Gulf1-E-Ford

The Ford Update for 03/27/09

To see results of pre session survey Click Here

My office staff and I welcome your contact regarding any issue that is important to you.  As always, I consider it a pleasure to serve you, and the people of our district.
I also encourage you to visit “Online Sunshine,” the official website of your Florida Legislature.  At http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ you’ll find links to both the Senate and the House websites.  The site also provides links to Florida Statutes and other governmental information and entities.  There is also a link to kid’s pages that are designed to educate young ones about how our state government works.

Weekly Wrap-up

End of Week Update – Week Four
March 27, 2009

This week marked the end of committee meetings in the Florida House. Action this week was focused on moving legislation through the first steps of the legislative process.  Once bills have been through their initial committees, they are moving closer to the House Floor and final passage.  This is always a fast-moving week as each member works to have their bills heard favorably and to listen to other members seek support for their own legislation. 

CHAMBERS DIFFER ON GAMBLING:  As both the House and Senate begin to look towards legislation dealing with the impact of Governor Crist’s decision to sign a gaming compact with the Seminole Indian Tribe- a compact that was later invalidated by the Florida Supreme Court- it is apparent that the two Chambers differ in their approach.  The House’s proposal grants the Seminoles a slot-only agreement and the offer of geographic exclusivity in certain areas of Florida.  This is less than the offer that Governor Crist offered them with blackjack and slots.   The Senate has taken a different approach by looking to offer the Seminoles full Atlantic City-style casinos- not just slots and blackjack, but also other table games like craps and roulette- and lower the legal age limit to gamble from 21 to 18 years old.  The Senate has also indicated they are prepared to place video lottery terminals at other locations throughout the state in an effort to bring in more revenue for the state.  Both Chambers will continue their work on this matter throughout the rest of the Legislative session.

ENDING WELFARE FOR POLITICIANS: Public financing for political campaigns is an outdated practice that has outlived its usefulness and is a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money.  In the presidential elections, then-candidate Obama proved that candidates can raise record amounts of campaign cash without taking a dime of public financing.  It adds insult to injury that Florida taxpayers would be adding to multi-million dollar campaign coffers at a time when they can least afford it.  To end this outdated practice, which has come to be known as “Welfare for Politicians,” House Republicans supported House Joint Resolution (HJR) 81 this week. If passed, the measure would end public financing of political campaigns and save Florida taxpayers millions of dollars.  In 2006, Florida taxpayers gave over $11 million to statewide politicians to spend on their political campaigns.

IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR STUDENTS: On Wednesday, House Republicans reaffirmed their commitment to helping parents and students save money for higher education. It is unfair and costly that so many parents are already paying for health insurance coverage and their children cannot continue to use that insurance while away at school.  To remedy this situation, House Republicans introduced House Bill 885, known as the Student Health Insurance Protection Act, which requires universities to become an in-network provider with at least five major health insurance companies and managed care plans in Florida.  This measure will lower the cost of services, such as office visits, for students seeking medical attention on campus.  Parents also win with this forward-looking proposal by saving on their children’s fees for services provided by the university. If passed, the bill will provide parents with an incentive to maintain coverage for their dependent children and prevent the number of uninsured students in Florida from increasing.

ENDING THE MARRIAGE PENALTY: Under a common-sense bill headed for the House floor, the playing field will be leveled for newlyweds wishing to add a spouse’s name to a property deed.  Under the current law, a document tax must be paid by a property owner if they marry and wish to add their spouse’s name to the property deed.   In an unfair twist, divorced spouses who remove their ex-spouses name from the property deed are not charged a document tax.  As a tax fairness issue, I expect that House Bill 237 will have broad support.

BUDGET PROCESS TO BEGIN MOVING NEXT WEEK: Next week we will see the budget process begin as budget committees meet to make their first budget proposals.  Throughout the session House members have been reviewing the budget line-by-line to find ways to have the state spend more efficiently and effectively.  We have also examined the budget to make sure that state agencies are focused on the core missions of government.  Facing a multi-billion dollar shortfall, these reviews should serve House members well as we look for ways to meet our constitutional mandate to balance Florida’s budget.
 
