The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – May 18, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, MAY 15, 2015…..With health-care issues at the heart of a budget impasse between the House and Senate, Gov. Rick Scott this month created the Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding. The commission will hold its first meeting Wednesday and will delve into hospital financial data and issues such as the $2.2 billion Low Income Pool program, which sends money to hospitals and other providers that care for large numbers of uninsured patients. The so-called LIP program is scheduled to expire June 30, unless state and federal officials can reach agreement on an extension.

MONDAY, MAY 18, 2015

VERIZON EXEC AT ECONOMIC CLUB: Michelle A. Robinson, a vice president with Verizon, will speak to the Economic Club of Florida. (Monday, noon, FSU Alumni Center, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.)

BOARD OF GOVERNORS COMMITTEES TO MEET: Two committees of the state university system's Board of Governors will meet to discuss facilities issues and health-related programs. (Monday, 9 a.m., Facilities Committee, followed by the Health Initiatives Committee, University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

REAL ESTATE AT ISSUE: The Florida Real Estate Commission will meet in Orange County. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Zora Neale Hurston Building, North Tower, 400 West Robinson St., Orlando.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD TO MEET: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Tampa Service Office, 7601 U.S. 301, Tampa.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Lake, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Leesburg Public Library, 100 East Main St., Leesburg. Also, 9 a.m., Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 N.W. First St., Miami. Also, 10 a.m., Acreage Branch Library, 15801 Orange Blvd., Loxahatchee.)

FAU TRUSTEES TO MEET: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Campus, Williams Administration Building, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

PUTNAM TAKES AIM AT 'SKIMMERS:' Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will hold a news conference to discuss an effort by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to locate "skimmers" at gas stations across the state. Skimmers are placed on gas pumps and are used to steal consumers' financial information. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Speedway station, 2617 West Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park.)

GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES DISCUSSED: The conservative group Florida Family Action will host a panel discussion and straw poll about the 2016 Republican presidential candidates. Among the panelists will be state Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, and former state Rep. Kurt Kelly, R-Ocala. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Venue on the Lake, Maitland Civic Center, 641 South Maitland Ave., Maitland.)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

ELECTIONS COMMISSION TO MEET: The Florida Elections Commission will meet and take up cases involving candidates and political committees from across the state. In one of the cases, former House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, contends he should have been eligible to receive state matching funds in his unsuccessful campaign last year for attorney general. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 1940 North Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

GROUPS TAKE UP BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: The state Agency for Health Care Administration will hold two meetings in which groups such as managed-care plans and behavioral-health providers will discuss behavioral-health issues. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., WellCare, 8745 Henderson Road, Ren Center, Tampa)

REAL ESTATE AT ISSUE: The Florida Real Estate Commission is scheduled to meet in Orange County. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Zora Neale Hurston Building, North Tower, 400 West Robinson St., Orlando.)

BOARD OF EDUCATION GATHERS IN BUNNELL: The Florida Board of Education will meet and take up a series of issues, including receiving an update on the legislative session and approving an annual evaluation for Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Government Services Building, 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell.)

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

SCOTT HOSPITAL PANEL MEETS IN TALLAHASSEE: The Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding, which Gov. Rick Scott created amid a budget impasse that focuses on health-care issues, will meet in Tallahassee. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

SACHS TO SPEAK IN HIGHLAND BEACH: State Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, is expected to give a legislative update during a meeting of the Highland Beach Coastal Democratic Club. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Highland Beach Library, 3618 South Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach.)

FIORINA TO CAMPAIGN IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina is expected to take part in a campaign rally in Palm Beach County. (Wednesday, 5:15 p.m., 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., sixth floor, West Palm Beach.)

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

UCF TRUSTEES TO MEET: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will hold three committee meetings and then gather as the full board. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 9 a.m., board meeting at 1 p.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD TO CONSIDER DIRECTOR: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meet and is expected to consider the selection of Ann Shortelle as the district's new executive director. (Thursday, 10 a.m., district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

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

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Miami-Dade and Pasco counties. (Thursday, noon, Miami-Dade County Library, West Flagler Branch, 5050 West Flagler St., Miami. Also, 2 p.m., Charles E. Conger Library, 36727 Blanton Road, Dade City.)

PAUL TO SPEAK IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican running for president, is expected to speak to the Palm Beach County Tea Party. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., FAU Lifelong Learning Society, Jupiter Campus, 5353 Parkside Dr., Jupiter.)

SARASOTA GOP HONORS TRUMP: The Republican Party of Sarasota County will honor businessman and potential presidential candidate Donald Trump during a "statesman of the year" event. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.)

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015

JOBS NUMBERS RELEASED: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will release April unemployment numbers. (Friday, 10 a.m.)

SCOTT FACES DEADLINE ON BILLS: Gov. Rick Scott faces a May 22 deadline for taking action on numerous bills, including a proposal (SB 290) that would allow more people to carry concealed weapons during mandatory emergency evacuations.