The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – July 20, 2015

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JULY 17, 2015…..Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush will return to familiar turf Monday when the former governor gives a speech a few blocks from the state Capitol. Bush is expected to talk about his plans for reforming Washington. Meanwhile, major state boards and commissions will meet during the coming week, including the Public Service Commission, the Board of Education and the Commission on Ethics.

MONDAY, JULY 20, 2015

PARI-MUTUEL RULES DISCUSSED: The state Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering is scheduled to take public input about wide-ranging rule proposals for the pari-mutuel industry. The proposals focus heavily on horse racing. (Monday, 9 a.m., Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Northwood Centre, 1940 North Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

BUSH CAMPAIGNS IN TALLAHASSEE: Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is scheduled to give a campaign speech in Tallahassee, where he served as governor for eight years. (Monday, 10 a.m., Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

GRIMSLEY STAFF GOES MOBILE: State Sen. Denise Grimsley's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Okeechobee, Martin and St. Lucie counties. (Monday, 10 a.m., Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce, 55 South Parrott Ave., Okeechobee. Also, noon, Indiantown Chamber of Commerce, 15545-B S.W. Warfield Blvd., Indiantown. Also, 3 p.m., St. Lucie County Fairgrounds & Equestrian Center, 15601 West Midway Road, Fort Pierce.)

REPORT RELEASED ON MINIMUM WAGE: The group Integrity Florida will hold a news conference to release a report about whether increasing the minimum wage would lead to job losses. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., Florida Press Center, 336 East College Ave., Tallahassee.)

COURT FUNDING AT ISSUE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss what are known as "Article V Revenues," which help fund the court system. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

JOLLY SPEAKS TO LARGO REPUBLICANS: U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., is expected to speak to the Republican Club of Greater Largo. (Monday, 6 p.m., Alfano's Restaurant, 1702 Clearwater Largo Road, Largo.)

SPROWLS, GRANT GIVE LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP: State Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, and Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, are expected to give a legislative wrap-up during a meeting of the Council of North County Neighborhoods. (Monday, 7 p.m., East Lake Methodist Church, 2801 East Lake Road, Palm Harbor.)

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

FAMU TRUSTEES DISCUSS PRESIDENT'S PERFORMANCE: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will hold a series of committee meetings that will include discussion about the performance of university President Elmira Mangum, who has faced criticism from some members of the board. (Tuesday, meetings start at 8:30 a.m., Florida A&M University, Band Rehearsal Hall, Tallahassee.)

MEDICAID ISSUES AIRED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will analyze Medicaid caseloads and a formula for federal matching funds in the Medicaid program. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Miami-Dade and Duval counties. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 N.W. First St., Miami. Also, 10 a.m., Jim Fortuna Senior Center, 11751 McCormick Road, Jacksonville.)

REGULATORS CONSIDER DUKE POWER PLANT DEAL: The Florida Public Service Commission will meet and take up a series of issues, including a proposal by Duke Energy Florida to purchase a power plant in Polk County. Duke is seeking to buy the Osprey Plant from the Calpine Construction Finance Co., a subsidiary of Calpine Corp. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT ON THE TABLE: The Education Estimating Conference will discuss public-school enrollment numbers. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER SUPPLY AT ISSUE: The Southwest Florida Water Management District will hold a workshop about the draft 2015 regional water supply plan. (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., Sarasota Service Office, 6750 Fruitville Road, Sarasota.)

GRIMSLEY STAFF ON THE ROAD: State Sen. Denise Grimsley's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Osceola County. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., St. Cloud City Hall, 1300 Ninth St., third floor, building A, St. Cloud.)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will consider numerous parole cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

FINANCIAL AID DISCUSSED: The Education Estimating Conference will analyze issues related to student financial aid. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CITRUS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Citrus Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main St., Bartow.)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS AT ISSUE: The state Public Service Commission will start holding a hearing on a proposal by Wal-Mart and the Florida Industrial Power Users Group that would allow eligible customers to "opt out" of utility energy-efficiency programs. Those customers would have their own energy-efficiency programs. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

CRUZ HOSTS JOB FAIR: State Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, will host a job fair for employers and job-seekers. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Higgins Hall, 5225 North Himes Ave., Tampa.)

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION HOLDS WORKSHOP: The Florida Transportation Commission will hold a workshop and discuss a series of issues, including the Department of Transportation's permitting process. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., Casa Monica Hotel, 95 Cordova St., St. Augustine.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Hillsborough County. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., West Tampa Library, 2312 West Union St., Tampa.)

CORTES RAISES MONEY FOR RE-ELECTION: State Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, is expected to kick off his re-election campaign in House District 30 during a fund-raising reception. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Altamonte Springs Hilton, 350 North Lake Blvd., Altamonte Springs.)

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES AT ISSUE: The Florida Transportation Commission will meet and discuss an annual transportation-authority oversight report. It also is expected to receive responses from transportation authorities throughout the state. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Casa Monica Hotel, 95 Cordova St., St. Augustine.)

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS IN TAMPA: The State Board of Education will meet and consider issues such as performance funding for the Florida College System. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Tampa Airport Marriott, 4200 George J. Bean Parkway, Tampa.)

SCOTT HEALTH CARE PANEL MEETS IN MIAMI: The Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding, which was formed by Gov. Rick Scott, will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Miami Dade College, Medical Campus, 950 N.W. 20th St., Miami.)

UCF TRUSTEES MEET: The University of Central Florida trustees will hold a series of committee meetings and a full board meeting. Among the expected topics is an update on plans for a downtown Orlando campus. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 9 a.m., full board meets at 1 p.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

BOARD OF GOVERNORS DISCUSSES PARTNERSHIPS: The Facilities Committee of the state university system's Board of Governors will hold a teleconference and discuss guidelines for the use of public-private partnerships. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 4122150353.)

ASHBY KICKS OFF HOUSE CAMPAIGN: Sean Ashby, an Orlando Democrat who is running in state House District 50, will hold a campaign kickoff event. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Stoneybrook East Golf Club, 2900 Northampton Ave., Orlando.)

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

ETHICS COMMISSION TO CONSIDER CARROLL CASE: The Florida Commission on Ethics is scheduled to take up a proposed agreement aimed at resolving allegations that former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll did not properly report income from consulting work that led to her 2013 resignation. Carroll and an attorney for the commission have agreed to what is known as a "stipulation," which includes an admission from Carroll that she filed inaccurate financial-disclosure forms. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Polk and Pasco counties. (Friday, 10 a.m., Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland. Also, 2 p.m., Pasco County Library, Land O' Lakes Branch, 2818 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes.

FLORIDA HEALTH CHOICES BOARD MEETS: The Florida Health Choices Board of Directors will meet to discuss the program, which was created to provide an online health-care marketplace. (Friday, 11 a.m., Moore Communications Group, 2011 Delta Blvd., Tallahassee.)

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

MURPHY SPEAKS TO PASCO DEMS: State Rep. Amanda Murphy, D-New Port Richey, is expected to speak during a West Pasco Democratic Club annual summer event. (Saturday, 1 p.m., Jasmine Lakes Community Center, 7137 Jasmine Blvd., Port Richey.)