visa, or what? a Monroe County sheriff asked Huete insistently, according to the video.
Still on the ground, Huete answers with monosyllables before using a cell phone to call his sister, who arrived at the scene soon after.
Hours after the accident Huete left hospital on crutches and was sent to the Krome Detention Center near Miami, where he has spent almost a month in detention pending possible deportation.
According to his sister, Olga Huete, after he was discharged from the hospital a police officer told them to return to the scene of the accident. “He did not tell us why, but we went back because my brother had not done anything. We had no reason to flee.”
