Dave Trecker
Committee Chair

The 2020 legislative session is now history, and Florida has a record-setting $92.2 billion budget in place for fiscal 2020-21.

The coronavirus didn’t influence much of the lawmaking, but it did influence the budget, as Governor DeSantis struggled to provide needed funding while taking into account revenue shortfalls caused by the pandemic.

The 2020 legislature passed over 200 bills and, at this writing, the governor has signed 177 of them. As always, much of the legislation was directed to local matters and non-controversial issues. But many of the bills had far-reaching implications. Here is one person’s list (with my own prejudices) of some of the most consequential, both good and bad.

HB 1005 gives local officials additional means of processing election recounts through use of independent auditing systems, a needed reform.

HB 641 paves the way for raising teachers’ pay, a DeSantis priority.

HB 7067 increases eligibility for private-school scholarships, a huge win for school choice. This opens the door to what the Wall Street Journal calls “the biggest private-school voucher expansion in U.S. history.”

SB 172 transfers regulation of all over-the-counter drugs and cosmetics to the state, a stunning blow to home rule prompted by concerns over restricting sunscreen sales.

HB 1339 requires local government to provide incentives to offset certain costs for building affordable housing – legislation some say is a gift to developers and another blow to home rule.

SB 646 allows college athletes to make money from endorsement deals, making Florida the third state to allow collegians to do so.

SB 664 requires employers to use E-Verify or other federal citizenship verification, with exemptions for construction and farm workers. This watered-down bill does little to bar undocumented migrants.

HB 969 authorizes expanded broadband access in rural areas, a move applauded for increasing internet services and spurring economic growth.

SB 404 requires a physician to have parental consent before performing an abortion on a minor (under 18 years of age). This is an explosive social issue, likely headed to the courts.

SB 712 is an omnibus water-quality bill, the most far-reaching in decades. Among other things, it triggers rulemaking for septic tanks, mandates farmers to keep track of fertilizer use and calls for state inspection of farms every two years.

High-profile legislation that didn’t make the cut includes gun control, vacation rentals, CBD regulation, mental health and fracking.

Passing bills is one part of the process. The other part is funding. You need money to make things happen. And $92.2 billion is a lot of taxpayer money. There is every reason to believe it will be spent wisely.

Governor DeSantis kept his promise to boost education and the environment by keeping intact $500 million for teacher raises and $625 for water projects. Another $100 million was allocated for purchasing conservation land. State employees got a long-awaited 3% wage increase. A particularly good move was increasing the reserve to $6.3 billion, a buffer against troubles ahead.

Some of those troubles are already here. To offset plunging revenues caused by the pandemic, the governor trimmed $1 billion from the original $93.2 billion budget. The cuts mostly affected local projects – roads, water treatment, the arts. Affordable housing took a hit, as did capital outlays for state schools. The Naples area saw over $2 million in state funding disappear.

And it may not be over. A continuing drop in revenues could prompt further cuts in state and local programs.

It’s been a rough year for Governor DeSantis and our legislators, but they’ve done a terrific job in difficult times. We owe them our thanks.

Dave Trecker
7/10/20

Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Crystal K. Kinzel has been selected by her fellow Clerks to represent their District 7 caucus on the statewide Florida Court Clerk and Comptroller Legislative Committee. With over six million people, District 7 encompasses the ten counties of south Florida: Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach.

It is the responsibility of the Legislative Committee to develop and promote state legislation that is in concert with the duties and responsibilities of Florida’s Court Clerks and Comptrollers. Additionally, the Legislative Committee monitors proposed legislation that might present either a negative or a positive impact on Clerk functions and, in response, develop an appropriate agenda. Clerk Kinzel’s term on the Legislative Committee begins on July 1, 2020.

“It is an honor to be selected by my colleagues to serve on this important committee, and I look forward to advocating for legislation that will enhance the services that we provide to our citizens and taxpayers,” said Collier Clerk Crystal Kinzel. “There are several needs and budgetary challenges that are unique to Florida Clerks and I’m prepared to work together with committee members to champion priorities that will successfully address those needs and challenges.”

The Florida Constitution, which has been the supreme law of the land in Florida for more than 180 years, established the Clerk & Comptroller as an elected public trustee in 1838. Clerks in Florida perform over 1000 different constitutional and statutory functions including record keeping, information management and financial management in the judicial system and county government.

Kinzel joined the Collier County Clerk’s Office in 2005 as the Director of Finance and Internal Audit and was appointed by Dwight Brock as Chief Deputy in 2016. After Mr. Brock’s untimely death in 2018, Governor Rick Scott named Kinzel the Interim Clerk, and in August 2018, the citizens of Collier County elected her Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.

