The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – June 1, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, MAY 29, 2015…..After failing to pass a budget during this spring's regular session, lawmakers will gather Monday for a special legislative session that could last through June 20. The House and Senate need to agree on a budget before the July 1 start of the fiscal year, but the biggest controversies during the special session will focus on health-care issues. Meanwhile during the coming week, Republican presidential candidates will appear in Orlando at an "economic growth summit" hosted by Gov. Rick Scott.

MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2015

Legislature:

SENATE DEMOCRATS TO GATHER: The Senate Democratic Caucus will meet. (Monday, noon, 228 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE, SENATE GO INTO SESSION: The House and Senate will meet in their chambers to start a special legislative session needed because lawmakers did not pass a budget during this spring's regular session. The special session could last until June 20, as lawmakers work to pass a budget before the July 1 start of the new fiscal year. (Monday, 1 p.m., House and Senate chambers, the Capitol.)

HOUSE TO CONSIDER COVERAGE EXPANSION: The House Health & Human Services Committee will host a workshop about a Senate plan (SB 2-A) that would use federal Medicaid funds to offer private health insurance to about 800,000 Floridians. The House and Gov. Rick Scott have refused to go along with the Senate expansion plan. (Monday, 3 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE COMMITTEE TO SIGN OFF ON 'FHIX' PLAN: The Senate Health Policy Committee will take up the Senate's proposed "Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange," or FHIX, program (SB 2-A), which would extend health-care coverage to about 800,000 uninsured Floridians. (Monday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE PANEL TO MEET: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee is scheduled to meet. (Monday, 4 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANTS DISCUSSED: Florida's university system and the National Science Foundation will host a two-day conference focused on National Science Foundation grants. (Monday, 8:30 a.m., Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel, 4200 Jim Walter Blvd., Tampa.)

TRIBAL LEADERS INAUGURATED: The Seminole Tribe of Florida will hold an event to inaugurate its elected leaders. The event will include James E. Billie, chairman of the Seminole Tribal Council, and Mitchell Cypress, president of the Seminole Board of Directors. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., tent at the southwest corner of Stirling Road and U.S. 441, Hollywood.)

BUSINESS COALITION TO DISCUSS HEALTH PLAN: A business coalition known as "A Healthy Florida Works" will hold a news conference to urge the state House to support a plan that would extend health coverage to about 800,000 uninsured Floridians. (Monday, 12:30 p.m., fourth-floor rotunda, in front of the Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

STATE SEEKS WAIVER EXTENSION: The state Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a public meeting about its request to the federal government for an extension of a Medicaid waiver for what is known as the "MEDS-AD" program. The program provides assistance to certain low-income seniors and people with disabilities. (Monday, 1 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 6800 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa.)

RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO CALL FOR HEALTH EXPANSION: Leaders of religious organizations will hold a news conference to call for the state House to approve expansion of health-care coverage. The Senate is pushing an expansion plan, but the House and Gov. Rick Scott are opposed. (Monday, 2:15 p.m., outside 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2015

Legislature:

HOUSE TAKES UP TAX PACKAGE: The House Finance & Tax Committee will consider a proposed tax-cut package. During this spring's regular session, the House proposed $690 million in tax cuts, with the largest chunk coming from a cut in the communications-services tax on such things as cell-phone and cable-TV bills. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE PANEL WEIGHS HEALTH COVERAGE: The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to take up the Senate's proposal (SB 2-A) to use federal Medicaid money to offer health insurance to about 800,000 Floridians. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

HURRICANE MODELS AT ISSUE: The Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology will start two days of meetings to review computer models. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 1801 Hermitage Blvd., Tallahassee.)

SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANTS DISCUSSED: Florida's university system and the National Science Foundation will continue hosting a two-day conference focused on National Science Foundation grants. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel, 4200 Jim Walter Blvd., Tampa.)

VETERINARY BOARD TO MEET: The Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine will meet in St. Petersburg. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, 501 Fifth Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg.)

GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TAKE STAGE: Gov. Rick Scott will host an "economic growth summit" that will include appearances by several Republican presidential candidates, including U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Disney Yacht & Beach Convention Center, Orlando.)

