The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – January 2, 2017

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, DECEMBER 30, 2016....... Many Florida workers will get a small bump in their paychecks starting Sunday as the state's minimum wage increases a nickel an hour. Also, the state's newly elected members of Congress will formally take office Tuesday.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES: Florida's minimum wage will increase from $8.05 to $8.10 an hour with the start of 2017. Under a constitutional amendment passed by Florida voters in 2004, the state's minimum wage is adjusted each year based on a consumer price index.

MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017

STATE OFFICES CLOSED: State offices will be closed because of the New Year's holiday. When New Year's Day lands on a Sunday, state employees receive a holiday on the following day.

POLMANN JOINS PSC: The appointment of engineer Donald Polmann to the Florida Public Service Commission will take effect. Gov. Rick Scott in September chose Polmann to replace longtime Commissioner Lisa Edgar, who decided against seeking reappointment.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2017

CONGRESSIONAL TERM BEGINS: The 115th Congress will start its two-year term, with ceremonies including the swearing-in of new members. New U.S. House members from Florida are Republicans Matt Gaetz, Neal Dunn, John Rutherford, Brian Mast and Francis Rooney and Democrats Al Lawson, Stephanie Murphy, Darren Soto, Val Demings and Charlie Crist.

INJECTION WELLS AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting about a permit application by the city of St. Petersburg for an injection-well system. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., St. Petersburg Water Resource Department, 1650 Third Ave. North, St. Petersburg.)

POWELL, WILLHITE HOLD TOWN HALL: State Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, and state Rep. Matt Willhite, D-Wellington, are scheduled to hold a town-hall meeting. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center, 151 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach.)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2017

PALM BEACH DELEGATION, COMMISSIONERS MEET: The Palm Beach County legislative delegation and the Palm Beach County Commission are scheduled to hold a joint meeting. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

WORKERS COMP AT ISSUE: The Three-Member Panel, which provides recommendations about the workers' compensation insurance system, is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 3 p.m., Larson Building, 200 East Gaines St., Tallahassee.)

POWELL, JACQUET HOLD TOWN HALL: State Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, and Rep. Al Jacquet, D-Lantana, will hold a town-hall meeting. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Mary V. McDonald Wilson Center, 1501 North Australian Ave., West Palm Beach.)

APPEALS COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The 3rd District Court of Appeal, which hears cases from Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, is scheduled to release opinions.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

UTILITY ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The Florida Public Service Commission will meet. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

NASSAU COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Nassau County legislative delegation, made up of Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, will meet as it prepares for the 2017 session. (Thursday, 4 p.m., Nassau County Commission chamber, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee.)

GULF COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Gulf County legislative delegation, which is made up of Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, will meet. (Thursday, 5 p.m., Robert M. Moore Administration Building, 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd., Port St. Joe.)

POWELL HOLDS TOWN HALL: State Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, will hold a town-hall meeting. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Jupiter Community Center, 200 Military Trail, Jupiter.)

FRANKLIN COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Franklin County legislative delegation, made up of Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, will meet as it prepares for the 2017 session. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Franklin County Courthouse Annex, 37 Forbes St., Apalachicola.)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2017

FAMU FINANCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AT ISSUE: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees' Finance and Facilities Committee will hold a conference call and is scheduled to discuss issues such as the school's athletics budget. (Friday, 11 a.m., Florida A&M University, Lee Hall, Tallahassee. http://www.famu.edu/famcast  (click WANM 90.5 to listen)