Suggestions and Public Appearances

I and my staff use the newsletter as a cost-effective tool to keep you in touch with what is happening in your State and in your Florida Legislature.  We welcome all suggestions and comments.  Do not hesitate to contact my District Office to let us know of issues you are concerned about and would like us to address in this newsletter.

As my schedule allows, I am happy to speak at local community events or groups about issues of interest.  My Legislative Assistant, Ray Walker, or my Secretary, Mary Katherine Peebles, will be happy to work with you in making such arrangements. 

Utilizing email as a newsletter distribution tool is a fiscally-responsible means to distribute information to my constituency about what is going on in their Florida Legislature. 
Please feel free to e-mail The Ford Update to your friends and relatives.  Alternatively, please let others know they can be added to my email list by clicking here.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any of your needs or concerns.   My district office is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The address is: 

1804 West Garden St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 595-5550

Emailing me will allow for the most prompt reply to your issue.  Please feel free to email me.

To view my Committee assignments, please visit www.myfloridahouse.gov.  Click on the Representatives tab for an alphabetical listings of all Representatives.  This website provides a multitude of other legislative information including Committee Schedules, Legislative Bill Search Engines, a Kid’s page, End-of-Session Reports, etc.

The Ford Update for 03/13/09

My office staff and I welcome your contact regarding any issue that is important to you.  As always, I consider it a pleasure to serve you, and the people of our district.

I also encourage you to visit “Online Sunshine,” the official website of your Florida Legislature.  At http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ you’ll find links to both the Senate and the House websites.  The site also provides links to Florida Statutes and other governmental information and entities.  There is also a link to kid’s pages that are designed to educate young ones about how our state government works.

Weekly Wrap-up 2009 Session- Week 2

We expect a sobering economic forecast from the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference, fittingly on Friday the 13th.  In this light, my House colleagues are more committed than ever to rolling up our sleeves and continuing to work hard on crafting a responsible budget that reflects Florida’s economic realities without raising taxes on Florida’s families.  We understand that it is bad economic policy to raise taxes during a recessionary period.  Just as important, your elected representatives have an obligation to clean up government’s house before they ask any more from any Floridian’s house. 

STATE BUDGET: The Revenue Estimating Conference is meeting on Friday to release their revenue projection for the current and coming fiscal years.  It comes as no surprise to Floridians that state economists are likely to note that the state’s fiscal situation has slipped and the state budget is expected to face a shortfall this coming year.    The practical impact for Legislators is that the state’s budget deficit for the coming year is expected to grow in excess of $6 billion.  Because of the continued decline in revenues, the Governor’s original budget proposal- based off of previous revenue estimates that are now out of date- is now billions of dollars out of balance and is no longer a viable option for consideration by the Legislature. The best way to improve the state’s budget outlook is to help improve the budgets of Florida’s families.   To that end, House Republicans will continue to focus on our top priority – revitalizing Florida’s economy and helping create jobs for Floridians.

PROTECTION OF WORKERS RIGHTS: This week, the Governmental Affairs Policy Committee passed House Joint Resolution (HJR) 1013, a constitutional amendment to protect Floridians’ right to a secret ballot.  With politicians in Washington trying to deny workers the right to a secret ballot, we are working to make sure that Floridians’ rights are protected.  This pro-worker protection proposal is designed to help voters remain free of fear of intimidation and retribution in the election process.  Harassment and intimidation is wrong whether it is coming from a union boss or a management boss. With a secret ballot, Florida's workers are the boss. 

PROPERTY TAX REFORM: With Florida’s lagging real estate market lagging and families’ budgets tighter than ever, recharging our state’s real estate market and helping Floridians keep more of their hard earned dollars is a top priority for House Republicans.  Wednesday saw several measures passed out of their respective committees, each of which is an important step to reducing the glut of unsold properties across the state and providing tax relief to Floridians.  This legislation will provide additional homestead exemptions for first-time property owners, cap all property taxes at 1.35% of total assessed valued, make it easier for property owners to challenge their assessments and limit assessment increases to 5 % for non-homestead property.  They continue to move forward in the legislative process and we are hopeful that property tax relief can be passed this year.

