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Statement by Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam

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In response to requests, please see the statement attributable to Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam:

“I mourn, along with the rest of the country, for those who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High and their loved ones, and out of respect for their families and those suffering as a result of this tragedy, I’m working with bill sponsors to postpone consideration of the legislative proposal related to the licensing process.

“While the shooter would not have even been eligible for a concealed weapon license and clearly had a troubled past that indicated serious mental health issues, the focus now should be on mental health and how we protect our children.

“All of us have an obligation to notify authorities when we see the behavior that this killer exhibited online and in school.”

Statement from Majority Leader Wilton Simpson on School Shooting

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“On a day meant to celebrate love, 17 promising futures came to an end in Parkland yesterday. As I watched the events unfold and the stories told of terror and heroism today, I want to echo the sentiment of condolences followed by the need for immediate action.”

“As elected leaders, we have no greater responsibility than protecting our children. Our schools should be shrines to learning and possibility where our students feel safe and secure.  We are working today to immediately identify and direct funding to hardening our schools and provide for armed resource officers on every campus for safety and prevention. We must  stand together and support the allocation of $100 million for mental health screening, counseling and training.”

“In the days and weeks to come, the Florida Senate will work to ensure our students and teachers are safe. Increased security for both safety and prevention, hardening our schools, mental health resources, active shooter training and improving how we communicate with our students – everything must be a part of the discussion as we work to secure Florida’s schools.”

Sen. Bill Nelson statement on president's budget

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Following is a statement from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) on the president’s budget proposal released today:
“This plan cuts some of our most critical programs including Medicaid and food stamps. It also cuts funding to agencies such as NIH, which is working to find cures for cancer and Alzheimer’s, and the EPA, which protects our environment. Slashing these vital programs will hurt millions of hardworking families. We should be focused on helping people, not hurting those who need our help the most.”

Statement from Commissioner David Altmaier on passage of HB 1421

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Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier issued the following statement:
“I applaud the Florida House of Representatives for their favorable vote on HB 1421 today, and I am especially grateful to Representative James Grant, the bill sponsor, and Representative Rene Plasencia, the prime co-sponsor. This legislation makes significant progress in protecting Florida consumers from homeowners insurance rate increases fueled by rising litigation costs associated with an Assignment of Benefits (AOB). We appreciate the support and efforts of the entire Florida Legislature as they considered this legislative priority of the Office of Insurance Regulation during the 2017 Session.”
For more information about this issue, visit the Office’s “Assignment of Benefits Resources” webpage.

Gov. Scott statement on budget negotiations

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Please see the below statement from Governor Rick Scott on budget negotiations:
“Lawmakers cannot be shortsighted at the expense of Florida families by cutting funds for tourism marketing and economic development. I would be absolutely shocked if politicians in the Florida Legislature put their self-interests before the interests of our families and small businesses. Let’s remember, fully funding VISIT FLORIDA and Enterprise Florida is only 0.24% of Florida’s state budget. But, reducing this funding will have a significant impact on state, county, city, and local tourism and economic development boards’ revenues by hundreds of millions of dollars.” – Governor Rick Scott

Statement by Floridians for Fair Business Practices

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Regarding the passage of Senate Bill 106

“Floridians for Fair Business Practices commends members of the Florida House of Representative for passing Senate Bill 106 today. The legislation finally removes an archaic regulation which has no basis in today’s modern society, giving Florida retailers the ability to innovatively meet their customers’ needs. We are pleased both chambers recognized the importance of free market principles, increased consumer choice and healthy competition, and are grateful to our sponsors, Representative Bryan Avila and Senate President Pro Tempore Anitere Flores, for their diligent efforts throughout the legislative session. We encourage Governor Scott to sign this common sense, pro-business bill into law.”
Floridians for Fair Business Practices is a coalition of retailers and business groups whose purpose is to identify rules and regulations, which prohibit the growth and expansion of Florida businesses. For additional information, please visit www.FairBizinFlorida.com.

