Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> IS TUESDAY, MARCH 5th, THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WILL
CONVENE.
WE'RE LIVE AND CIF WIT ACTIVE WITH THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
DIALOGUE WITH THE DELEGATION IS
STRAIGHT AHEAD.
>> AND A VERY PLEASANT GOOD
EVENING, EVERYONE.
I'M JEFF WEEKS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
ON THIS FRIDAY EVENING.
FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, ONE
COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT THE
RAYS OF FLORIDA SUNSHINE ARE
ONCE AGAIN ON TALLAHASSEE.
WHILE NOM NOWHERE NEAR 2007, WE'LL
DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES AS WELL
AS THE OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE
SUNSHINE STATE FOR 2013 AND
BEYOND.
YOUR QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME
EITHER BY PHONE OR E-MAIL.
YOU CAN CALL IN AND ASK YOUR
QUESTIONS OFF THE AIR AT
850-484, 1223 AND E-MAIL
QUESTIONS TO QUESTIONS@WSRE.ORG.
WE ARE JOINED THIS EVENING BY
MEMBERS OF THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA
DELEGATION.
LET ME BEGIN BY INTRODUCING
SENATOR GREG EVERS.
SENATOR EVERS REPRESENTS
DISTRICT 2.
HIS SENATE COLLEAGUE AND SENATE
CANDIDATE DON GATES COULD NOT
JOIN US DUE TO A SCHEDULING
CONFLICT.
FROM THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CLAY INGRAM.
REPRESENTING E.SCAMBIA COUNTY.
DISTRICT 3'S REPRESENTATIVE IS
DOUG BROXTON.
DISTRICT 3 COVERS PARTS OF
OKALOOSA AND SANTA ROSA
COUNTIES.
AND FROM DISTRICT 4, MATT GAETZ,
REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ DISTRICT
COVERS PART OF OKALOOSA COUNTY.
>>> AS I MENTIONED IN THE
OPENING, THINGS ARE STARTING TO
IMPROVE ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT
MEASURED.
SENATOR EVERS, WHAT ARE YOU MOST
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT?
>> FIRST OF ALL, JEFF, THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US ON TONIGHT.
>> PLEASURE.
>> WHERE THE VIEWERS CAN GET AN
OPINION AND WE CAN ANSWER THE
QUESTIONS AND PLUS WE CAN GET
MORE FEEDBACK FROM OUR
CONSTITUENTS AS TO WHAT THEY
WANT US TO DO IN TALLAHASSEE.
THE THING THAT I'M MOST
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT DURING THE
UPCOMING SESSION, IS WE AREN'T
GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THE CUTS
WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING TO BE
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT, CONSIDERING
THAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT
THE ONLY THING WE MUST DO IS
PASS A BALANCED BUDGET AND
HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A LOT
SIMPLER THIS YEAR THAN I.T. HAS
IN THE PAST.
>> REPRESENTATIVE INGRAM ARE YOU
SENSING MORE OPTIMISTIC IN
TALLAHASSEE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE THREE REPRESENTATIVES HERE
HAVE NOT BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE
THERE WAS A POSITIVE BUDGET
PICTURE.
SENATOR EVERS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN
AROUND WHEN THERE WAS A BUDGET
THAT WAS IN THE BLACK AND THERE
WAS MONEY TO GO AROUND TO FUND,
YOU KNOW, THE NECESSARY THINGS
IN SOME OTHER PROJECTS AS WELL.
SO FOR THE FIRST TIME YES SINCE
WE'VE BEEN HERE, THERE'S A
FEELING OF OPTIMISM.
AND IT GOES BACK TO SOME OF THE
TOUGH DECISIONS WE MADE THE LAST
TWO SESSIONS, SOME OF THE CUTS
WE MADE AND THE TOUGH DECISIONS
WE MADE WITH REGARD TO THE
BUDGET ARE STARTING TO PAY OFF.
IT'S A GOOD THING AND IT'S GOOD
TO KNOW HERE IN FLORIDA SOME OF
THE FISCAL DISCIPLINE WE'VE HAD
IS STARTING TO PAY OFF.
>> AND SPEAKING OF OPTIMISM
PARTICULARLY FOR NORTHWEST
FLORIDA AND I'LL POSE THIS
QUESTION TO YOU, REPRESENTATIVE
BROXTON, BUT I KNOW YOU MUST ALL
BE EXTREMELY HAPPY ABOUT THIS
AND CERTAINLY SENATE PRESIDENT
GAETZ SHOULD BE GIVEN AN AWFUL
LOT OF CREDIT FOR THIS.
NEARLY $1 BILLION WILL BE COMING
TO NORTHWEST FLORIDA IN THE FORM
OF TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
WHERE DID THAT MONEY COME FROM?
>> WELL, I THINK IT CAME FROM A
VERY PROACTIVE PRESIDENT, WHO
LIFT IN THE DISTRICT AND MADE A
COMMITMENT THAT HE WAS GOING TO
PROTECT US IN THE TWO YEARS.
THE BIGGEST IS THE PENSACOLA BAY
BRIDGE.
WE WERE LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL
$100 MILLION SHORTFALL.
THAT WAS TRUE UP TO A FEW DAYS
AGO AND SENATOR GAETZ WAS ABLE
TO NEGOTIATE, THERE WILL NOT BE
A TOLL, WE FOUND THE 100 MILLION
AND THAT WILL BE GREAT FOR
ESCAMBI AND SANTA ROSA.
IT WOULD HAVE CREATED ENORMOUS
PROBLEMS FOR SANTA ROSA IN
PARTICULAR BECAUSE WE DIDN'T
HAVE THE MECHANISM TO MEET OUR
SHARE AND IT IS A GREAT DAY.
IT IS LEGENDARY THAT HE DID THAT
FOR OUR TWO COUNTIES.
>> AND IT'S MONEY THAT'S IN THE
RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE WHEN YOU
THINK BIT IN TERMS OF BUILDING
SUCH A MAJOR STRUCTURE.
REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ, WHAT DO
YOU THINK THAT SORT OF INFLUX
WILL MEAN FOR NORTHWEST FLORIDA?
>> IF YOU LOOKED AT THE STATE OF
FLORIDA, WE'VE ADDED OVER
200,000 JOBS IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR ECONOMY.
THAT PLACES ONLY SECOND TO TEXAS
AND WELL PLACED FOR A MAGNET FOR
INNOVATORS AND JOB CREATORS.
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO START
BUSINESSES.
THAT BECOMES THE HIGH WATER FOR
ALL BOATS IN THE ECONOMY.
SOMEONE WHO GOT ONE OF THOSE
200,000 JOBS THAT EXIST NOW IN
THE ECONOMY WHEN MORE PEOPLE
HAVE JOBS THE JOBS THAT EVERYONE
HAS BECOME MORE SECURE BECAUSE
THERE IS MORE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
AND VIE BALANCE AND ABLE TO
BRING MORE THAN, A BILLION
DOLLARS TO NORTHWEST FLORIDA,
JOBS IN THE CONTRACTING INDUSTRY
BUT ALL KINDS OF ANCILLARY
ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT WILL RESULT
IN THOSE PROJECTS AND TO BE ABLE
TO CONNECT OUR COMMUNITIES EAST
AND WEST WITH THE PENSACOLA BAY
BRIDGE, EAST AND SOUTH, TO ALL
THE ART RICE THAT LEAD TO I-10,
IT PAINTS THE PICTURE THAT
NORTHWEST FLORIDA IS BULLISH
ABOUT THE FUTURE AND THAT WE CAN
BE A PLACE WHERE THE ECONOMY CAN
CONTINUE TO THRIVE.
>> IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO --
>> WELL ALONG WITH THAT JEFF
SOMETHING YOU GOT TO CONSIDER IS
ANY TIME THAT YOU HAVE AN INFLUX
OF ALMOST $1 BILLION, THAT'S
25,000 NEW JOBS THAT WILL BE
CREATED.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WEST OF
TALLAHASSEE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
EMPLOY AN ADDITIONAL 200525,000
PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S QUITE IMPRESSIVE.
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR
BUSINESSES TO COME HERE,
SOMETHING INTERESTING, ONE OF
THE PAPERS, NEW YORK POST RAN AN
ARTICLE THAT HEDGE FUND MANAGERS
ARE EXPLORING THE IDEA OF MOVING
THEIR HEADQUARTERS TO FLORIDA,
PRIMARILY PALM BEACH AREA, THE
GOVERNOR ACTUALLY PUT OUT A
PRESS RECESS TODAY IN A LETTER
THAT HE IS FORWARDING TO THE
HEDGE FUND MANAGERS.
WHAT CAN WE DO THOUGH IN
NORTHWEST FLORIDA TO ATTRACT
THAT KIND OF BUSINESS?
>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALREADY IN
PREVIOUS SESSIONS WE'VE TAKEN
ACTION.
