The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – May 9, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, MAY 6, 2016…. An appeals court Tuesday will delve into one of the biggest battles in Florida's education system. The 1st District Court of Appeal will hear arguments in a dispute about whether the state's Tax Credit Scholarship Program is constitutional. The voucher-like program helps pay for low-income students to attend private schools, but critics say it siphons money from public schools.

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

FSU TRUSTEES HOLD RETREAT: The Florida State University Board of Trustees will start a two-day retreat and will discuss issues such as accountability measures, academic affairs and student affairs. (Monday, 1:15 p.m., Ponte Vedra Inn, 200 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD HOLDS WORKSHOP: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will hold a workshop, followed by a meeting that will include discussions with potential inspector general candidates. (Monday, 3 p.m., district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES GATHER IN POLK: The Polk County Democratic Executive Committee will hold a forum that is expected to include several candidates for congressional and state House seats. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., Democratic headquarters, 651 East Main St., Haines City.)

GOP HISPANIC INITIATIVES DISCUSSED: Alex Garcia, who directs Hispanic initiatives for the Republican Party of Florida, is scheduled to speak to the Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee. (Monday, 7 p.m., 2201 Feather Sound Dr., Clearwater.)

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

CLAY COUNTY LAWMAKERS DISCUSS SESSION: Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, Rep. Travis Cummings, R-Orange Park, and Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, are expected to discuss the 2016 legislative session during a meeting of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce. (Tuesday, 7:30 a.m., The Hilltop Restaurant, 2030 Wells Road, Orange Park.)

SCOTT, CABINET MEET: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will meet and take up a series of issues, including a pair of proposed land deals that would cost the state about $6.6 million and conserve nearly 3,800 acres in Osceola County . (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

BRANDES HOLDS 'MOBILE' OFFICE HOURS: State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is slated to hold "mobile" office hours. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, 6990 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD MEETS: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. or upon completion of earlier committee meetings, district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

RUBIO DISCUSSES MIDDLE EAST: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is scheduled to speak at the Hudson Institute about the "Middle East in Crisis." (Tuesday, noon, Hudson Institute, 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Suite 400, Washington.)

COURT HEARS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM BATTLE: The 1st District Court of Appeal will hear arguments in a lawsuit led by the Florida Education Association challenging the state's Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The voucher-like program provides tax credits to companies that donate money to non-profit entities that help pay for low-income children to attend private schools. A Leon County circuit judge rejected the lawsuit last year because he ruled the plaintiffs did not have legal "standing." (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

SPACE INDUSTRY ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The Space Florida Board of Directors will meet. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. North, Naples.)

WILCOX CAMPAIGNS IN HILLSBOROUGH: U.S. Senate candidate Todd Wilcox is slated to speak to the North Hillsborough Republican Club. (Tuesday, 6:45 p.m., Carrollwood Country Club, 13903 Clubhouse Dr., Tampa.)

INGOGLIA SPEAKS TO YOUNG REPUBLICANS: Florida Republican Chairman Blaise Ingoglia, who also is a state House member, is scheduled to speak to the Pinellas County Young Republicans. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State candidates and political committees face a Tuesday deadline for filing reports showing campaign-finance activity through April 30.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA BOARD MEETS: The Board of Directors of Enterprise Florida will meet after holding committee meetings Tuesday. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. North, Naples.)

HEALTH CARE IN MIAMI-DADE AT ISSUE: Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Chairman Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, will be among the participants in a discussion titled "Fighting to Protect the Health of Miami-Dade County." The event is hosted by Florida CHAIN and will also include House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, a West Palm Beach Democrat who serves as chief executive officer of Florida CHAIN. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., HistoryMiami Museum, 101 West Flagler St., Miami.)

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SPEAKS AT FIU: National Security Advisor Susan Rice is scheduled to give a commencement address for Florida International University's Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., FIU Arena, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami.)

MAGAR RAISES MONEY IN JUPITER: State Rep. MaryLynn Magar, R-Tequesta, is expected to raise money during an event in Jupiter. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Craft Bar Kitchen, 1061 East Indiantown Road, Jupiter.)

BERUFF CAMPAIGNS IN BREVARD: U.S. Senate candidate Carlos Beruff is slated to speak during a meeting of the Brevard County Republican Executive Committee. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., Holiday Inn Conference Center, 8298 North Wickham Road, Melbourne.)

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

BOARD OF GOVERNORS HOLDS MEETING: The Facilities Committee and the Innovation and Online Committee of the state university system's Board of Governors will meet, followed by a meeting of the full Board of Governors. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Gulf Coast University, Cohen Center Ballroom, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers.)

GAMBLING INITIATIVE ON THE TABLE: The Financial Impact Estimating Conference will meet to discuss a proposed constitutional amendment known as "Voter Control of Gambling in Florida." (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)

SUWANNEE WATER BOARD MEETS: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will meet in Taylor County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Steinhatchee Landing Resort Conference Center, Steinhatchee.)

STATE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS HOLD CALL: The Florida College System Council of Presidents will hold a conference call. (Thursday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 1326645713#)

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

LATVALA DISCUSSES LEGISLATIVE SESSION: Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, will speak to the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County about the 2016 legislative session. (Thursday, 11:45 a.m., LPGA Clubhouse, 1000 Champions Dr., Daytona Beach.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 1 p.m., 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

HURRICANE FUND AT ISSUE: The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advisory Council will discuss issues such as claims-paying capacity. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., 1801 Hermitage Blvd., Tallahassee.)

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2016

UCF TRUSTEES GATHER: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees is slated to hold a retreat. (Friday, 8 a.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

MEDICAL FOSTER CARE AT ISSUE: The Agency for Health Care Administration is scheduled to hold a workshop to discuss issues related to medical foster-care services. (Friday, 10:30 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

STATE GOP HOLDS QUARTERLY MEETING: The Republican Party of Florida will start a two-day quarterly meeting. Among the events Friday will be an 11 a.m. session with state Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, and Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, titled "The Top 10 Things You Should Know from the Legislative Session." (DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 4500 West Cypress St., Tampa.)

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2016

DOMINO OPENS CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS: Republican Carl Domino, who is running this year in Congressional District 18, will hold a grand-opening event for his campaign headquarters. (Saturday, 9 a.m., 270 South Central Blvd., Suite 103, Jupiter.)

GRAHAM GIVES KEYNOTE AT WAKULLA EVENT: U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Wakulla County Democratic Party's spring gala. (Saturday, 6 p.m., The Lodge at Wakulla Springs, 550 Wakulla Park Dr., Wakulla Springs.)

WEST SPEAKS AT LEE GOP DINNER: Former Congressman Allen West is expected to speak during the Lee County Republican Party's Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. (Saturday, 7 p.m., Coconut Point Hyatt, 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs.)