Bob Cortes Statement on Passing of Frank Attkisson

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bob cortes logo
State Representative Bob Cortes made the following statement today regarding the death of former State Representative and Osceola County Commissioner Frank Attkisson:
“Frank Attkisson was a great public servant whom I deeply respect. His loss is a tragedy not just for his family but for all of us in this community who benefitted from his hard work and leadership over his long career.” 
About Bob Cortes for State Representative
Bob was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2014.  Previously, he served as mayor of Longwood and on the Longwood City Commission beginning in November 2009. In 2012, he was re-elected to a second term. He is a member of the Seminole County Community Traffic Safety Team and a graduate of the Florida League of Cities Institute for Elected Municipal Officials. He is a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). With this organization, Bob has participated in several institutes, including the Newly Elected Leadership Institute, the Redistricting Institute, and the Fiscal Policy Institute hosted by NALEO and the Kellogg School of Business. Bob grew up in New York and Puerto Rico and moved to Central Florida in 1989. He founded Cortes Towing Service, a successful small business now in operation for over two decades. In 2011, he started another venture, Cortrans Shuttle Service, a transportation provider that serves Orlando Sanford International Airport, Orlando International Airport, the Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal, and area attractions. He was recently named one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando. He and his wife, Virginia, are members of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs. They are blessed with three grandchildren.
ON THE WEB:  www.bobcortes.com

Paid by Bob Cortes, Republican, for State Representative

Statement from Jim Kallinger on death of Frank Attkisson

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FFFC Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition
Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition President Jim Kallinger made the following statement today regarding the death of Frank Attkisson, former State Representative and Osceola County Commissioner:
“We mourn the tragic loss of Frank Attkisson along with every other Floridian that had the pleasure of knowing and working with him. In every capacity he held, he was fully committed to working hard and delivering results for the constituents he was elected to serve. His leadership and integrity will be missed.”
About Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition
The Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition is committed to educating, equipping, and mobilizing people of faith and like-minded individuals to be effective citizens. Together, the Coalition influences public policy and enacts legislation that strengthens families, promotes time-honored values, protects the dignity of life and marriage, lowers the tax burden on small business and families, and requires government to tighten its belt and live within its means.
ON THE WEB:  www.ffcflorida.com

Sponsored and Paid for by the Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition

Jay Fant Statement on the Confirmation of Neil Gorsuch

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FLS004-13 Fant logo Final
Today, State Representative Jay Fant made the following statement following the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch as the next Supreme Court Justice:
“Judge Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation for the Supreme Court makes this a great day for America. His deep and abiding commitment to the U.S. Constitution combined with his humility, intellect, and fair-mindedness make him a superb addition to our nation’s highest court. He has demonstrated that Americans can count on him to respect the separation of powers and interpret the law rather than re-make it according to his personal political preferences. I look forward to the contributions his presence on the bench will make to our republic for generations to come.”
About Jay Fant for State Representative
Jay Fant’s strong ties to Jacksonville began when his grandfather’s family moved to the city in 1920. Jay’s father and grandfather have been local business and civic leaders, with both having served in elected office. In 1947, the family started First Guaranty Bank, one of the oldest banks in the city. In 1994, Jay was elected to serve on the board and led the company with his father through 2012. Jay has done much to continue the family tradition of investing in the community. He has been involved with many different organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Healthy U Now Foundation, Rotary, and the Florida Bankers Association. Jay and his wife, Lauren, have two sons and two daughters. They attend St. Johns Presbyterian Church. In his spare time, he coaches little league baseball and basketball.
ON THE WEB:  www.jayfant.com

Paid by Jay Fant, Republican, for State Representative

Statement by FLARS President Jeff Grant Regarding AOB Legislation and Property Rights

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“True comprehensive AOB reform must protect homeowners’ property rights, including the long-standing right to assign benefits. While some want to line up behind the campaign by insurance companies and their front groups to steal homeowners’ rights, we stand on the side of the small businesses who answer the call when disaster strikes a home.
“The numbers that drive these employers – 24/7/365 – don’t appear on a balance sheet. It’s when they’re on call to homeowners. These small businesses are the homeowners’ good neighbors, not big insurance. It would be a mistake to run these employers out of business. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the insurance companies want to do.
“This is a self-inflicted fake crisis, just like the ‘crisis’ before this one and the one before last. Insurance carriers’ have always threatened raising premiums if they don’t get what they want – and then when they get what they need from the Legislature they raise rates anyway. They then find the next scapegoat crisis to keep the money train rolling.
“Just look at Senator Anitere Flores’ comments at the end Monday’s hearing on AOB when she said:

‘This is the issue du jour that property insurance companies have said is the rate driver. We went through sinkholes. We went through a variety of different issues. And as we fixed those things, the only people who have been hurt have been consumers and those who have benefited are others.’

“With OIR’s help, big insurance is seeking to trample on homeowners’ rights and put people out of business. We have been at the table for years to work on a comprehensive solution to this issue that protect long-standing rights and will continue to be there for consumers. Those are the stakeholders that matter to our small businesses.”
 
FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF RESTORATION SPECIALISTS (FLARS) is a group of restoration specialists which include vendors, contractors, suppliers, all specializing in or supporting the restoration industry.