JUSTICES TAKE UP DEATH PENALTY CASES: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases, including death-penalty cases from Polk and Marion counties. The Polk County case involves Thomas Rigterink, who was convicted of fatally stabbing two people in 2003, while the Marion County case involves Michael Bargo, who was convicted in a 2011 fatal shooting. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

'COVERAGE GAP' HIGHLIGHTED: Supporters of expanding health-care coverage, including young adults who fall in a "coverage gap," will deliver petitions to the office of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., fourth floor, the Capitol.)

MEDICAID ISSUES DISCUSSED: The state Medical Care Advisory Committee, which reviews and provides input about Medicaid issues, will meet. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)


WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Legislature:

SENATE DEMOCRATS TO GATHER: The Senate Democratic Caucus will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 228 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE TO CONSIDER HEALTH PLAN: The Senate is expected to hold a floor session and take up the proposed "Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange," or FHIX, program (SB 2-A), which would extend health-care coverage to about 800,000 uninsured Floridians. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE TO MEET: The House Rules, Calendar & Ethics Committee is expected to meet. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

HURRICANE MODELS AT ISSUE: The Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology will continue meetings to review computer models. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., 1801 Hermitage Blvd., Tallahassee.)

SEMINOLE COUNTY JUDGE TO BE REPRIMANDED: The Florida Supreme Court will take up four issues, including offering a public reprimand to Seminole County Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler for not being candid about a traffic ticket she received on the way to an interview with a judicial nominating commission. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

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.)

DUKE SEEKS APPROVAL TO BUY POWER PLANT: The Florida Public Service Commission will start a hearing about Duke Energy Florida's proposal to buy a Polk County power plant from a subsidiary of Calpine Corp. If Duke cannot purchase the plant, it has proposed a fallback plan of building a new plant in Suwannee County. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

FIU BOARD TO MEET: The Florida International University Board of Trustees will meet after holding a series of committee meetings earlier in the day. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., The Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum, Florida International University, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami.)

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015

Legislature:

SENATE DEMOCRATS TO GATHER: The Senate Democratic Caucus will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 228 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE IN SESSION: The Senate is expected to hold a floor session. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE IN SESSION: The House is expected to hold a floor session. (Thursday, 10 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

SCOTT HEALTH PANEL TO MEET: A panel created by Gov. Rick Scott to dig into hospital funding will hold its third meeting. Scott formed the Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding as lawmakers grapple with issues such as a proposed expansion of health coverage for hundreds of thousands of uninsured Floridians and questions about funding for the Low Income Pool health program. (Thursday, 8 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

SUPREME COURT TO HEAR DUVAL, MIAMI-DADE DEATH CASES: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases, including death-penalty cases from Duval and Miami-Dade counties. The Duval County case involves Thomas Bevel, who was convicted of fatally shooting a father and son in 2004, while the Miami-Dade case involves Tavares Calloway, who was convicted of fatally shooting five people in 1997. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC BOARD TO MEET: The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Polytechnic University, IST Building, 4700 Research Way, Lakeland.)

USF TRUSTEES TO MEET: The University of South Florida Board of Trustees will meet. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., USF St. Petersburg Student Center, St. Petersburg.)

SUPREME COURT TO ISSUE OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is expected to release its weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015

Legislature:

HOUSE IN SESSION: The House is expected to hold a floor session. (Friday, 11 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

SENATE DEMOCRATS TO GATHER: The Senate Democratic Caucus will meet. (Friday, noon, 228 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE IN SESSION: The Senate is expected to hold a floor session. (Friday, 1 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

BOARD OF MEDICINE TO MEET: The Florida Board of Medicine will meet and take up disciplinary issues involving physicians from across the state. (Friday, 7:30 a.m., Palm Beach Gardens Marriott, 4000 RCA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens.)

ETHICS COMMISSION: The Florida Commission on Ethics will meet. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

CHIROPRACTIC BOARD TO MEET: The Board of Chiropractic Medicine will meet. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, 1500 Masters Blvd, ChampionsGate.)

JOLLY SPEAKS TO GOP WOMEN: U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., is expected to speak to the Belleair Women's Republican Club. (Friday, 11:30 a.m., Belleair Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane, Belleair.)

ATWATER, LOPEZ-CANTERA AT BREVARD GOP EVENT: State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will be the keynote speaker at the Brevard County Republican Party's Lincoln Reagan Dinner, which is also expected to include an appearance by Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera. (Friday, 6 p.m., Melbourne Hilton Rialto, 200 Rialto Place, Melbourne.)