The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – May 12, 2014

By the News Service of Florida

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE - Florida Power & Light has gradually worked on plans to build two nuclear reactors at the Turkey Point complex in Miami-Dade County. And while construction is probably years away, the project will go before Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet on Tuesday for a key state approval. Meanwhile, Scott will have a chance to talk about his favorite subject --- jobs --- on Friday, when the latest unemployment figures are released.

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

MURPHY TOUTED BY U.S. CHAMBER: U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., will receive a "Spirit of Enterprise" award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at two events. (Monday, 9 a.m., Florida Power & Light headquarters, 700 Universe Blvd., Juno Beach. 11:45 a.m., Martin Downs Country Club, 3801 S.W. Greenwood Way, Palm City.)

JOLLY TO HOLD MEET AND GREET: U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., will hold a meet-and-greet event for Pinellas County residents. (Monday, 4 p.m., St. Petersburg Woman’s Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd., N.E., St. Petersburg.)

TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2014

VOLUSIA LAWMAKERS TO DISCUSS SESSION: Members of the Volusia County legislative delegation are expected to discuss the 2014 session during a Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting. (Tuesday, 7:45 a.m., Holiday Inn Daytona Beach LPGA Boulevard, 137 Automall Circle, Daytona Beach.)

CABINET CONSIDERS FPL NUKE PLAN: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will consider approving Florida Power & Light's plan to build two nuclear reactors at the Turkey Point complex in Miami-Dade County. In December, state Administrative Law Judge D.R. Alexander issued a recommendation for Scott and the Cabinet to approve "certification" for the location, construction and operation of the two 1,100-megawatt reactors. Scott and the Cabinet act as the state's power-plant siting board. Cabinet approval is another step in a long process before FPL could build the reactors. That process also includes gaining federal approvals. If FPL builds the reactors, it would likely be a decade before they would start generating electricity. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

RICH SPEAKS TO BROWARD DEMS: Gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich is expected to speak to the Coconut Creek Democratic Club. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Coconut Creek Community Center, 1100 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek.)

FRANKEL RAISES MONEY, CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY: A birthday party that will double as a fund-raising event is expected to be held for U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Palm Beach Photographic Centre, 415 Clematis St., West Palm Beach.)

GRANT TO SPEAK TO YOUNG REPUBLICANS: State Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, is expected to speak to the Pinellas County Young Republicans. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Yard of Ale Gastro Pub, 2675 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater.)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

SHELDON TO RAISE MONEY IN BROWARD: Democratic attorney-general candidate George Sheldon is expected to attend a fund-raising event in Broward County. (Wednesday, 8 a.m., 1709 S.W. Fourth Court, Fort Lauderdale.)

TOURISM PROMOTION DISCUSSED: The Visit Florida Board of Directors is scheduled to meet and discussion tourism-promotion issues. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Gulf Club, 501 Fifth Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg.)

PAROLE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER CASES: The Florida Parole Commission will meet in Miami and consider a wide range of cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., State Attorney’s Office, E.R. Graham Building, 1350 N.W. 12th Ave., Miami.)

THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC BOARD HOLDS CALL: The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees is scheduled to hold a conference-call meeting. The Lakeland school, the state’s newest university, is scheduled to start classes in August. (Thursday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 5656664913#) 

DEFENSE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Defense Support Task Force, which works to protect Florida’s military installations and missions, is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Hampton Inn and Suites, 2855 N.E. Ninth St., Homestead.)

PAROLE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER CASES: The Florida Parole Commission will continue two days of meetings in Miami and consider a wide range of cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Thursday, 9 a.m., State Attorney’s Office, E.R. Graham Building, 1350 N.W. 12th Ave., Miami.)

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

COURT TO HEAR IMMIGRANT ER CASE: The 1st District Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear arguments in a case about Medicaid payments to Florida hospitals for emergency care provided to undocumented immigrants. A coalition of hospitals challenged the state Agency for Health Care Administration about changes in emergency-care payments, and an administrative law judge found in December 2012 that AHCA had not gone through a required rule-making process. Medicaid pays hospitals for emergency services provided to undocumented immigrants, but the case focused on the extent of services that should be covered. In the past, payments were made when emergency services were considered "medically necessary." But in 2010, AHCA began using a more-restrictive standard that said payments would be made until patients are "stabilized." (Thursday, 2 p.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

NET BAN CASE TO BE HEARD: The 1st District Court of Appeal is scheduled to take up a long-running dispute about the application of the state's voter-approved "net ban." The case comes nearly two decades after voters approved a constitutional amendment placing strict limits on the use of commercial fishing nets. Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford last year sided with the Wakulla Fishermen's Association and other plaintiffs in issuing an order to block enforcement of the law, saying the way it had been carried out created a "legal absurdity." That prompted an appeal by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (Thursday, 2 p.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2014

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS RELEASED: The state Department of Economic Opportunity is expected to release unemployment numbers for April. (Friday, 10 a.m.)

ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS AT ISSUE: The Health Information Exchange Coordinating Committee will discuss efforts to increase the adoption of electronic health records and a health-information exchange. (Friday, 10 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

FLORIDA HEALTH CHOICES BOARD TO MEET: The Florida Health Choices Board of Directors is scheduled to meet and discuss the online marketplace for health services. (Friday, 11 a.m., 200 West College Ave., Tallahassee.)