The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – August 4, 2014

By the News Service of Florida

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE -- It will be a wonky gathering, with economists sitting around a table talking about tax collections and financial data. But when a meeting of the Revenue Estimating Conference finishes Thursday, state leaders will get a clearer picture of how much money they will have next year to pay for critical programs such as public schools, Medicaid and prisons. Also during the coming week, the state Public Service Commission will wade back into a controversy about customers of Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy Florida paying for nuclear-power projects.

MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2014

MEDICAID EXPENDITURES DISCUSSED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will discuss data about Medicaid long-term expenditures. (Monday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PSC CONSIDERS NUCLEAR COSTS: The Florida Public Service Commission will start a hearing to determine how much money Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy Florida should be able to collect from customers in 2015 for nuclear-power projects. (Monday, 1 p.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

FLORIDA COLLEGES AT ISSUE: The Education Estimating Conference will analyze information about Florida colleges. (Monday, 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

THRASHER, HANKERSON AT FLAGLER FORUM: Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, and his Republican primary challenger in Senate District 6, Derek Hankerson, are expected to appear at a candidate forum hosted by the Flagler County Chamber, the Flagler County Association of Realtors and the Flagler Home Builders Association. Also expected to take part is Rep. Travis Hutson, an Elkton Republican who is unopposed this year. (Monday, 6 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Palm Coast, 55 Town Center Blvd., Palm Coast.)

EQUALITY FLORIDA TO DISCUSS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: The Equality Florida Institute will host a "tele-town hall" meeting to discuss the status of lawsuits challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage. (Monday, 6 p.m. Register athttp://www.eqfl.org/marriagetownhall)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2014

ELECTIONS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Elections Commission will start a two-day meeting and will consider cases involving political committees and candidates from various parts of the state. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

EDUCATION CONSTRUCTION MONEY DISCUSSED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze the Public Education Capital Outlay, or PECO, program, which helps fund school-construction projects. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL DISCUSSES 'CONSTRAINED' COUNTIES: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss what are known as "fiscally constrained" counties. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

COMMUNITIES TRUST BOARD MEETS: The Florida Communities Trust board will meet and discuss the program that helps local communities protect natural resources and preserve working waterfronts. Among the topics is a project in Dixie County. (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., Douglas Building, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee.)

ALACHUA BIOMASS PLANT AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will hold a meeting to take public comments about a draft operation permit for the Gainesville Renewable Energy Center, a biomass-fueled power plant in Alachua County. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Gainesville Police Department, Hall of Heroes Community Room, 545 N.W. Eighth Ave., Gainesville.)

RUBIO AT ORANGE COUNTY GOP DINNER: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is scheduled to be the keynote speaker dinner at the Orange County Republican Party's 2014 Lincoln Day Dinner. Also expected to take part is incoming Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando. (Tuesday, 7:45 p.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., Orlando.)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2014

ELECTIONS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Elections Commission will continue a two-day meeting and is scheduled to hear cases involving candidates from various parts of the state, including Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, and Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PAROLE COMMISSION TO MEET: The Florida Commission on Offender Review, formerly known as the Florida Parole Commission, will take up numerous cases stemming from crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA DISCUSSED: Enterprise Florida's Legislative Policy Committee will discuss potential legislative agenda issues. Enterprise Florida is a public-private economic development agency. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Sarasota.)

SHELDON RAISES MONEY IN ORLANDO: George Sheldon a Democratic candidate for attorney general, is expected to raise money during a reception in Orange County. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Broad and Cassel, Bank of America Center, 390 North Orange Ave., Suite 1400, Orlando.)

HIGGINS SPEAKS TO MARTIN DEMS: Democrat Mary Higgins, who is challenging state Rep. MaryLynn Magar, R-Tequesta, in House District 82, is expected to speak to the Martin County Democratic Club. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Best Western Hotel, 1209 S.E. Federal Highway, Stuart.)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA BOARD TO MEET: Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is expected to take part in a meeting of the Board of Directors of Enterprise Florida, the state's public-private economic development agency. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Sarasota.)

CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE AT ISSUE: The Florida Healthy Kids Corp. Board of Directors is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., 661 East Jefferson St., second floor, Tallahassee.)

GENERAL REVENUE TO BE TALLIED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will update estimates of Florida's general revenue, a major source of funding for the state's education system, health-care programs and prisons. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

DEEPWATER HORIZON FUNDS DISCUSSED: The Gulf Consortium will meet and discuss issues related to the use of money from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m. Central time, Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, 12 Via de Luna Dr., Pensacola Beach.)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2014

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY AUCTION PREVIEW: State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater's office will hold a preview of unclaimed property that will be auctioned Saturday. The property includes items that went unclaimed for years from safe-deposit boxes. (Friday, 9 a.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando Airport, 5555 Hazeltine National Dr., Orlando.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: Political candidates and committees face a Friday deadline for filing campaign-finance reports that include contributions and expenditures through Aug. 1.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2014

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY AUCTION: State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater's office will hold an auction of unclaimed property from safe-deposit boxes. (Saturday, 10 a.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando Airport, 5555 Hazeltine National Dr., Orlando.)

RICH TO SPEAK IN VOLUSIA COUNTY: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich is expected to speak at the Volusia County Democratic Party's "unity gathering." (Saturday, 7 p.m., Daytona Beach Hilton, 100 North Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.)