Weekly Roundup: The final measures

By BRANDON LARRABEE
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, April 15, 2016..........This is the way the bill-signing season ends. Not with a whimper, but a bang.

Gov. Rick Scott finished off his duties from the 2016 legislative session by vetoing a bill on one of the most emotional and volatile issues that the House and Senate faced this year --- not anything about the state's schools or its environmental treasures, but a fight over what happens when a marriage falls apart.

To be sure, Scott dealt with other issues in the waning days of selecting which measures would and wouldn't become law. A lengthy "train" on education departed Plaza Level Station with the governor's signature attached, along with several health-care bills.

Across the northern part of the state, meanwhile, a longtime Republican congressman decided to step down, setting off what at first looked like a feeding frenzy but quickly quieted down. One of the top contenders for the race saw the Northeast Florida establishment rally behind him while another one of the leading names decided to take a pass.

The outrage over Scott's action on the alimony bill will also likely cool with time. But as the week wrapped up, it was still about as angry as anyone's been with one of his decisions on legislation this year.

WHEN IT'S OVER

People on both sides of the alimony issue, though, didn't wait for Scott's veto to make their feelings known. On Tuesday, men, women and a handful of children crammed into the governor's waiting room in a tumultuous showdown over the legislation.

The bill (SB 668) would have laid out a formula based on the lengths of marriages and the incomes of spouses for judges to use as a guide when determining alimony payments.

But the most contentious part of the measure involved not alimony but offspring. It would tell judges that, when determining child-custody arrangements, they should begin with a "premise" that children should split time equally between parents.

Proponents of the bill held a press conference Tuesday morning on the steps of the Old Capitol, an hour before opponents gathered outside Scott's office to urge the governor to veto the measure.

Scott's policy director, Jeff Woodburn, met with representatives of both groups, who packed into Scott's waiting room and at times got into heated exchanges. At one point, proponents of the measure --- including many who were clad in red T-shirts emblazoned with messages supporting "father's rights" --- erupted into a chant urging Scott to "Sign the bill!"

On Friday, the governor did the opposite. In his veto message, Scott said "the one constant" when a divorce involves a young child is "the needs of the child must come before all others" when judges determine parenting schedules, something now required by Florida law.

"This bill has the potential to upend that policy in favor of putting the wants of a parent before the child's best interest by creating a premise of equal time-sharing. Our judges must consider each family's unique situation and abilities and put the best interests of the child above all else," he concluded.

One of the most powerful lawmakers behind the measure lashed out at Scott for nixing the proposal for the second time in three years. Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said in a written statement that the problems Scott voiced about a similar bill in 2013 were fixed this time around.

"At this point it is unclear what future family law reform legislation the governor may find acceptable. Today's veto message is vague and does nothing to further illuminate the governor's concerns," said Lee, whose wife is a judge.

Others backed Scott's decision. Maria Gonzalez, chairwoman of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, said the bill would have caused more litigation if it had become law.

Divorces or paternity cases in which couples are separating are "tough situations for the entire family" but are particularly painful for children, Gonzalez said.

"So when mom and dad come in front of the judge the best thing they can have is a clean slate and have a judge consider the uniqueness of the family, and also the needs of the particular family and come up and craft a good parenting plan, a good time-sharing schedule that works best for that family," she said.

FULL STEAM AHEAD

As he weighed what to do on the alimony bill, Scott's office continued churning out legislation that met with his approval.

He OK'd a 160-page education bill (HB 7029) which packed in everything from funding for high-performing universities to school membership in athletic associations.

It will allow parents to transfer their children to any public school in the state that isn't at capacity through an "open enrollment" process; add to state law performance-funding formulas for colleges and universities; allow private schools to join the Florida High School Athletic Association or other organizations on a sport-by-sport basis; and give charter schools that serve lower-income students or those with disabilities a bigger slice of construction funding doled out by the state.

The bill would also send additional funds to "emerging pre-eminent" universities --- possibly the University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida. Those schools are approaching the pre-eminent status that provides extra money to the University of Florida and Florida State University.

"This is a great day for students across Florida as Governor Scott signs into law historic legislation to increase school choice options across our K-12 education system by allowing parents to have a greater say regarding which of our neighborhood public schools their child will attend," said Senate Education Appropriations Chairman Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who handled the bill in the Senate.

Scott also inked a series of health-care bills, including a measure that supporters say will help shield patients from getting hit with surprise tabs after going to hospital emergency rooms and one allowing advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe controlled substances.

But Scott also vetoed a bill that would have provided financial incentives for dentists to practice in underserved areas of the state.

The money could have been used for such things as repayment of dental-school loans or investment in facilities and equipment. But in a veto letter, Scott said, in part, that the bill was duplicative of other programs that provide dental care, such as the statewide Medicaid managed-care system.

Somewhat quietly, the governor also signed a tax-cut package that had been among his top priorities during the session. A ceremonial signing of the bill served as the undercard of an announcement by Novolex --- which makes plastic bags --- that it's expanding a manufacturing facility in Jacksonville.

"This bill will not only give Florida families an important back-to-school sales tax holiday, but it will also permanently eliminate the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment so companies like Novolex can invest more money in growing their business and creating new jobs," Scott said in a press release. "We will continue to do all we can to cut more taxes and support economic growth so Florida can become first for jobs."

'TIME TO TURN THE PAGE'

Most of the contours of the fall congressional elections have already been set in Florida. Candidates in swing seats have been recruited, some incumbents have decided to enter the race for an open U.S. Senate seat, and others are campaigning for re-election.

But just a couple of months before qualifying for his seat is set to begin, Republican Congressman Ander Crenshaw announced Wednesday he will retire at the end of his current term, ending a 16-year tenure in Washington.

"I am proud of the work we have accomplished for the citizens of Northeast Florida and our nation during my time in Congress," Crenshaw said in a statement issued by his office Wednesday. "Progress is measured in projects completed and lives impacted, and I think we made a difference. Now, it is time to turn the page on this chapter of my life and see what's next."

His retirement automatically kicked up a round of speculation about who might fill his seat. Crenshaw's district was redrawn last year in response to a redistricting lawsuit, with the new lines including all of Nassau County, part of Duval County and roughly the northern two-thirds of St. Johns County.

It remains heavily Republican; in 2012, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney carried the area by more than 33 points.

But while one of the biggest names connected to the seat quickly jumped in the race, another declined. Former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford said he would run for the seat after picking up the support of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and influential GOP fundraiser Peter Rummell.

State Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, decided to take a pass on the race. Former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney also begged off.

Other candidates, including Duval County Property Appraiser Jerry Holland, could still take a look at the seat.

STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Rick Scott vetoed an alimony bill that was among the most controversial proposals of the 2016 legislative session as he finished up work on the 272 measures approved by lawmakers.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "His favorite line was, 'Call Ron Book. When you realize you can't afford him, call me for the blue-light special.'"--- Lobbyist Ron Book, on late colleague Robert M. Levy, who died this week at 67.