WE COMPETE IN THE PANHANDLE, WE
COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND
HERE WE HAVE AGGRESSIVE STATES
LIKE ALABAMA, GEORGIA, THAT WE
HAVE TO COMPETE WITH.
LAST SESSION THE SESSION BEFORE
THAT, HAVE STARTED TO PAY OFF,
WE'RE MORE COMPETITIVE, THAT WAS
THE BIG PUSH AND THAT IS WHAT
GOVERNOR SCOTT HAS BEEN FOCUSED
ON AND MAKING THE BE JOB
ENVIRONMENT IN FLORIDA
ATTRACTIVE SOME MAKE PEOPLE TO
WANT TO MOVE THEIR JOBS HERE.
YOU HAVE SEEN PEOPLE FROM
CALIFORNIA CLACH AND FLORIDA
WANTING TO MOVE THEIR JOBS HERE.
BECAUSE IT AFFECTS EVERYTHING
ELSE FROM HEALTH CARE TO
EDUCATION.
IT'S THE FOCUS THAT'S STARTING
TO PAY OFF HERE AND PEOPLE WANT
TO COME HERE.
>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANYTHING
IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA THAT WILL
ATTRACT THAT?
>> PROBABLY MIAMI WILL BEING
MORE OF A LAUNCHING PAD TO LATIN
AMERICA THAN NORTHWEST FLORIDA
WILL.
BUT LET ME TELL WHAT YOU WE CAN
LEVERAGE.
WE HAVE LAND.
WE HAVE AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR LATE MANUFACTURING, FOR
AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING, WE'RE
IN THE 150 MILE CORRIDOR AREA TO
GET WORK OFF THE SUPPLY LINE FOR
THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WOULD THEN
BE DOING BUSINESS WITH AIRBUS.
AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS
INVEST AS MUCH AS WE CAN OF OUR
TIME, EFFORT AND ENERGY IN
PROMOTING THE WORKFORCE THAT WE
HAVE.
WE HAVE ALL THESE FOLKS THAT ARE
SKILLED MACHINISTS AND SKILLED
IN MANUFACTURING, AS A RESULT OF
WORK ON SOME OF THE GREATEST
AIRPLANES ON THE PLANET.
THEY CAN GET JOBS IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR AND THAT CAN BE AN
ECONOMIC HUB THAT WILL BRING IN
THOSE MANUFACTURING JOBS.
WE HAVE SEEN SOME IN SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA BUT HAVEN'T SCRATCHED
THE POTENTIAL THAT IS UNIQUE TO
OUR STATE.
>> CAN I GET BACK --
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE PASSED A PACKAGE LAST YEAR
THAT WAS AIMED AT KEEPING THE
TALENT FROM THE MILITARY.
WE WERE ABLE TO MEET SOME OF THE
PEOPLE THAT TRANSITIONED OUT OF
THE MILITARY AND BECAUSE WE
PASSED A PACKAGE THAT WOULD
ALLOW THEM TO GET A PROFESSIONAL
BUSINESS LICENSE IN FLORIDA FOR
FREE THEY STAYED IN FLORIDA,
OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE MOVED BACK
TO WHERE THEY WERE.
WE'LL KEEP THE TALENT HERE.
>> AND NOT ONLY THAT JEFF THE
OTHER THING YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER
IS IN THE MILITARY
APPROPRIATIONS, LAST WEEK, WE
PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW
OUT OF STATE FOLKS THAT WERE
REQUIRING FROM MILITARY OR
VETERANS THAT WOULD GIVE THEM
BECAUSE OF THE BLUE RIBBON
DIFFERENCE IN PAY, FOR THEIR
COLLEGE TUITION, IT WOULD ALLOW
THEM TO HAVE IN-STATE TUITION IN
LIEU OF HAVING TO COME OUT OF
THEIR POCKET TO PAY THE
DIFFERENCE FROM THE IN-STATE TO
OUT OF STATE.
NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT
SEVERAL YEARS BACK AROUND
WHITING FIELD WE STARTED
PROTECTING WHITING FIELD AND
LOOKING TO BUILD AN AVIATION
PARK THERE WHICH NOW WITH AIRBUS
GOING INTO MOBILE IT IS GOING TO
BE A GREAT FIT AND ALSO IN
ESCAMBIA COUNTY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS IN OUR TOOL
BOX, THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING
DOWN, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN
IT'S GOING TO HIT BUT BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS TO THE EIGHT IMPACTED
COUNTIES AS A RESULT OF THE BP
OIL SPILL, THAT COALITION THAT
WAS CREATED IF WE WORK TOGETHER
IN THE PANHANDLE WE CAN SEND A
SIGNAL ACROSS FLORIDA THAT WE
CAN DO IT RIGHT.
WE CAN TAKE THAT MONEY AND
LEVERAGE IT AND DO MORE FOR OUR
ECONOMY, NOT THIS YEAR AND NEXT
YEAR BUT 20 YEARS.
AND IF WE DO THAT RIGHT IT'S
GOING TO BE A STATEMENT THAT WE
MAKE TO TALLAHASSEE AND TO THE
REST OF THE STATE THAT WE KNOW
HOW TO TAKE MONEY THAT COMES
FROM OUTSIDE OF THE GOVERNMENT
AND USE IT TO HELP OUR PEOPLE.
>> AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT,
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT
THAT BP MONEY HAS TO BE USED FOR
MORE SOFT STUFF LIKE THAT.
IT CAN'T BE USED FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS LIKE
THAT, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I THINK RULE MAKING PROCESS
IS STILL UNDER WAY AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL.
THERE MIGHT BE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SOME
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
THERE WILL BE EDUCATION
REQUIREMENTS, BUT WE WILL HELP
BUILD THE FOUND FOR MORE
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
>> WE DO WANT TO MENTION THAT
TONIGHT'S BROADCAST IS
INTERACTIVE.
WE CERTAINLY WANT TO HEAR FROM
YOU OUR VIEWERS.
YOU CAN ASK A QUESTION A CUSTOM
OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
EITHER VIA THE OLD FASHIONED
WAY, AT 850-484-1223, OR OUTSIDE
THE DIALING NUMBER AT 1-800-223
WSRE OR E-MAIL QUESTIONS AT
WSRE.ORG.
LET ME ASK YOU QUESTIONS THAT
ARE BEING ASKED ACROSS THE
NATION NOW, AND I WANT TO KNOW
HOW THAT WILL AFFECT NORTHWEST
FLORIDA OR FOR THAT MATTER, THE
ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA.
THAT'S SEQUESTRATION.
IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, INTERESTING TO
SEE IF IT WILL COME DOWN TO THE
LAST MUNICIPAL.
I'LL BEGIN WITH YOU SENATOR
EVERS.
>> WELL I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND
THE FOLKS IN THE STATE OF
FLORIDA THAT'S VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT, IS OUR SECOND AMEND
RIGHTS.
ONE THING THAT HAS STEAMED BUILD
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS LIMITING
CERTAIN WEAPONS, CERTAIN
MAGAZINES, THESE KINDS OF
THINGS.
HERE IN FLORIDA THERE HAVE BEEN
QUITE A FEW BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN
FILED TO DO OR WATER DOWN STAND
YOUR GROUND OR THE CASTLE
DOCTRINE.
THE BILLS WE HAVE FOUGHT VERY
HARD FOR AND REPRESENTATIVE
GAETZ AND MYSELF WHICH BOTH SAT
ON COMMITTEE TOGETHER, AS FAR AS
MY COMMITTEE AND THE THING THAT
I'M CONCERNED WITH, I DON'T
THINK WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT,
AND I THINK REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ
FEELS THE SAME WAY, AND WE DON'T
FEEL LIKE STAND YOUR GROUND, WE
DON'T FEEL LIKE CASTLE
DOCTRINE'S BROKE.
WE FEEL THERE'S A COURT CASE
GOING ON AND IT NEEDS TO GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS AND COOLER
HEADS WILL PREVAIL.
>> WOULD ANY OF YOU SEE
ASITUATION TALKING ABOUT THE
ISSUES GOING ON WITH THE SECOND
AMENDMENT AND CERTAINLY
OBVIOUSLY THE PRESIDENT IS
PUSHING FOR STRICTER GUN LAWS,
REGARDLESS WHAT HAPPENS ON THE
FEDERAL LEVEL WOULD ANY OF YOU
AT ANY POINT IN TIME SEE A NEED
TO MAKE FLORIDA'S LAWS STRICTER
OR MAKE ANY CHANGES IN THE LAW
AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME?
>> I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING
SENATOR EVERS SAID.
HE AND I CHAIR THE COMMITTEE
THAT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER GUN
LAWS IN OUR STATE AND WE THINK
TOO MANY RESTRICTIVE GUN LAWS,
NOT ONLY TO BEAR ARMS AS THE
EXECUTION ALLOWS, THE RIGHT TO
BEAR ARMS IS SOMEWHAT ABRIDGED
IF SOMEONE BRINGS VIOLENCE TO
YOU AND YOU HAVE A LEGAL
OBLIGATION TO RETREAT.
