The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – October 31, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, OCTOBER 28, 2016....... While much of the attention during the coming week will focus on the final stretch of campaigning before the Nov. 8 elections, the Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments about a controversial law that would require women to wait 24 hours before having abortions. The Supreme Court also will weigh a proposed constitutional amendment that could make it harder to expand gambling in Florida.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016

EVERGLADES FOUNDATION TOUR GOES TO TREASURE COAST: The Everglades Foundation will continue a 12-day bus tour to urge national and state leaders to support construction of a water-storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. (Sunday, 9:30 a.m., South Florida Science Center, 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach. Also, 1 p.m., Green Market, 131 S.W. Flagler Ave., Stuart. Also, 3 p.m., Fall Fun Fest, 9221 Southeast Civic Center Place, Port St. Lucie.)

FUNDRAISER SLATED FOR MURPHY: A fundraising event is scheduled in Tallahassee for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Patrick Murphy. (Sunday, 2 p.m., The Offices of Parks & Crump, 240 North Magnolia Dr., Tallahassee.)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

EVERGLADES FOUNDATION TOUR GOES TO PALM BEACH COUNTY: The Everglades Foundation will continue a 12-day bus tour to urge national and state leaders to support construction of a water-storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. (Monday, 9 a.m., Palm Beach Town Hall, 360 South County Road, Palm Beach. Also, 10:30 a.m., FAU Pine Jog Environmental Educational Center & Pine Jog Elementary, 6301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

VETERANS HONORED IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: Military veterans will be honored during a "Governor's Veterans Service Award" ceremony. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., National Guard Armory, 3405 Marion St., Fort Myers.)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016

ABORTION WAITING PERIOD AT ISSUE: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in four cases, including a challenge to a 2015 law that would require women to wait 24 hours before having abortions. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

TOP NURSING HOMES DISCUSSED: The Governor's Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care will hold a conference call to discuss applications for "Gold Seal Award" designations for nursing homes. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 8050334011.)

EVERGLADES FOUNDATION TOUR GOES TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: The Everglades Foundation will continue a 12-day bus tour to urge national and state leaders to support construction of a water-storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Lake Park Elementary, 14th Avenue North, Naples. Also, 11 a.m., Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples. Also, 2:30 p.m., Bonita Springs City Hall, 9101 Bonita Beach Road S.E., Bonita Springs.)

UTILITY REGULATORS MEET: The Florida Public Service Commission will take up a series of issues involving electric utilities and water and wastewater companies. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016

STATE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS MEET: The Florida College System Council of Presidents is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Buena Vista Palace, 1900 East Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista.)

GAMBLING INITIATIVE DEBATED: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in four cases, including a dispute about a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voter approval before casino gambling could be authorized in the state. The proposed amendment could go on the 2018 ballot. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

PAROLE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Commission on Offender Review is scheduled to meet and discuss numerous parole cases related to crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

CARROLL SPEAKS AT FAITH SYMPOSIUM: The Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice will help host the two-day "Florida Faith Symposium." Among the speakers will be Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll. (Wednesday, opening session at 9 a.m., Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive, 8001 International Dr., Orlando.)

ELECTRIC UTILITY COSTS AT ISSUE: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a hearing on power-plant fuel costs and a series of other types of expenses that are passed on to customers of electric utilities. Fuel costs make up a large portion of customers' monthly electric bills. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

EVERGLADES FOUNDATION TOUR GOES TO LEE COUNTY: The Everglades Foundation will continue a 12-day bus tour to urge national and state leaders to support construction of a water-storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Florida Gulf Coast University, 9101 Bonita Beach Road S.E., Bonita Springs. Also, 1 p.m., Sanibel/Captiva Chamber of Commerce, 1159 Causeway Road, Sanibel. Also, 4 p.m., the Village of Estero, 9401 Corkscrew Palms Circle, Estero. Also, 4:30 p.m., Bass Pro Shops Fort Myers, Gulf Coast Town Center, 10040 Gulf Center Dr., Fort Myers.)