GIVING PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS NEEDED FLEXIBILITY: In 2002, 52% of Florida voters approved an amendment to the Florida constitution to reduce class size. Florida students have benefitted from smaller classrooms and test scores improved.  But if we’re going to continue to make small class sizes a priority, we must implement a common-sense fix so our students continue to have the benefit of smaller classes while giving our principals and teachers the flexibility they need to keep Florida’s education focus where it belongs: classroom learning.   To address this issue, Rep. Will Weatherford (R- Wesley Chapel) is sponsoring House Joint Resolution 919 to give voters the opportunity to support this common-sense revision that will keep class sizes small in Florida while providing flexibility to avoid disruptions with mid-year moves and transfers affecting entire classes as students are shuffled around to meet the impending requirements. School board and school superintendents associations are supportive of this measure, along with representatives of Florida’s principals and school administrators.
 
KIDNEY FAILURE MEDICAL COVERAGE: Former Miami Heat basketball star Alonzo Mourning visited the Capitol on Tuesday to promote legislation that would assist patients with kidney failure gain access to the health care coverage they need.  House Bill 675, sponsored Rep. Ritch Workman (R-Melbourne), would enable patients under 65 to buy Medigap coverage assistance instead of expensive out of pocket payments for treatments not covered by existing government health care programs. If House Bill 675 is signed into law, End Stage Renal Disease patients will be able to purchase private health insurance to cover the costs of treatment thereby saving these individuals from financial ruin.  In addition, this legislation will keep approximately 2,000 people out of the state’s Medicaid system.  Mourning has first-hand experience in this matter - he saw his pro basketball career endangered by kidney failure.

FIGHTING CHILDHOOD OBESITY: It is estimated that 25% of American children are obese and the incidence of numerous chronic illnesses is rising as the trend toward obesity continues.  To consider options on how to address this health crisis, the Health and Family Services Council met jointly with the Education Policy Council to conduct a workshop on childhood obesity.  Council members heard from several speakers who described innovative community-based programs focused on addressing childhood obesity. Olympic swimming gold medalist Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a member of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, also participated.

Article on HB 745 as it appeared this week

Bill would study extending pre-paid program to the developmentally disabled

Posted 3/11/2009 2:31 PM EDT 
When Michele Poole's granddaughters were 2 years old, she signed on of the fraternal twins up for Florida's pre-paid college program.

Now 15, granddaughter Michele's fraternal twin, Gabbi, has different needs. But their grandmother wants to extend to Gabbi -- wheel-chair bound, developmentally disabled and in need of round-the-clock care -- the same opportunity for advancement that the pre-paid college plan affords. The pre-paid plan Poole envisions would cover Gabbi's vocational and therapeutic needs after she completes her charter-school exceptional-student education.

Sen. Thad Altman, a Melbourne Republican, and Rep. Clay Ford, R-Gulf Breeze, have bills to pursue the idea. House and Senate versions of the proposals would set up a study group on pre-paid services for children with developmental disabilities. Both moved through their first committees this week.

Poole testified before a Senate committee Wednesday, telling lawmakers that the private special-needs trust she and her husband established is not a perfect option as it depends on the Pooles' deaths to pay out.   Poole, from Lake Worth, has taken care of her grandchildren since they were 3 months old. She and her husband are their adoptive parents.

At a time when Medicaid budget cuts reduce services for the developmentally disabled, Poole said a pre-paid plan to cover training and vocational pursuits would be helpful. There are more than 18,000 on a waiting list for the vocational and therapy waiver services funded by the state's Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

"Many parents find themselves on a on a long waitlist for Medicaid Waiver services," Ford said. "This legislation looks to find a way to give these parents help in obtaining services."