THAT USED TO BE THE CASE IN
FLORIDA.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WHO IS
ATTACKED OUGHT TO HAVE A LEGAL
OBLIGATION TO RETREAT.
THAT'S WHY SENATOR EVERS AND I
WILL LIKELY BE THE PEOPLE TO
STAND IN THE BREACH.
YOU ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT
SEQUESTRATION AND I WANT TO MAKE
SURE TO ANSWER THAT AS WELL.
WHEN THE PENTAGON GETS A COLD WE
GET PNEUMONIA IN NORTHWEST
FLORIDA.
BECAUSE ALL OF THE ANXIOUS --
ANXIETY, DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY
TO THEN HIRE MORE PEOPLE AND
GROW AND EXPECT MORE CONTRACTS
BECAUSE THEY'RE SO CONCERNED
ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD.
THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE OF
WASHINGTON JUST GETTING IT WRONG
AND BEING UNABLE TO GET TOGETHER
AND WORK THINGS OUT.
WE WOULD NEVER HAVE AN
ENVIRONMENT LIKE THAT IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
I DON'T THINK OUR CONSTITUENTS
IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WOULD
TOLERATE IT.
AND SO WHEN THERE'S ALL THIS
BICKERING AND ALL THIS JUST
PARTISANSHIP SOMETIMES FOR THE
SAKE OF PARTISANSHIP FOR THE
SAKE OF THE MILITARY, WE ARE
PLAYING POLITICS FOR OUR ABILITY
TO DEFEND THE COUNTRY.
THAT IS DEEPLY TROUBLING.
IT DOES NO SERVICE FOR THE
GENERATION OF OUR GRANDPARENTS
WHO WENT AND FOUGHT TO BUILD THE
GREATEST MILITARY ON THE PLANET
TO SEE THIS HAPPENING.
SO THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS
MAKING A SERIES AND SIGNIFICANT
SERIOUS AND SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENT.
IF THEY CHOOSE TO DIVERSIFY INTO
OTHER FIELDS THAT THEY DON'T GO
TO OTHER STATES AS THEY'RE
BUILDING THEIR ANCILLARY BOOKS
OF BUSINESS, WE WANT TO KEEP
THEM HERE IN FLORIDA BECAUSE THE
DEFENSE ECONOMY IS A BIG DEAL IN
THE PANHANDLE AND IN THE STATE.
LET'S HOPE WASHINGTON GETS IT
RIGHT.
>> IT'S A MAJOR PART OF OUR
ECONOMY AND WE HAVE DONE AS
SENATOR EVERS MENTIONED WE HAVE
WHITING FIELD AS A GREAT
EXAMPLE.
WE KNEW THEY WERE ON THE
CHOPPING BLOCK TEN YEARS AGO,
THEY'RE NOT NOW.
WE BUFFERED THEM TO MAKE SURE
THEY MAINTAIN A VIABLE MISSION
HERE IN THE AREA.
WE ARE ALL MEETING WITH THE
DIFFERENT BASES TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH
TALLAHASSEE.
WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE IS
MEET REGULARLY WITH EVERY BASE,
AND WE'RE PROUD OF OUR BASE HE,
WE GIVE BACK TO THEM, TO MAKE
SURE THEY STAY IN FLORIDA AND A
VITAL PART OF OUR NATIONAL
DEFENSE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE INGRAM.
>> THIS PIGGYBACKS ON WHAT'S
ALREADY SAID.
WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT
THE BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE
PROCESS.
IF THE SEQUESTRATION PROCESS
HAPPENS, WHETHER IT'S
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT
THE BASE HAS ASKED FOR, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL BUFFERS THAT HAVE
LARGELY BEEN DONE HERE, WHITING
AND OTHERS ARE DONE AND I THINK
THERE'S SOME TANGIBLE THINGS WE
CAN DO TO MAKE SURE IF
SEQUESTRATION HITS WE KNOW IT
POSSIBLY COULD, THAT WE'VE DONE
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT
CLOSURES HERE IN NORTHWEST
FLORIDA.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THE OTHER THING JEFF, IS
RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THAT THAT
THERE'S POSSIBLY OR ANOTHER
ROUND OF CUTS COMING.
WE ARE MAKING IN THE MILITARY
AND VETERANS COMMITTEE, TO JUST
SOMEHOW HOW IMPORTANT THE RIGHT
IS.
WE DID THAT IN 2004, WHICH
GRANTED US BASE CLOSURES AROUND
5 AND 6.
HERE AGAIN WE ARE PREPARING FOR
THAT SAME ROUND TO GO THROUGH
AGAIN.
AND WITH THE ADDITIONAL MONEYS
THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS YEAR, WE
ARE FORMING UP AND PROTECTING
OUR MILITARY BASES NOT ONLY FROM
THE ENCROACHMENT BUT EVEN FROM
THE NATIONAL GUARD, WE'RE
RAMPING UP THE NATIONAL GUARD
ARMORIES AND BRINGING THE
STANDARD IN THOSE UP HIGHER
WHICH SENDS A BIG MESSAGE TO
WASHINGTON, THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE
PROUD OF OUR MILITARY AND WE'LL
PROTECT THEM.
NOT ONLY THAT, WE'RE ALSO,
THERE'S SOME BILLS OUT THERE
THAT WILL ADD INCENTIVES FOR
MILITARY CONTRACTORS THAT, DOING
RESEARCH, DOING DEVELOPMENT, AND
FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, THAT WILL
ACTUALLY IMPROVE THEIR SITUATION
AS FAR AS, AND IT'S NOT, WHEN WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT GIVING AND
INCENTIVE, WHAT THIS IS WOULD BE
A TAX ABATEMENT.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN THEY PAY
THE MONEY IN THAT THEY WOULD
NORMALLY PAY IN ON CERTAIN TAXES
THEY WOULD RECEIVE THAT MONEY
BACK TO HELP THEIR BUSINESS,
HELP IT GROW, AND THAT WOULD
ALWAYS BE -- THAT WOULD BE LINED
OUT PRIOR TO EVER SIGNING THE
PAPERWORK ON IT.
>> AS MUCH AS WE LOVE AND
APPRECIATE OUR MILITARY IN
NORTHWEST FLORIDA FROM PENSACOLA
ON OVER INTO BAY COUNTY, SHOULD
WE CONCENTRATE, MAKE A
CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO DIVERSIFY
OUR ECONOMY ABOVE AND BEYOND
MILITARY AND TOURISM?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND YOU KNOW ONE OF THE OTHER
INDUSTRIES THAT PEOPLE TRAVEL
FROM ALL OVER, TO USE HERE, IS
HEALTH CARE.
WE HAVE THREE WORLD CLASS
HOSPITALS, AND THAT'S ONE WAY
THAT WE DIVERSIFIED OUR ECONOMY
HERE, ARE THE THREE HOSPITALS
THAT WE HAVE HERE.
AND SO AGAIN, THERE ARE THINGS
WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT A FRIENDLY
ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALTH CARE, AND
I THINK WE'LL FOCUS ON THAT.
AND THAT'S JUST ONE.
THERE ARE OTHERS BUT YOU'RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WE HAVE TO
MAKE SURE THAT TOURISM AND
DEFENSE ARE NOT THE ONLY THINGS
WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
>> AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
MOBILE, AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE
CAN DO TO JOIN OUR NEIGHBORS.
THEY HAVE A BAN AROUND MOINL
WHERE THEY NEED THE -- MOBILE TO
HAVE QUALIFIED PEOPLE AND THE
MILITARY PROVIDES MANY OF THOSE
PEOPLE.
SO WE HAVE A GREAT CHANCE TO
TEAM UP WITH THEM.
THEY SPENT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF
MONEY TO ATTRACT THESE
BUSINESSES.
NOW WE HAVE A CHANCE TO JOIN
WITH THEM TO SHOW THEM WE CAN
HELP PARTNER WITH THEM AND GIVE
THEM QUALITY WORKMEN AND WORK
WOMEN.
>> YOU MENTIONED HEALTH CARE.
WE CAN'T GET AWAY FROM THIS ONE
SO HERE WE GO.
THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, ALSO KNOWN
AS OBAMA CARE, HOW WILL THAT
AFFECT THE STATE OF FLORIDA
PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO
THE MEDICAID ISSUE?
>> WELL, IT'S THE RISK OF A
GENERATION JEFF.
AND IF FLORIDA GETS IT WRONG
THEN LEGISLATURES FIVE AND TEN
YEARS FROM NOW WILL BE RAISING
TAXES.
THAT IS SIMPLY THE BOTTOM LINE.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A
TERRIBLE MISTAKE FOR FLORIDA TO
LEAD WITH OUR CHIN AND BE ONE OF
THE FIRST STATES TO GO IMPLEMENT
THIS BIZARRE SYSTEM.
I MEAN HERE ARE THE OPTION HE
FOR -- OPTIONS FOR FLORIDIANS.
