Florida State Wide
This week, as a member of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, I voted for a comprehensive plan to better combat drug abuse in our country and save lives. Our commission unanimously approved its final report that includes 65 strategic recommendations.
I have been honored to serve on the commission and I want to thank President Donald J. Trump for his leadership on this critical public safety issue—quickly creating this commission and declaring a national public health emergency to help address the opioid crisis. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced four reappointments and six appointments to the Medicaid Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee.
Jennifer Lalani, 56, of Windermere, is a district pharmacy manager for CVS Pharmacy. Lalani received her bachelor of pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. She is reappointed for a term beginning October 17, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Dr. Alan Smith, 67, of Tampa, is the senior medical director for WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Dr. Smith received his doctor of medicine from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He is reappointed for a term beginning October 17, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Dr. James Zenel, 57, of Trinity, is a physician at the James A. Haley VA Hospital. Dr. Zenel received his doctor of medicine from the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is reappointed for a term beginning October 17, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019. Continue reading
By Senator Baxley
Floridians are finally starting to return to life as normal after Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc in our state for almost two weeks. Irma delivered a blow to millions of people throughout the Caribbean and the southeastern United States, leaving many left to piece their lives back together in its wake. Hurricane Irma’s furious march through Florida not only darkened millions of homes, it also flooded roads and piled them with debris, blocking off access to neighborhoods. This has presented more problems for local governments to figure out the best way to clean up and begin recovery efforts. Yet Florida, undoubtedly, has proven its resilience after Irma. Tap water is drinkable. Trash has been picked up. Public transit has slowly come back online. At airports, flights are regularly taking off. We must be grateful for the careful leadership and preparation that Governor Rick Scott and all our elected officials provided before and after the storm. Florida has never seen such widespread effects from a hurricane like this before, and were it not for the tireless efforts of so many, it could have been much worse. Continue reading
I was in Washington D.C. this week as President Donald J. Trump declared a national public health emergency to bolster efforts to combat the opioid epidemic killing Americans. An estimated 142 Americans die every day from opioid use.
I have dedicated my entire career to prosecuting drug traffickers and removing dangerous drugs from our communities—first as a state prosecutor and for the past seven years as your attorney general.
During that time, I have seen the types of drugs sold on our streets become more potent and deadly. Today heroin is often mixed with fentanyl and taking this deadly drug cocktail just one time can prove fatal. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to work with other state agencies, Florida ports, law enforcement and fuel retailers to begin examining ways to increase fuel capacity during emergencies such as hurricanes. FDOT’s report will be submitted in January 2018 and will include recommendations for fuel distribution and availability to consumers.
Governor Scott said, “Today, I am directing FDOT to begin examining ways to increase fuel capacity so we can be sure families and visitors have the resources they need to safely prepare and evacuate during times of emergencies. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to work with other state agencies, Florida ports, law enforcement and fuel retailers to begin examining ways to increase fuel capacity during emergencies such as hurricanes. FDOT’s report will be submitted in January 2018 and will include recommendations for fuel distribution and availability to consumers.
Governor Scott said, “Today, I am directing FDOT to begin examining ways to increase fuel capacity so we can be sure families and visitors have the resources they need to safely prepare and evacuate during times of emergencies. Last month, 6.8 million Floridians evacuated in preparation for Hurricane Irma, the largest evacuation in U.S. history, and we are committed to making sure our state remains fully prepared for any potential disaster. Increasing the availability of fuel for evacuations at Florida gas stations is a top priority and I look forward to reviewing FDOT’s findings.” Continue reading
$1.7 Billion for Florida’s World-Class Beaches, Springs, State Parks, Everglades and Natural Treasures
NAPLES, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that he will propose more than $1.7 billion to protect Florida’s environment as part of his 2018-2019 recommended budget. This $1.7 billion funding for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is a more than $220 million increase over the current year.
The proposed funding will include:
- A historic investment of $55 million for Florida’s springs;
- A historic investment of $100 million for Florida’s beaches;
- A record $355 million for Everglades restoration;
- A record $50 million for Florida’s state parks; and
- $50 million for Florida Forever to help preserve and protect our natural lands
Stopping human trafficking in our state is a top priority of mine, and has been since I became Attorney General. Florida is a zero-tolerance state for this terrible crime that robs victims of their freedoms, and my office and our partners are working diligently to rescue victims and lock up the monsters who traffic them. Just this week, working with local, state and federal partners, we arrested a man charged with recruiting women online and then forcing them into the sex trade.
The facts of this case are appalling. The defendant is charged with preying on women and, in some cases, using violence to force them into sex trafficking—all while depositing large amounts of cash into his bank account. According to the investigation, the defendant recruited victims using online advertisements seeking to hire young women to work as dancers or companions. Victims who answered the ads, in some cases, were forced through violence to perform sex acts to profit the defendant. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Department of Economic Opportunity announced that Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent in September, the lowest rate in more than a decade. As of September, Florida’s unemployment rate had dropped 6.9 percentage points since December 2010, faster than the national decline. Private-sector businesses were severely impacted last month by Hurricane Irma, which resulted in survey data showing a reduction of job numbers solely for the month of September. To help Florida families and business owners quickly recover from this massive storm, Governor Scott has activated multiple disaster-related resources, such as the Disaster Unemployment Program, the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program and the Florida Citrus Emergency Loan Program. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following a request from Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell, Governor Rick Scott today signed Executive Order 17-264 to assist local law enforcement’s response to rallies planned on the University of Florida campus this Thursday. EO 17-264 activates Florida’s Mutual Aid Plan which allows the state and Sheriff Darnell to quickly coordinate resources from other state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies. See the Executive Order HERE.
Governor Scott remains in constant communication with state and local law enforcement and University leadership to ensure that every request to the state is quickly granted to keep the public safe. Continue reading