MURPHY ADDRESSES PALM BEACH CLUB: Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy, who is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio in the Nov. 8 election, will speak to the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. (Wednesday, noon, Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

GREENWAYS AND TRAILS AT ISSUE: The Florida Greenways and Trails Council is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, noon, Titusville City Hall, 555 South Washington Ave., Titusville.)

HIGHER ED ISSUES DISCUSSED: Gov. Rick Scott is expected to address the state university system's Board of Governors after meetings of the board's Select Committee on 2+2 Articulation and the Innovation and Online Committee. (Wednesday, committee meetings start at 3:45 p.m., Scott expected to address board at 5:15 p.m., Florida Atlantic University, Live Oak Pavilion, Student Union, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

STEUBE, GRUTERS CAMPAIGN IN LONGBOAT KEY: State Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican running in Senate District 23, and Republican Joe Gruters, who is running in House District 73, are expected to take part in an event held by the Republican Club of Longboat Key. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Longboat Key Club Harbourside Dining Room, 3200 Harbourside Dr., Longboat Key.)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

CALDWELL SPEAKS TO BUSINESS GROUP: State Rep. Matt Caldwell, a North Fort Myers Republican running for re-election in House District 79, is scheduled to speak to to the Businesspeople United for Political Action Committee, or BUPAC. (Thursday, 7:30 a.m., Florida SouthWestern State College, 8099 College Parkway, Building AA, Fort Myers.)

WEST FLORIDA, FAMU PRESIDENTS AT ISSUE: The state university system's Board of Governors will meet after holding a series of committee meetings. The board will consider the confirmation of Martha Saunders as the new president of the University of West Florida and Larry Robinson as the interim president of Florida A&M University. (Committee meetings start at 8:30 a.m., followed by board meeting, Florida Atlantic University, Live Oak Pavilion, Student Union, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

APPEAL HEARD IN PRISON GUARD SLAYING: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases, including an appeal by Death Row inmate Enoch Hall, who was convicted in the 2008 murder of corrections officer Donna Fitzgerald at Tomoka Correctional Institution in Volusia County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

EVERGLADES FOUNDATION TOUR GOES TO BROWARD COUNTY: The Everglades Foundation will continue a 12-day bus tour to urge national and state leaders to support construction of a water-storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Eagle Point Elementary, Everglades Champions School, 100 Indian Trace, Weston. Also, noon, Bass Pro Shops Dania Beach, 200 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach.)

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

NAVY SECRETARY SPEAKS IN JACKSONVILLE: U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Maybus is slated to speak during JAX Chamber's annual Military Appreciation Luncheon. (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Prime Osborne Convention Center, 1000 Water St., Jacksonville.)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016

BOARD OF MEDICINE MEETS: The Florida Board of Medicine is scheduled to meet in Duval County. (Friday, 8 a.m., Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport Hotel, 14670 Duval Road, Jacksonville.)

CHIROPRACTIC BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine is scheduled to meet in Broward County. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Marriott Fort Lauderdale North, 6650 North Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)

LATVALA SPEAKS TO GOP WOMEN: State Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, is expected to speak to the Belleair Women's Republican Club. (Friday, 11:30 a.m., 1 Country Club Lane, Belleair.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State political candidates, committees and parties are required to file reports showing finance activity through Nov. 3.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016

CUMMINGS, BRADLEY HELP WITH FOOD AID: State Rep. Travis Cummings, R-Orange Park, and Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, are expected to join with Farm Share, Inc., and Cedarpoint Baptist Church to provide food assistance to people in Northeast Florida. (Saturday, 9 a.m., Cedarpoint Baptist Church, 1650 Blanding Blvd., Middleburg.)

EVERGLADES FOUNDATION TOUR GOES TO COLLIER COUNTY: The Everglades Foundation will continue a 12-day bus tour to urge national and state leaders to support construction of a water-storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. (Saturday, 9 a.m., Swamp Buggy Parade, U.S. 41, Naples.)