WE GET HOOKED INTO ALL THE
FEDERAL STRINGS THAT ARE
ATTACHED TO THE DOLLARS THAT ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATE
EXCHANGE.
MANY THAT WE WOULD FIND
TROUBLING.
THE REQUIREMENT TO PAY FOR
ELECTIVE ABORTION HE, FOR
SERVICES THAT THE STATE HAS NOT
DETERMINED TO TAKE CARE OF, ALL
BECAUSE OF THOSE RISKS.
THE OTHER OPTIONS IS TO EXPAND
MEDICAID.
I DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE OUT THERE THINK THAT
MEDICAID IS THE IDEAL INSURER TO
HAVE.
NOT HAVE THE GOVERNMENT TELLING
THEM WHAT DOCTOR THEY HAVE TO GO
SEE.
MOST PHYSICIANS THAT TAKE
MEDICAID DO IT MORE FOR CHARITY
THAN THEY DO AS A PROFIT CENTER
BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A PAIN TO DEAL
WITH MEDICAID.
SO WHEN WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT'S
SO DEEPLY FLAWED, THE LAST THING
WE SHOULD DO IS TAKE A MILLION
AND A HALF MORE FLORIDIANS AND
DUMP THEM INTO THE SYSTEM.
WE SHOULD SHOW SOME RESTRAINT
AND NOT INTERINTO THIS FRAY WITH
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS, OUR JOB
CREATORS IN FLORIDA WILL HAVE TO
PARTICIPATE IN A FEDERAL
EXCHANGE IF A FEDERAL EXCHANGE
IS SET UP.
MY HOPE IS THAT THE REPUBLICANS
IN CONGRESS WILL STEP FORWARD
AND NOT FUND THE FEDERAL
EXCHANGE.
AND IF THAT WERE TO OCCUR, THEN
OUR BUSINESSES, OUR JOB CREATORS
WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PENALTY FOR
NOT PARTICIPATING IN SOMETHING
THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER
STATES THAT ARE TAKING ACTION TO
MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE A FEW STEPS
BEHIND THEM.
>> THAT WAS WELL SAID.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER
PARTS TO IT I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU
KNOW THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID,
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
PARTS TO THAT.
THERE IS THE WAY THAT CAN BE
GONE ABOUT WHERE WE WOULD ADD A
MILLION-PLUS PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT
CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE AND ADD THEM
UNDER THE ROLLS.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT WOULD --
LET ME TAKE A STEP BACK.
THERE ARE TWO PARTS.
THERE IS THE PART OF ADDING
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY
ELIGIBLE OR INCLUDING ELIGIBLE
NOW BUT NOT ENROLLED.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ENROLLED
COULD GO ON THE BOOKS NOW BUT
THAT WOULD BE OF ENORMOUS COST
TO THE STATE.
MEDICAID IS ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR
BUDGET CURRENTLY AND WILL
CONTINUE TO GROW IF WE GO DOWN
THAT PATH.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE NOW
THAT COULD BECOME ELIGIBLE,
THAT'S WHERE WE GET INTO THAT
OLD BACK AND FORTH WITH THE
GOVERNMENT.
THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT 100% FOR
THOSE PEOPLE THAT WOULD COME
UNDER THE ROLLS FOR ABOUT TWO
YEARS.
IT DROPS TO 90% AND THEN 80 AND
THEN EVENTUALLY WHO KNOWS.
THERE WE ARE AGAIN IF YOU TAKE
THAT FEDERAL MONEY OR ADOPT THAT
FEDERAL PROGRAM, IT CREATES AN
ENORMOUS PROBABLY UNTHINKABLE
BUDGET PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD AND
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, YOU KNOW
ETHICALLY RIGHT TO DO TO THE
PEOPLE DOWN THE ROAD AS WE GO
ALONG.
>> THE FEDS ARE BEGGING FLORIDA
TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST STATES.
BECAUSE THEY ARE IN SUCH A
ESTATE OF CONFUSION.
THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT
THEY'VE CREATED AND THEY ARE
ASKING FOR HELP FROM THE STATES,
PARTICULARLY FLORIDA.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS LEGISLATURE
IS GOING TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT
A PROBLEM THEY'VE CREATED AND I
KNOW A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO
WITH POLITICS.
AND WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION IF THE ELECTION
WOULD HAVE GONE THE OTHER WAY.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL
WITH IT.
FLORIDA WILL DEAL WITH IT BUT
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE FIRST
STATE THAT DOES THAT, BECAUSE
THERE'S REALLY NO INCENTIVE FOR
US TO STEP FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
>> THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY JEFF.
TODAY NOW, ONE IN EVERY
FLORIDIAN IS ON MEDICAID.
IF WE EXPAND MEDICAID TO ANOTHER
1.6 OR 1.5 MILLION FLORIDIANS.
WE'LL HAVE TO PAY ONE-THIRD OF
OUR OWN AND ONE-THIRD OF
SOMEBODY ELSE'S.
IT IS AN UNSUSTAINABLE MODEL, IT
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK
LONG TIME.
I WOULD RATHER CONFRONT THAT
TODAY THAN SHIRK THAT
RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE TO HAVE
OTHER LEGISLATURES DEAL WITH IT.
DANGLING OUT IT WILL BE OUR
MONEY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S
MONEY NOT STATE MONEY.
BUT THE PEOPLE WATCHING HOME
IT'S ALL THEIR MONEY AND RIGHT
NOW WHEN WE TAKE FEDERAL MONEY
THAT'S MONEY BEING BORROWED FROM
CHINA OR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE.
>> DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO
HAVE A GO?
>> THE BIG THING ABOUT IT AND I
GUESS THE SIMPLEST WAY TO LOOK
AT IT, IS HOW DO YOU PLAY A
BALLGAME WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW THE
RULES?
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVEN'T
TOLD US THE RULES.
THEY EXPECT US TO DO AN
IMPLEMENTATION AND CREATE OUR
OWN THING.
I SAY LET THEM DO THEIR OWN
THING, LET THEM SHOW THE SHORT
FLAWS AND WE'LL PICK IT UP AND
MAKE IT RIGHT.
>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING, NO
QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
WE CERTAINLY WANT TO HEAR FROM
YOU OUR VIEWERS.
CAN YOU CALL US AT 850-484-1223.
OR E-MAIL QUESTIONS TO WSRE.ORG.
A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER,
PATRICIA IN PENSACOLA, WANTS TO
KNOW, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PROPOSED
MINIMUM WAGE, RAISING IT TO $9?
NOW AS I UNDERSTAND IT NOW,
FLORIDA ACTUALLY HAS ONE OF THE
HIGHER MINIMUM WAGES IN THE
STATE -- EXCUSE ME IN THE
NATION.
THE IDEA OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT MANDATING TO $9 AN
HOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> WE HAVE A REQUIRED MINIMUM
WAGE IN FLORIDA BUT PARTICULARLY
WHEN YOU HAVE A MANDATORY
MINIMUM WAGE IT'S ANTIQUATED.
WHEN YOU RECRUITED WORKERS FROM
A GEOGRAPHIC NEXUS, THAT MADE
SENSE, YOU PROTECTED THE PEOPLE
IN THAT AREA.
NOW THE WORLD IS SMALLER, THE
WORKFORCE IS GLOBAL.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE PRESIDENT
KEEPS MARCHING US DOWN THAT PATH
THAT IS LESS ECONOMICALLY
COMPETITIVE.
INCREASING MINIMUM WAGES AND
THEN PAIRING THAT WITH THE
HIGHEST CORPORATE TAX RATE IN
THE WORLD LEADS TO MORE CAPITAL
LEAVING THIS COUNTRY, MORE JOBS
LEAVING THIS COUNTRY.
WE WANT TO REPATRIATE THAT
CAPITAL, NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE
MORE MANDATES FROM GOVERNMENT,
BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE INNOVATORS,
MORE FACEBOOKS, MORE MICROSOFTS.
WE WANT TO UNLOCK THE
ENTREPRENEURS IN THE COUNTRY.
>> WANT TO ADD TO THAT?
>> WITH UNEMPLOYMENT AS HIGH AS
IT IS, TO CONTINUALLY PUT
MANDATES AND THE UNKNOWN ABOUT
NATIONAL HEALTH CARE IS GOING TO
CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE
EMPLOYERS WILL NOT WANT TO
EXPAND.
WHY WOULD WE DO THAT IN SUCH AN
ECONOMY WHERE MANY QUESTIONS ARE
TO BE ANSWERED?
>> I'M KIND OF CURIOUS, YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THIS.
AND I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION OF
MANY BUSINESS LEADERS.
JUST KIND OF GET YOUR THOUGHTS.
WHEN IT COMES TO UNEMPLOYMENT,
OBVIOUSLY IT'S A LOT HIGH ARE
THAN ANY OF US ARE COMFORTABLE
WITH, NOT ONLY IN THE STATE OF
FLORIDA BUT ACROSS THE NATION.