Altman and Ford's bills would require a report to the Legislature on the feasibility of the pre-paid idea by Jan. 29.
--Paul Flemming

Suggestions and Public Appearances

I and my staff use the newsletter as a cost-effective tool to keep you in touch with what is happening in your State and in your Florida Legislature.  We welcome all suggestions and comments.  Do not hesitate to contact my District Office to let us know of issues you are concerned about and would like us to address in this newsletter.

As my schedule allows, I am happy to speak at local community events or groups about issues of interest.  My Legislative Assistant, Ray Walker, or my Secretary, Mary Katherine Peebles, will be happy to work with you in making such arrangements. 

Utilizing email as a newsletter distribution tool is a fiscally-responsible means to distribute information to my constituency about what is going on in their Florida Legislature. 

Please feel free to e-mail The Ford Update to your friends and relatives.  Alternatively, please let others know they can be added to my email list by going to www.gulf1.com/ford.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any of your needs or concerns.   My district office is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The address is: 

1804 West Garden St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 595-5550

Emailing me will allow for the most prompt reply to your issue.  Please feel free to email me at: clay.ford@myfloridahouse.gov

To view my Committee assignments, please visit www.myfloridahouse.gov.  Click on the Representatives tab for an alphabetical listings of all Representatives.  This website provides a multitude of other legislative information including Committee Schedules, Legislative Bill Search Engines, a Kid’s page, End-of-Session Reports, etc.

The Ford Update for 03/06/09

My office staff and I welcome your contact regarding any issue that is important to you.  As always, I consider it a pleasure to serve you, and the people of our district.

I also encourage you to visit "Online Sunshine," the official website of your Florida Legislature.  At http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ you'll find links to both the Senate and the House websites.  The site also provides links to Florida Statutes and other governmental information and entities.  There is also a link to kid's pages that are designed to educate young ones about how our state government works.

Weekly Wrap-up

2009 Legislative Session Week 1
 
This week began the 111th Regular Session of the Florida House of Representatives since statehood in 1845 began.  At no time has our state ever faced a broader and more difficult set of challenges, but one issue is clear in my mind:  finding a way to revitalize Florida's economy and help create jobs for Floridians is our most important mission this year.
 
111th REGULAR SESSION OPENS: On Tuesday morning, the House convened with Representative Sandy Adams (R-Oviedo) presiding.  Representative Adams made history by becoming the first woman ever to preside over Opening Day ceremonies.  The first step the House took was to elect Representative Larry Cretul (R-Ocala) as Speaker. Representative Cretul will serve as Speaker through November 2010.  Tuesday evening, the House and Senate came together for the Governor's traditional State of the State address.  During Governor Crist's speech he acknowledged the economic troubles facing Florida and said that while the state of the state is challenged "the determination of our people is strong."

STATE BUDGET: With the state economy struggling, House members are continuing to scrutinize the state budget line-by-line looking for duplication, inefficiencies, and other non-essential activities on which the state could stop spending taxpayer dollars.  We are still early in the budget process, but it is already clear that balancing the budget will be a tough challenge.  Just like Florida's families, we are going to prioritize our spending on core issues like health care, classroom education, and public safety.
 
CUTTING THROUGH RED TAPE AND REDUCING BUREAUCRACY:  Legislation to help create jobs and revitalize Florida's economy by streamlining bureaucracy in Florida's permitting process won unanimous approval from the Governmental Affairs Policy Committee today.  House Bill (HB) 73 by Representative Robert Schenck (R-Spring Hill) eliminates delays for companies attempting to establish businesses in Florida by requiring the Department of Environmental Protection and water management districts to adopt programs that create a 45-day expedited permitting process for businesses identified by a municipality or county as engaging in one of the target industries in Florida.
 
