With President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy still intact, and the fate of more than 2,000 children and their separated parents still hanging in the balance, state Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) called on U.S. Senator Marco Rubio to co-sponsor federal legislation to end the nightmare plaguing the country’s southern border. [Read more…] about Senator Linda Stewart Doubts New Trump Executive Order Will End Immigrant Familes’ Plight
Government
Gov. Scott Directs DEP to Take Steps to Curb Potential Algae Blooms
Governor Rick Scott today directed Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein to issue an Emergency Order urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to take emergency actions to help redirect the flow of water out of Lake Okeechobee to the south. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott Directs DEP to Take Steps to Curb Potential Algae Blooms
Democratic Senator Daphne Campbell calls on all elected officials to urge Governor Scott to continue to speak out
As Florida and the rest of the country wait to hear how Donald Trump plans to retreat from his inhumane policy mandating the separation of children from their parents detained at the border, state Senator Daphne Campbell (D-Miami) called for state officials’ actions to continue.
Gov. Scott Appoints Crystal Kinzel to the Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Crystal Kinzel to the Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court. She will fill a vacancy created by the death of Dwight Brock, beginning June 20, 2018.
Kinzel, 62, of Naples, is the Chief Deputy Clerk of the Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court and received a business administration degree from George Washington University. She is appointed for a term beginning June 20, 2018, and ending November 13, 2018.
Nelson: ‘Power to end this shameful chapter in our nation’s history lies with the president’
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) took to the Senate floor today to call on President Trump to immediately end his administration’s policy of separating children from their parents at the border.
Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon Calls On Governor Scott for Action
As the Trump administration doubles down on enforcing its executive policy of separating children from parents detained at the border, state Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon (D-Miami Gardens) on Tuesday called on Florida Governor Rick Scott for action.
“As a staunch campaign and financial supporter of Donald Trump who maintains a close bond with the president, Governor Scott maintains a measure of influence he could easily deploy to end this catastrophic and inhumane situation,” said Leader Braynon. “At the same time, Governor Scott holds a great deal of power over the state’s complicity in this tragedy. Unless he agrees with the president, he has a duty to act quickly.”
Leader Braynon said Governor Scott should ask President Trump to reverse his executive order and is strongly urging the governor to:
- Call on the President to allow elected officials into federal detention facilities where children who were separated from their parents and immigration detainees in general are being housed so they can inspect the conditions under which they are being housed.
- Join the growing number of Republican and Democratic governors refusing to allow their National Guard units to be used if the federal government calls on them to go the U.S.-Mexican border for further illegal immigration enforcement.
- Join Colorado in forbidding state agencies from using state resources to separate children from their parents or legal guardians on the sole ground of immigration status.
“There is nothing in federal law compelling the separation of these children and parents,” said Leader Braynon. “It took the stroke of a pen to initiate this atrocity. It takes the stroke of a pen to undo it.”
Jason Harrell Named Director of Legislative & Government Affairs
Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers (FCCC) has named Jason Harrell as director of legislative and government affairs. Harrell will develop and direct the association’s new in-house legislative team and lead strategic advocacy for legislative policy and budget efforts on behalf of Florida’s independently elected clerks and comptrollers. Harrell currently serves as budget and communications director for the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation (CCOC); he will continue in that role until the conclusion of the Florida Legislature’s Revenue Estimating Conference in July, which will determine clerks’ statewide budget authority for fiscal year 2018-2019.
[Read more…] about Jason Harrell Named Director of Legislative & Government Affairs
Lawmakers pushing to help Florida ports
U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) are pushing to increase business at Florida ports by urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restructure the way the agency charges ships to fumigate produce imported into the U.S.
Before a cargo ship offloads any imported produce arriving at a U.S. port, the shipment must first be inspected and fumigated. The fee that a ship pays to have their produce fumigated is set by USDA and is currently charged on a “per-enclosure basis” – meaning, a ship pays the same fee to fumigate a warehouse full of goods in the Northeast as they do to fumigate one shipping container in Florida.
Commissioner Stewart Honors Nine Schools with Family and Community Involvement Award
Award recognizes exemplary programs that link schools, families and communities
The Florida Department of Education today announced that nine schools are winners of the 2018 Family and Community Involvement Award. The award recognizes exemplary school practices that focus on increasing family involvement, welcoming families into the local school system, providing effective communication, supporting student success, and promoting collaboration with the community. [Read more…] about Commissioner Stewart Honors Nine Schools with Family and Community Involvement Award
South Lake Trail Public Information Meeting in Lake County
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is holding a public information meeting on the South Lake Trail Phase IIIB. The meeting is on Tuesday, June 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the E.L. Puryear Building/Community Center in Groveland. [Read more…] about South Lake Trail Public Information Meeting in Lake County