DO YOU THINK THAT SOME OF OUR
UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUES ARE
STRUCTURAL VERSUS ECONOMIC?
AND WHAT I SIMPLY MEAN BY THAT
IS, THERE ARE JOBS AVAILABLE OUT
THERE WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE
JOBS.
>> I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ
WILL JUMP ON THIS AND RIGHTLY SO
BECAUSE HE LEADS THE EFFORT A
LOT OF TIMES.
THERE'S A LOT TO THAT.
WE'VE TRIED TO TAKE THE
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE
WHERE YOU KNOW PEOPLE MAJOR IN
SOCIOLOGY.
I MEASURED IN COMMUNICATES.
-- COMMUNICATIONS.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF JOBS IN
THOSE FIELDS.
THERE ISN'T A PHILOSOPHY SHOP.
THERE'S A STORY, I DON'T WANT TO
STEP ON THAT GAETZ TELLS THE
STORY BETTER THAN I DO.
BUT THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
WANTED TO HIRE ENGINEERS, THEY
DECIDED TO BUILD A UNIVERSITY TO
CRANK OUT THOSE ENGINEERS.
COULDN'T DO IT HERE, HAD TO GO
AND BUILD IT IN INDIA IF THAT'S
CORRECT.
WE GOT TO TAKE THOSE SCIENCE
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY MATH
FOCUS AND THAT'S WHERE THE JOBS,
MONEY, IS, INFORMATION
INTELLIGENCE FIELD OF THE
FUTURE, THAT'S WHERE THE JOBS
ARE, NOT AS MUCH AS IN THE
TRADITIONAL MODELS THAT WE HAVE.
YES, IF WE CREATE AN EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM THAT CRANKS OUT THE JOBS
WE NEED, PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO
GET MORE JOBS, NO DOUBT ABOUT
IT.
>> I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH
REPRESENTATIVE INGRAM'S
RETELLING OF MY STORY.
THERE ARE 1 MILLION JOBS TODAY
THAT ARE UNFILLED BECAUSE THERE
ARE NOT QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO
FILL THEM.
AND AS REPRESENTATIVE INGRAM
SAID THEY ARE IN THE AREAS OF
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING
AND MATHEMATICS.
ONES WHO CAN BUILD FOR THE
FUTURE ARE THE ONES LOOK THROUGH
WINDSHIELD NOT IN THE REAR VIEW.
IN THE JOBS OF THE PAST,
TECHNOLOGY OF THE PAST, IN
NORTHWEST FLORIDA, WITH OUR
HEALTH INSTITUTIONS AND WITH THE
GREAT HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS THAT WE HAVE WE CAN
83th THAT CLUSTER THERE -- WE
CAN CREATE THE CLUSTER THERE.
THE PROBLEM REPRESENTATIVE
INGRAM SAID, PEOPLE ENROLL IN
COLLEGE AND SAY HEY, WHAT AIM
INTERESTED IN?
WHAT ARE FUN CLASSES I COULD
TAKE?
I GOT A DEGREE IN POLITICAL
SCIENCE.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO GET
A DEGREE IN VOLLEYBALL BECAUSE
THEN WOULD I HAVE HAD A SKILL.
CREATING CLUSTERS IN FLORIDA IS
I THINK RADICAL HIGHER EDUCATION
REFORM THAT WE WILL SEE IN THE
LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION.
THE COST OF A BIOCHEMICAL
ENGINEERING DEGREE SHOULD NOT BE
THE SAME AS THE COST OF A
SOCIOLOGY DEGREE.
TAXPAYERS SHOULD ONLY BE
INCENTIVIZING AND SUBSIDIZING
DEGREES THAT WILL ATTRACT
RESOURCES AND CAPITOL TO THE
STATE OF FLORIDA.
THAT MAY NOT BE GOOD IF YOU ARE
A SLAVIC LANGUAGE PROFESSOR BUT
IF YOU'RE A YOUNG 8th GRADE
MATH STUDENT OR A SCIENCE
STUDENT THAT IS SHARP IN THE
10th GRADE I WANT TO MAKE THE
EASIER TO PURSUE THE DEGREES OF
THE ECONOMY AND THE JOBS OF
TOMORROW.
>> I THINK ONE THING GOVERNOR
SCOTT HAS SAID HE WANTS TO KEEP
LEVEL THE TUITION OVER THE
FOUR-YEAR PERIOD.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING HE'S
TALKED ABOUT.
BUT LET'S ADDRESS BEFORE WE TALK
ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION SOMETHING
ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF THINGS.
HOW DO WE DO A BETTER JOB OF --
BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY'S COLLEGE
MATERIAL.
NOT EVERYBODY'S GEARED TO GOING
TO COLLEGE.
HOW DO WE DO A BETTER JOB OF
PREPARING OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL FOR
TECHNICAL SKILLS TO IMMEDIATELY
GO INTO A JOB SITUATION?
>> JEFF A LOT OF IT IS THERE'S A
STIGMA TO NOT TAKING THE COLLEGE
ROUTE WHEN YOU'RE IN HIGH
SCHOOL.
YOU KNOW A KID THAT GOES IN AND
GOES TO A TECHNICAL SCHOOL,
GEORGESTONE OR WEST FLORIDA TECH
KNOWS HOW TO WELD OR BE A
PLUMBER.
A LOT OF THE PLUMBERS I KNOW
MAKE $100,000 A YEAR AND
CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY.
TAKE AWAY THAT STIGMA OF NOT
GOING TO COLLEGE, MAKE SURE
YOU'RE NOT AS GOOD AS SOMEONE
THAT GOES TO COLLEGE.
PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION.
EXPAND THOSE PLAGUES HE LIKE
WEST FLORIDA TECH.
THERE ARE GROUND WORKS BUT MAKE
SURE THE KIDS THINK IT'S OKAY TO
DO IT.
>> THE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE I GET
FROM PEOPLE IS SO MUCH OF THOSE
TECHNICAL JOBS ARE LESS TURNING
WRENCHES AND MORE PLUGGING IN
COMPUTERS.
>> IT'S STILL WORK WITH YOUR
HANDS, IT'S STILL TECHNICAL,
IT'S NOT EDUCATIONAL AS FAR AS
COLLEGE OR UPPER COLLEGE LEVEL.
>> YOUR TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL
ROUTE.
INTERTHAT'INTER.
>> THAT'S THE THING.
REMINDS ME OF A JOKE WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT THE PLUMBER.
IT WAS THE PLUMBER'S TOILET TORE
UP.
HIS WIFE GETS ON HIM.
THE GUY'S A DOCTOR, THE PLUMBER
HANDS THE GUY A BILL, IT WAS
$1500 AND THE GUY HAD BEEN THERE
FOR FIVE MINUTES AND THE GUY
SAYS YOU KNOW, $1500, I DON'T
MAKE THIS IN FIVE MINUTES AS A
DOCTOR AND THE PLUMBER LOOKED AT
HIM AND SAID, WHEN I WAS A
DOCTOR I DIDN'T MAKE THAT,
EITHER.
SO THE REALITY OF IT IS, AND SO
MANY PEOPLE, AND I USE THE SLANG
TERM, EDUCATED BEYOND THEIR
INTELLIGENCE, WHEN YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE VERY EDUCATED WHEN IT
COMES TO USING COMPUTERS, AND
THIS KIND OF STUFF.
BUT YET THEY CAN'T PUT A FUSE
INTO THE FUSE BOX IN THEIR CAR
SO WHEN THEY PLUG THEIR LAPTOP
UP, IT WILL WORK BECAUSE IT WILL
BLOW THE FUSE.
>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE'RE
HAVING IS REALLY DEFINING WHAT
IS A DIPLOMA?
IS A DIPLOMA SOMETHING THAT
PREPARES YOU FOR COLLEGE OR
PREPARES YOU FOR LIFE?
IF WE'RE TELLING OUR KIDS THAT A
DIPLOMA IS GOING TO GET THEM
INTO COLLEGE AND THEY'RE GOING
TO DO WELL AS A FRESHMAN WE'RE
REALLY NOT TELLING THEM THE
TRUTH.
BECAUSE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS THE
FIRST THING THEY DO TO PREPARE
FOR CLASSES IS HAVE REMEDIAL
CLASSES.
IS THAT A TRUE REFLECTION OF
WHAT A DIPLOMA WOULD BE?
WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF DEBATE IN
TALLAHASSEE ABOUT THE MESSAGE WE
SEND OUR 67 COUNTIES ON THE
QUALITY OF EDUCATION THAT NEEDS
TO BE STATEWIDE.
AND IT'S A VERY CHALLENGING
QUESTION BECAUSE KEY WEST AND
PENSACOLA, JACKSONVILLE AND
TAMPA ARE DIFFERENT PLACE HE TO
EDUCATE FOLKS.
>> SPEAKING ABOUT EDUCATION, IN
ORDER TO HAVE GREAT -- HAVE
STUDENTS WITH SOLID EDUCATIONS,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD TEACHERS.