For more information, contact Mike Sheffield, Director of Community Relations and Outreach at Mike.Sheffield@CollierClerk.com or (239) 252-6879.

Jan Face Glassman Collier County Republican State Committeewoman

In the middle of my morning 5-mile walk, I met someone whom I have not seen since the start of the pandemic. He happens to be registered as an NPA (No PoliticalAffiliation).

He said to me ‘I have looked forward to seeing you and talking about the pandemic, all that is going on, the November election and President Trump.’

He respectfully placed the emphasis on the word President, then smiled, and said ‘See, I remembered what you told me!’

We both shared the moment of a positive lesson learned and then talked about the difficult job of leading the Country or a state through these unchartered waters. We also talked about living through the polio epidemic when we were in elementary school, our parents’ fears for us then, and the difficult time ahead for all our elected officials waiting for a vaccine and then the potential issues with a vaccine.

While this person is still undecided for whom he will vote in November, he recognizes the importance of respect for the office of the President, and for any office held by an elected official, based on a conversation he and I had 5 years ago during the Presidential Primary.

About 10 years ago, I had the privilege of meeting and having coffee with the former White House Pastry Chef who served under 5 Presidents. He grew up in France, moved here, and is extremely proud to have become a U.S. Citizen. It was from him that I fully internalized the concept of respect for the office that is due the officeholder . He had served under Presidents of both Parties. He was clear that he disapproved of anyone saying ‘Bush,’ ‘Clinton,’ or calling any President by his last name only. It is Mr. President, or President Bush or President Clinton.

We are all accustomed to campaign slogans of ‘Women for Trump’ or ‘Trump for President’. We hear supporters frequently saying ‘Trump this’ or ‘Trump that, ‘ but in a supportive and affirming manner. However, when I hear someone saying ‘Trump did such and such’ in a derogatory tone, I stop them and say politely ‘Excuse me, it’s President Trump.

While you may disagree with him. He is the President and is due the respect of being referred to as such. The office of the President is representative of every American Citizen. When you disrespect that office by merely calling him ‘Trump,’ you are not only being disrespectful of him but of every American citizen.

I would appreciate your referring to him as President Trump.’ About 90% of the time, I have found the message works. When it doesn’t, I just reinforce the next time, politely.

I suggest that you try this with those who upset you with their anti-Trump talk. Bullying never works, it just creates a wider-divide. Be reasonable and respectful. The more people say “President Trump,’ the more they will internalize that he is the President and that he should continue to be the President!

PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, WE DON ‘T HAVE IT SO BAD! THE RECENT GENERATION HAVE NEVER ENDURED ANY HARDSHIPS.

HOPE IT’S A CHARACTER BUILDING EXPERIENCE, PASS IT ON TO YOUR KIDS.

Maybe we don’t have it that bad? Excellent perspective for anyone born
in 1900…..

It’s a mess out there now. Hard to discern between what’s a real threat and what is just simple panic and hysteria. For a small amount of perspective at this moment, imagine you were born in 1900.

On your 14th birthday, World War I starts, and ends on your 18th birthday. 22 million people perish in that war. Later in the year, a Spanish Flu epidemic hits the planet and runs until your 20th
birthday. 50 million people die from it in those two years. Yes, 50 million.

On your 29th birthday, the Great Depression begins. Unemployment hits 25%, the World GDP drops 27%. That runs until you are 33. The country nearly collapses along with the world economy.

When you turn 39, World War II starts. You aren’t even over the hill yet. And don’t try to catch your breath. On your 41st birthday, the United States is fully pulled into WWII. Between your 39th and 45th birthday, 75 million people perish in the war.

Smallpox was epidemic until you were in your 40’s, as it killed 300 million people during your lifetime.

At 50, the Korean War starts. 5 million perish. From your birth, until you are 55 you dealt with the fear of Polio epidemics each summer. You experience friends and family contracting polio and being paralyzed and/or die.

At 55 the Vietnam War begins and doesn’t end for 20 years. 4 million people perish in that conflict. During the Cold War, you lived each day with the fear of nuclear annihilation. On your 62nd birthday you have the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tipping point in the Cold War. Life on our planet, as we know it, almost ended. When you turn 75, the Vietnam War finally ends.

Think of everyone on the planet born in 1900. How did they endure all of that?

When you were a kid in 1985 and didn’t think your 85-year-old grandparent understood how hard school was. And how mean that kid in your class was. Yet they survived through everything listed above.

Perspective is an amazing art. Refined and enlightening as time goes on. Let’s try and keep things in perspective. Your parents and/or grandparents were called to endure all of the above – you are called to stay home and sit on your couch, tutor your kids, watch with your TV, go on your computer and (Dick Tracy) cell phone.

SO PLEASE…NO MORE WHINING!