Editorial that appeared in the PNJ on HB 1243
March 4, 2009
Voyeurism law needed

News Journal editorial
We're pleased to see state Rep. Clay Ford sponsoring legislation, to outlaw an ugly form of voyeurism, that common sense says shouldn't be needed - but the law plainly shows is needed.
Last year, a local man managed to dodge more serious charges related to his efforts to use a mirror to look under a woman's skirt at a local store.Because of the way the law is written, the man's lawyer was able to successfully argue that the victim didn't have a "reasonable" expectation of privacy in a public space like a store. That violates the most basic concept of common sense.  But vague or misleading laws just as easily can be used against innocent people as they can to protect guilty ones.
Here's how Ilse Knecht, deputy director of public policy at the National Center for Victims of Crime in Washington, D.C., put it last year when the loophole in the law was being debated: "It seems ridiculous, but we have to really, really be clear in laws about things like that because every single word gets evaluated, and it makes a difference."  And in dismissing the voyeurism charge last year, Escambia County Circuit Court Judge G.J. Roark III made it clear his hands were tied: "As of the moment ... there is no clear prohibition of this reprehensible conduct anywhere in the State of Florida, especially in the section under which the defendant was charged."  So it is important that the law be precise.
Last year, we urged the Legislature to close the loophole, and Ford, R-Gulf Breeze, is working with the State Attorney's Office to craft legislation with the proper wording to ensure that the law - and not just society's moral sense - recognizes this sort of voyeurism is wrong.
 
FORD  SPONSORED LEGISLATION 2009 SESSION
 
In the next few Ford Updates, I will be highlighting the legislation I have sponsored during the upcoming legislative session.  Each Representative can sponsor 6 bills during a legislative session
 
HB 141- Annuity Contracts for Senior Consumers
HB 187- Motor Vehicle Registration Fees
HB 745- Prepaid Services for Children with Development Disabilities
HB 959- Credit Counseling Organizations
HB 1175- Recovery, Towing & Storage of Vehicles & Vessels
HB 1243- Voyeurism
 
HB 959- Credit Counseling Organizations
This legislation, proposed in partnership with the State Attorney
General, will educate consumers on their rights when they are signing a credit-counseling contract and will include further protections for Floridians who face mounting credit card bills. 
 
Key provisions of the legislation include:
-A five-day right of cancellation period that allows the consumer to cancel the agreement with the credit-counseling company. For those that do cancel, the company must refund the consumer's money within 10 business days.
-Prohibits a company from charging a consumer prior to the execution of a written service contract.
-Limits the initial set-up fee for consultation to $50.00.
-Requires that the credit counseling contract include in large bold font notification to consumer of a right of cancellation on the contract, a recommendation that the consumer contact their creditor prior to the signing of the agreement, and that the agreement informs the
consumer that the credit counseling company may not: prohibit the consumer from contacting their creditor, exclude any material fact in the offer of sale of their services, engage in fraudulent or deceptive practices in the connection or offer of sale of their services.
-Provides definitions of such terms as "Credit Counseling
Organization", "Credit Counseling Services", and "Debt Management Services".
-Requires Credit Counseling Organizations to register with the Office of Financial Regulation ($500.00) and maintain and provide a surety bond.
Makes all violations of this act an unfair and deceptive trade practice and are subject to the penalties included in Part II of Chapter 501, Florida Statutes (civil); the violation may also be punishable by a third-degree felony.
 
Suggestions and Public Appearances

I and my staff use the newsletter as a cost-effective tool to keep you in touch with what is happening in your State and in your Florida Legislature.  We welcome all suggestions and comments.  Do not hesitate to contact my District Office to let us know of issues you are concerned about and would like us to address in this newsletter.
As my schedule allows, I am happy to speak at local community events or groups about issues of interest.  My Legislative Assistant, Ray Walker, or my Secretary, Mary Katherine Peebles, will be happy to work with you in making such arrangements. 

Utilizing email as a newsletter distribution tool is a fiscally-responsible means to distribute information to my constituency about what is going on in their Florida Legislature. 
Please feel free to e-mail The Ford Update to your friends and relatives.  Alternatively, please let others know they can be added to my email list by going to www.gulf1.com/ford.
As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any of your needs or concerns.   My district office is open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The address is: 

1804 West Garden St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 595-5550

Emailing me will allow for the most prompt reply to your issue.