QUESTION ABOUT THAT, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT GOVERNOR SCOTT WANTS
TO DO IS PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE
BOARD $2500 RAISE FOR TEACHERS.
YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> WELL, WITH ALL RESPECT TO THE
GOVERNOR I THINK THAT WOULD BE A
STEP BACKWARDS AND HERE'S WHY.
WE'VE MADE A TREMENDOUS
INVESTMENT IN THE STATE OF
FLORIDA IN DETERMINING WHO SOME
OF THE GREAT BRIGHT TEACHERS ARE
THAT OUGHT TO BE REWARDED, ABOVE
AND BEYOND BECAUSE THEY WORK
ABOVE AND BEYOND.
FRANKLY I DON'T THINK IT'S
CONSISTENT WITH OUR PRINCIPLES
TO SAY THAT THE VERY BEST
TEACHER IN FLORIDA OUGHT TO GET
THE SAME 2500 BUCKS AS THE WORST
TEACHER IN FLORIDA.
THAT ISN'T TO SAY WE SHOULDN'T
HAVE A BETTER CALIBRATION
SYSTEM.
BUT THE VALUE ADDED MODEL TO
THEM IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM,
IT'S SORT OF LIKE A FORMULA LIKE
THE BCS STANDINGS.
YOU CAN'T JUDGE PEOPLE ON A
METRIC THAT THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND, AND THAT YOU CAN'T
EXPLAIN.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE
SOME REFORM TO TRY TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE BETTER SYSTEMS IN PLACE
TO IDENTIFY THOSE TEACHERS THAT
GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.
BUT EVERY PERSON WATCHING
TONIGHT AND ALL OF US HERE KNOW
THAT WE'VE HAD SOME TEACHERS
THAT HAVE IMPACTED OUR LIVES IN
REMARKABLE WAYS.
WE WOULDN'T BE THE HUMAN BEINGS
WE ARE NOW WITHOUT THEM.
BUT ALL OF US ALSO KNOW THAT
WE'VE HAD TEACHERS THAT HAVE NO
BUSINESS IN A CLASSROOM.
AND I THINK IT'S INSULTING TO
THE WORK OF THE GREAT TEACHERS
WE HAVE TO GIVE EVERYONE THE
SAME 2500 BUCKS.
IT'S LAZY FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO
GO IN AND MAKE A COMPENSATION
SYSTEM THAT REALLY ATTRACTS
BRIGHT PEOPLE INTO EDUCATION.
RIGHT NOW JEFF IF YOU WANT TO
OFFER A LIFE AS A TEACHER,
EDUCATOR TO A BRIGHT PERSON
COMING OUT OF SCHOOL THEY
ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO TAKE A LIFE
OF POVERTY FOR THE FIRST FEW
YEARS.
THAT'S WRONG.
OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD BE CATHEDRALS
OF LEARNING.
>> REPRESENTATIVE INGRAM YOUR
POSITION?
>> YEAH, REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ
WRAPPED UP TO SOMETHING THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO ME.
I THINK EVERY TEACHER OUGHT TO
MAKE MORE MONEY.
BUT TO ADDRESS THAT SPECIFIC
QUESTION AND TO GO BACK A STEP
FURTHER.
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET COMES OUT
AND IT'S TECHNICALLY CALLED
BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS.
THERE ARE SOME -- I THINK HIS
BUDGET WAS GOOD.
I THINK IT WAS WELL PUT TOGETHER
COMPARED TO PAST BUDGETS THAT
I'VE SEEN EVEN BEFORE I WAS
ELECTED.
HOWEVER IT MADE SOME ASSUMPTIONS
THAT THERE WAS MONEY PLACES
WHERE REALLY THERE ISN'T MONEY,
THAT THERE ARE CUTS THAT HE SORT
OF ASSUMED THAT PROBABLY AREN'T
REALLY THERE.
AGAIN IT WAS BETTER THAN WE'VE
SEEN IN THE PAST BUT THAT'S
CERTAINLY TRUE IN MANY CASES IN
THAT BUDGET.
AND SO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
ACTUALLY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR
SOME OF THE BONUSES AND RAISES,
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WILL BE,
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WILL
TELL YOU, TOO TECHNICAL, ANOTHER
ESTIMATING CONFERENCE BEFORE THE
HOUSE AND SENATE BUDGETS BEFORE
WE BEGIN TO CONSTRUCT THEM AND
THAT WILL GIVE US THE MORE
REALISTIC PICTURE OF WHAT WE
ACTUALLY HAVE TO WORK WITH.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GREAT
ANSWER BUT THERE ARE
TECHNICALITIES THAT WE HAVE TO
WORK OUT BEFORE WE KNOW WHERE WE
ARE.
>> GO AHEAD SENATOR.
>> THE ONE THING THAT I THINK
FOLKS AT HOME NEED TO FULLY
UNDERSTAND IS THE FACT THAT THE
GOVERNOR MAKES RECOMMENDATION.
THE HOUSE PASS ET CETERA THEIR
BUDGET.
THE-D THE HOUSE PASSES THEIR
BUDGET.
THE SENATE PASSES THEIR BUDGET
THEN WE GO TO CONFERENCE AND WE
COME UP WITH WHAT THE BUDGET IS
IN THE STATE OF AND FLORIDA.
AT THAT TIME, ALL THE GOVERNOR
CAN DO IS VETO LINE ITEMS OUT OF
THAT BUDGET.
WHEN YOU SAY THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET, NO, THE GOVERNOR MADE
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS WHAT HE
THOUGHT AND WHAT HE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE.
BUT THERE'S 120 HOUSE MEMBERS
AND THERE'S 40 SENATORS THAT
WILL ACTUALLY DRAFT THE BUDGET
AND WE WILL AGREE ON A BUDGET
AND THEN WE WILL SEND IT TO THE
GOVERNOR.
>> VERY GOOD.
QUESTION FROM A VIEWER.
BLACKWATER DRILLING.
QUESTION IS, MAINLY GEARED
TOWARDS REPRESENTATIVE BROXTON.
BUT THE VIEWER SAID, I WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE OTHERS FEEL
ABOUT DRILLING IN BLACKWATER
STATE PARK.
REPRESENTATIVE BROXTON WE'LL
START WITH YOU.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TOWN
HALL MEETING ON THE 20th OF
FEBRUARY AND I WANT EVERYONE TO
COME.
THE FACTS ARE SIMPLE.
HISTORICALLY, IN NORTH SANTA
ROSA AND OKALOOSA, WE'VE HAD
MASSIVE DRILLING WITH VERY FEW
PROBLEMS.
THE FACT IS WE'VE HAD DRILLING
FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS IN
BLACKWATER.
NOW, THIS HAS TO BE GAUGED
AGAINST OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS
CONSUMERS ON WHAT OUR POSITION
ON BEING DEPENDENT ON OIL FROM
OTHER COUNTRIES.
JAY, OVER THE 35 YEARS, HAS
PRODUCED 14 BILLION GALLONS OF
CRUDE.
ALMOST 700 MILLION CUBIC FEET OF
NATURAL GAS.
THAT'S A MAJOR FINE.
AND THERE MAY BE ANOTHER ONE.
BUT LET ME SAY THAT.
I'M NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING
UNLESS I HAVE A CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS, THAT'S THE
DIRECTION THEY WANT TO GO.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL FIND THAT
OUT ON THE 25th OF FEBRUARY.
>> THE REST OF YOU LIKE TO ADD?
>> I'M SURE BECAUSE I LIVE RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF BLACKWATER
RIVER FOREST.
AND THAT'S MY HOME.
AND I WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR
ANYTHING TO GO ON, IN THE MIDDLE
OF BLACKWATER FOREST THAT I FEEL
WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE FOREST.
BUT AS REPRESENTATIVE BROXTON
SAID, THERE HAS BEEN DRILLING,
THERE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN FINES IN
BLACKWATER.
IN FACT THEY'RE DOING SOME
SEISMIC WORK UP THERE NOW THAT
EXTENDED FROM ALABAMA FIVE MILES
INTO FLORIDA.
THEY ACTUALLY HIRED SOME 35
FOLKS THAT WEREN'T EMPLOYED TO
ACTUALLY DO THE MONITORING OF
THE PITCHER PLANT PRAIRIES OF
WETLANDS TO SEE THAT THESE LINES
WERE OFFSET, TO WHERE THEY
WOULDN'T BE GOING THROUGH ANY
WETLANDS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DRILL ANY
WETLANDS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DRILL IN
ANY AREA THAT'S CLOSE TO THE
MOST PRISTINE RIVER THAT WE HAVE
HERE IN THE PANHANDLE, THE
BLACKWATER RIVER.
AND SO -- BUT THE JOBS AND THE
ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES THAT WE
WOULD HAVE, AND THAT LITTLE BIT
THAT WOULD HELP US GET AWAY FROM
THE DEPENDENCE OF FOREIGN OIL,
YOU KNOW I DON'T SEE ANYTHING
WRONG WITH IT.
IT WOULD ADD ECONOMY TO OUR
SCHOOLS, BECAUSE A CERTAIN
PERCENT OF THE MONEY WOULD GO TO
OUR SCHOOLS, GO TO OUR COUNTIES.
AND IT WOULD BE A BIG, BIG BOOM
HERE IN THE PANHANDLE.
>> VERY CREDIBLE SOURCES SAY
THAT IT'S A REAL POSSIBILITY
THAT THE U.S. COULD BE
ENERGY-INDEPENDENT WITHIN A
DECADE.
THEY'RE NOT CALCULATING IN
BLACKWATER RIVER.
SO ONE MIGHT SAY, WHY TAKE
CHANCE FROM A RISK-REWARD
STANDPOINT.
>> WELL, THE ENTIRE ENERGY
ECONOMY HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST
JUST SEVERAL YEARS.
AMERICA IS THE SAUDI ARABIA OF
SHALE OIL.
>> AND NATURAL GAS.
>> AND NATURAL GAS.
SO OUR ENERGY ECONOMY CONTINUES
TO SHIFT TOWARDS THOSE SOURCE HE
OF FOSSIL FUELS AND ENERGY, WE
BECOME LESS DEPENDENT ON WHAT A
DECADE AGO WERE THE TRADITION
WAYS TO EXPLORE IT.
I DON'T THINK THE COUNTRY'S
INDEPENDENCE IS NECESSARILY
CONTINGENT ON WHETHER WE DRILL
IN THE BLACKWATER FOREST.
THAT SAID, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE
VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT WE DO
PARTICULARLY AS THE ENERGY
MARKETS CONTINUE TO ALTER AND
CHANGE.
I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED THAT
AMERICA IS GOING TO BE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPLORATION
NATIONWIDE, THAT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZE
THE BENEFIT OF THAT SHALE OIL AS
WE CONVERT I THINK MORE OF OUR
USE TO NATURAL GAS.
RECENT PROJECTIONS INDICATE THAT
AMERICA COULD BECOME THE NUMBER
ONE PRODUCER OF ENERGY ON THE
PLANET WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD
OF TIME AND THAT BODES WELL FOR
THE COUNTRY.
>> IT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR THE
NATION AS A WHOLE.
I WANT TO GET TO MORE VIEWER
QUESTIONS HERE IF I CAN.
ONE ASK IS THERE ANY PROPOSAL OR
POLICY OF THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION IN WHICH YOU
AGREE?
>> I DON'T THINK HE SIGNED FOR
RESIGNATION, HAS HE?
>> NO, I THINK IN ALL FAIRNESS,
THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION THAT ARTICULATE A
VERY FAVORABLE POSITION ON
SCHOOL CHOICE AND ON RISING
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
IT IS ACTUALLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE
LEFT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
THAT HAVE STARTED THE PARENT
TRIGGER MOVEMENT WHICH SAYS THAT
IF YOU HAVE A FAILING SCHOOL,
RATHER THAN LETTING THE
BUREAUCRATS AT THE COUNTY OFFICE
DECIDE, RATHER THAN LETTING THE
POLITICIANS IN TALLAHASSEE
DECIDE, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE
PARENTS IN THE SCHOOL TAKE A
VOTE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY
WANT TO CONVERT TO A CHARTER
SCHOOL OR IF THEY DON'T WANT TO
CONVERT TO A CHARTER SCHOOL,
WHAT MANAGEMENT CHANGES WOULD
NEED TO HAPPEN SO THAT THE
EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT DELIVERED TO
THE CHILDREN WOULD IMPROVE.
THAT WASN'T AN IDEA THAT CAME
FROM REPUBLICANS.
IT WAS AN IDEA THAT CAME FROM
PRESIDENT OBAMA.
IT'S BEEN ENDORSED BY GOVERNOR
JEB BUSH WHO WE ALL LOOK UP TO,
AN AREA WHERE WE HAVE COMMON
GROUND AND WE CAN START LOOKING
AT EDUCATION AS NOT JUST A
GOVERNMENT MONOPOLY, NOT WHERE
PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT MAKE THE
DECISION BUT YOU CAN GO IN AND
POWER PARENTS.
MY DAD SERVED AS A SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENT.
ONE THING HE LEARNED WAS IF YOU
EVER ARE GOING TO TURN A SCHOOL
AROUND, IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT
STAKEHOLDERS, THE PARENTS WHO
TRUST THEIR SCHOOL TO EDUCATE
THEIR CHILD.
>> ANY OF YOU LIKE TO ADD TO
THAT?
>> I THINK HE BELIEVES
PERSONALLY IN MARRIAGE AND
COMMITMENT TO HIS CHILDREN.
I AM CONFUSED ABOUT HIS SOCIAL
ISSUES BUT THAT'S SOMETHING HE
WILL HAVE TO FACE WITH HIS
MAKER.
I AM -- I BELIEVE THAT HE'S A
GREAT COMMUNICATOR.
HE PROVED THAT DURING THE
REELECTION BUT THERE ARE MANY,
MANY ISSUES THAT HE HAS THAT
DISTURBS NOT ONLY FLORIDA BUT
MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE CORE
VALUES THAT WE'VE ALWAYS
CONSIDERED TO BE IMPORTANT.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
LET ME MOVE ON AND I'M GOING TO
KIND OF COMBINE SOME OF THIS
BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME VIEWERS
E-MAILING AND CALLING IN.
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT ETHICS
REFORM.
WHAT WILL BE DONE ALONG THAT
LINE IN THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION?
>> TALK ABOUT YOU KNOW SOME OF
THE THINGS TALKED ABOUT HAVE TO
DO WITH THE COMMITTEE TO WHICH
ARE SOMETIMES HAVE BEEN ACCUSED
OF BECOMING SLUSH FUNDS FOR
POLITICIANS, THE PROPOSAL IS TO
ELIMINATE THOSE AND THEN
INCREASE THE ABILITY TO
CONTRIBUTE FROM 500 TO $10,000,
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD
NUMBER OR NOT AND THAT WILL ALL
BE VETTED DURING THE COMMITTEE
PROCESS.
BUT THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE TWO
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON
THE MOST.
ALSO THE ABILITY FOR SOMEONE
ONCE THEY LEAVE OFFICE TO LOBBY
A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE OR
ANOTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT TO
TWEAK SOME OF THAT.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS IS
RIGHT NOW.
I THINK ON THE ETHICS REFORM
IT'S OBVIOUSLY A PRIORITY OF
SENATE PRESIDENT GAETZ AND
SPEAKER WILL WEATHERFORD IN THE
HOUSE, I THINK THOSE ARE THE
FOCUS OF THE BILLS WE'LL SEE
LATER ON.
>> ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
>> ALSO I WANT FOLKS TO ROIFS, REALIZE
WE ARE A CITIZENS' LEGISLATURE
AND WE ALL HAVE OTHER JOBS.
AND WHEN I GO TO VOTE ON
AGRICULTURAL ISSUES, I'M A
FARMER.
I KNOW MORE ABOUT AGRICULTURAL
ISSUES THAN DR. RENUART IN THE
HOUSE.
BUT I'M NO EXPERT ON MEDICAL
ISSUES.
SO SHOULDN'T HE SERVE ON THE
MEDICAL COMMITTEE?
SHOULDN'T I SERVE ON, LIKE,
AGRICULTURE?
SO YOU KNOW, HOW FAR DO YOU WANT
ETHICAL CHANGE TO GO?
YOU KNOW BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS
HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT YOU KNOW WE
PASS BILLS FOR OUR OWN SELF-GAIN
OR WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW, TO ME, THE 1% RULE IS
WHAT JUDGES IT.
IF THERE'S OVER -- IF I PASS A
BILL, FOR A STRAWBERRY, YOU-PICK
STRAWBERRY FARM, IF THERE'S OVER
100 YOU-PICK STRAWBERRY FARMS I
DON'T SEE HOW I GAIN ANYTHING
PERSONALLY FOR IT.
AND I FEEL LIKE SO MANY TIMES
FOLKS FORGET THE FACT THAT WE
ARE EXPERTS FROM THE JOBS THAT
WE HAVE, OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, AND WE SHOULD BE
ALLOWED TO USE THAT EXPERTISE
THAT WE HAVE GAINED IN ORDER TO
ASSIST.
AND THEN TRY TO USE A LITTLE
COMMON SENSE WHEN WE'RE WORKING
ON THESE ISSUES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
VOTING IS SOMETHING THAT HAS
BEEN IN THE NEWS HERE LATELY,
THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT IT IN
STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS THIS
PAST WEEK.
FLORIDA HAPPENED TO BE KIND OF
THE -- AGAIN FOCUSING ON THE
LAST ELECTION HAVING SOME
ISSUES, LONG VOATER LINES, SO
ON -- VOTER LINES, SO ON SO
FORTH.
ONE VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW, DO YOU
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE LONGER VOTING
DAYS NEAR THE ELECTION?
>> I SUPPORT IT AND I EXPECT THE
LEGISLATURE WILL PASS A PACKAGE,
THAT GIVES PEOPLE MORE ACCESS TO
THE BALLOT.
IT'S REALLY A FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTION ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT.
IF WE EVER APPEAR TO BE A
GOVERNMENT THAT'S TRYING TO
SUPPRESS THE VOTE OR LIMIT
PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO THE BALLOT
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ERODES
EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO BECAUSE
PEOPLE DON'T TRUST US AND THINK
WE'RE LOOKING OUT FOR OURSELVES.
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE EARLY
VOTING PRACTICES.
>> ALONG WITH THAT, THE THING
THAT I FEEL LIKE, YOU'VE GOT
CERTAIN COUNTIES, IF WE MANDATE
THAT YOU MUST HAVE TEN
EARLY-VOTING DAYS, LIKE FRANKLIN
COUNTY, THOSE FOLKS IN FRANKLIN
COUNTY COULD VOTE 100 TIMES
APIECE, IN A TEN-DAY PERIOD.
>> SOME OF THEM WOULD WISH THEY
WOULD.
>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND.
BUT IT'S JUST A SMALL COUNTY.
SO I THINK A LOT OF THAT NEEDS
TO BE LEFT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TO
DETERMINE WHAT THEIR ABILITIES
ARE.
AND WE SHOULD NOT MANDATE THAT
ALL COUNTIES HAVE A TEN-DAY
VOTING CYCLE.
>> WE HAVE GOT PROBABLY AROUND
SIX MINUTES LEFT IN THIS
PROGRAM.
AND I WANT TO TRY TO GET AS MANY
VIEWER QUESTIONS ON AS I
POSSIBLY CAN.
SO I WANT TO HIT YOU GUYS WITH
ROCKET-FIRE HERE.
ARE YOU IN SUPPORT OF THE IDEA
OF CASINOS IN FLORIDA?
>> NO.
>> NO.
WE HAVE CASINOS IN FLORIDA NOW.
WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO
BULLDOZE THEM.
THE QUESTION IS HOW TO HAVE A
POLICY THAT ENSURES THE GREATEST
RETURN FOR FLORIDIANS WITHOUT
HAVING A MARKET THAT IS
UNSAVORY.
>> THE STATE IS THE BIGGEST
GAMBLING INSTITUTE IN THE STATE,
WITH THE FLORIDA LOTTERY,
INTERNET CAFES, WE HAVE DEALT
WITH THEM TO SOME EXTENT BUT
THEY LOOK LIKE INTERNET CA CAFES,
BUT THEY ARE LIKE CASINOS.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH
THEM BECAUSE THEY STILL CONTINUE
TO OPERATE IN THE STATE AND THEN
IT'S LIKE CASINO BUT THE WORST
PARTS OF A CASINO, FEEDING ON
SOMEONE WHO HAS THE LEAST
ABILITY TO BE THERE.
>> HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE.
>> WHY ALTER THE FLORIDA
RETIREMENT SYSTEM, IT'S
FINANCIALLY HEALTHY, THAT COMES
FROM DAN.
>> EVERY MAJOR COMPANY IN THE
WORLD HAS.
SO IT ONLY DEMONSTRATES AN
ALMOST KNEE AN DER THO NEANDERTOL DEVICE.
MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE TO
ENSURE THAT THERE'S A
SUSTAINABLE MODEL IN THE FUTURE,
NOT JUST NOW.
>> ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO
THAT?
>> I WANT TO ADD ONE THING AND
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE RETIREMENT
SYSTEM BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
DEALS AND WE TALK ABOUT
EDUCATION AND WE TALK ABOUT
BRIGHT FUTURES, WHEN WE HAVE
STUDENTS THAT WE TOLD THAT YOU
STUDY HARD, YOU EARN A BRIGHT
FUTURE, AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE
GOING TO USE THAT FOR YOUR
COLLEGE EDUCATION, AND THEN, WE
TURN AROUND AND WE MAKE IT
SUBJECT TO WHAT THE PARENTS'
FINANCIAL REGARDS ARE, AND WE
ASK ALL THE FINANCIAL QUESTIONS,
FROM THE PARENTS, THAT'S NOT
RIGHT.
WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OUR
CHILDREN, WHEN WE ASK THEM TO
WORK HARD TO DO A GOOD JOB, AND
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BRIGHT
FUTURES?
AND THEN WE TURN AROUND AND FRY
TO TIE IT TO THE PARENT'S
FINANCIAL PACKAGE.
OKAY, I JUST HAD TO ADD THAT.
>> FAIR ENOUGH, FAIR ENOUGH.
WE TALKED ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE
REFORM I THINK, WE ACTUALLY
DIDN'T.
WE TALKED ABOUT VOTERS AND
ETHICS.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT?
>> I THINK I KIND OF TOUCHED
UPON IT.
THE CERTAIN COMMON WISDOM, DO
AWAY WITH CCEs, INCREASE THE
CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AND THEN
MAKE SURE THERE ARE TIGHT
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS SO THAT
YEAH YOU MAY BE ABLE TO TAKE OR
ACCEPT MORE MONEY OR GIVE MORE
MONEY BUT THAT EVERYONE IS
DISCLOSED WHO IT WENT TO AND
WHERE IT GOES AND I THINK THAT'S
IDEAL TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE
DOLLARS, SEIZE WHERE THEY'RE
GOING.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT THREE MINUTES
LEFT.
I WANT TO ASK YOU HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS AND I'M GOING TO GEAR THIS
TOWARDS YOU REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ
BECAUSE YOUR DAD IS THE
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND SO
OFTEN, NORTHWEST FLORIDA IS
CONSIDERED SORT OF THE BLACK
SHEEP SO TO SPEAK OF THE STATE
IN MANY WAYS, WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE
LEFT OUT.
HOW IMPORTANT, I WANT ALL OF YOU
TO COMMENT ON THIS BUT HOW
IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE SENATOR
GAETZ FROM NORTHWEST FLORIDA
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, WHAT
DOES IT MEAN?
>> HE KEEPS REFERRING MY BILLS
TO MULTIPLE COMMITTEES SO MAYBE
I KEEP HITTING HIM UP AT DINNER.
ONLY A FEW MONTHS INTO HIS
PRESIDENCY IS WITHOUT SENATE
PRESIDENT GAETZ, THERE WOULD BE
A TOLL ON THE PENSACOLA BAY
BRIDGE, WITHOUT QUESTION.
THAT ALONE IS A HUGE DIVIDEND.
BUT IT'S MORE THAN TO
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT OR BEING
ABLE TO BRING HOME THE BACON.
WE'RE ABLE TO PROJECT NORTHWEST
FLORIDA'S VALUES TO THE REST OF
THE STATE.
I DON'T THINK WE WOULD TALK
ABOUT ETHICS REFORM UNLESS WE
HAD A NORTHWEST FLORIDIAN IN
CHARGE.
WE KNOW THIS, THE SANCTITY OF
LIFE WILL BE PROTECTED, SANCTITY
OF MARRIAGE.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO TELL THE
NORTHWEST FLORIDA STORY IN A
UNIQUE WAY AND FOLKS WILL BE
LISTENING.
>> I HAVE ABOUT ONE MINUTE.
COMMENTS.
>> SENATOR GAETZ IS ONE OF THE
MOST ARTICULATE BRILLIANT PEOPLE
I'VE MET.
HE'S CONVINCED HIS COLLEAGUES
THAT HE COULD LEAD THIS STATE
AND VERY FORTUNATELY HE'S FROM
THE PANHANDLE.
>> HE'S A GOOD MAN, HE GIVES US
THE ABILITY TO COUNTERBALANCE
THE 40 MEMBER DELEGATIONS WITH
THE FOUR OR FIVE US.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
AS A COLLEAGUE I COULD NOT HAVE
ASKED FOR A BETTER SENATOR TO
HAVE SERVED WITH.
>> THIS IS A WIDE OPEN QUESTION
HERE.
ARE YOU MORE OPTIMISTIC GOING
INTO THIS SESSION THAN YOU HAVE
BEEN IN THE PAST?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
LOOKS LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO
HAVE A DEFICIT.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN
THERE THAT WE'VE NOT HAD A
DEFICIT.
BUT WE'VE PROVED LIKE MANY OF
THE CITIZENS HAD A WE CAN LIVE
WITHIN OUR MEANS.
>> GENTLEMEN, IT'S BEEN A
PLEASURE.
THERE ARE FASCINATING THINGS TO
TALK ABOUT AND WE COULD GO ON
FOR ANOTHER HOUR.
SORRY WE COULD NOT GET TO ALL
YOUR QUESTIONS.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR
JOINING US.
OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING THE
NORTHWEST FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE
DELEGATION.
SENATOR EVERS, MATT GAETZ, CLAY
INGRAM.
DOUG BROXTON.
I'M JEFF WEEKS.
HAVE A VERY SAFE AND WONDERFUL
WEEKEND.
GOOD NIGHT.