When Charlie Crist (D. FL) becomes Governor of Florida again, he plans on having a busy first day back to his old job:
http://www.wtsp.com/...
Former Gov. Charlie Crist says he will sign five executive orders on his first day back in office if he's elected in November.
Crist made the announcement Tuesday. He said he would order agencies under his control to require that contractors pay employees at least $10.10 an hour.
He also said he would sign orders banning discrimination against gay and transgender employees at agencies under his control and their contractors, and another to require equal pay for women. - WTSP, 7/29/14
Here's what else Crist is planning on doing the first day back:
http://www.saintpetersblog.com/...
Bring Back Open, Honest, and Transparent Government.
For Floridians to get a fair shot, they need to know their government is working for them – but Rick Scott has done everything he can to keep the press and the public in the dark while he doles out hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts. Governor Crist’s first executive order will reverse Rick Scott’s closed records policies by requiring all communications about official business within his purview to be retained as the law requires; directing his executive agencies to produce public records at the lowest cost possible; and directing the Governor’s Office of Open Government to actually advocate on behalf of the public’s right to know – not to hinder it.
Raise the Minimum Wage for State Contractors.
While Rick Scott opposes raising the minimum wage and has said the idea makes him “cringe,” Crist believes it’s vital for Florida families living paycheck to paycheck. On his first day, he’ll sign an EO raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour for contractors doing business with the state agencies that report to him.
Fight for Equal Pay.
Women in Florida are paid 83 cents on the dollar compared to their male colleagues – that’s not only unfair, it makes life harder for families that need both paychecks just to get by. That’s why Charlie will sign an EO to help end wage discrimination for companies doing business with the agencies he oversees.
Ensure Florida Dollars Go to Florida Businesses and Florida residents.
Crist believes that contracts funded by our own tax dollars should go to Florida companies and Florida residents. He’ll sign an order directing agencies to, whenever possible and legal, keep our business in-state, and instructing contractors to make every attempt to hire Florida workers.
Prevent Discrimination Against LGBT workers.
There are no laws that explicitly prevent discrimination against LGBT employees. On his first day, Crist will sign an EO that will prohibit any form of discrimination within his state agencies or their contractors on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. - Saint Peters Blog, 7/29/14
Some big plans are in store when Crist wins. By the way, mark your calendars because Crist is going to be debating Governor Rick Scott (R. FL) soon:
http://www.naplesnews.com/...
Gov. Rick Scott will participate in three debates this fall, regardless of his Democratic opponent.
The Scott campaign announced Tuesday he would participate in debates and urged the Democratic hopefuls to agree to the debates now so planning and scheduling can take place before the August primary.
Scott will participate in the following debates:
Oct. 10, WSCV Telemundo 51, location to be announced.
Oct. 15, Leadership Florida, Broward College.
Oct. 21, CNN, location to be announced. - Naples Daily News, 7/29/14
But this just sucks:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/...
A state law allowing elected officials to set up blind trusts does not violate the Florida Constitution's open-government requirements, a Leon County judge has ruled, clearing the way for Gov. Rick Scott to continue to shield his assets from the public and himself.
The lawsuit, brought by a former chief of staff to the late Democratic Gov. Reubin Askew, challenged whether politicians such as the incumbent Republican governor could stash investments in blind trusts. A blind trust gives someone else the ability to manage investments without a politician's knowledge, which supporters of the law say prevents conflicts of interest.
But critics say the device contradicts constitutional safeguards requiring Florida voters to be made aware of what a public official owns and how it might affect his or her decisions. Scott, who reported a net worth of $132.7 million as of the end of last year, is believed to be the only official using a blind trust.
In a 15-page ruling issued Monday, Circuit Judge John Cooper said the law was constitutional because a public official with a trust is not supposed to know any more than voters about what is in the account. That serves the same purpose as the more-detailed disclosure that candidates have generally used in the past.
"The purpose of disclosing this information is not mere curiosity as to the public official's financial holdings," Cooper wrote. "Rather it allows the public to have the same information as the public official, thus permitting an informed opinion on whether conflicts of interest have or may in the future occur. The concept of a blind trust is that the official knows only what holdings are placed in it. The public also knows this."
Jim Apthorp, who served as Askew's chief of staff, said he was considering taking the case to a higher court.
"I still believe we are on the right side of this issue and will consult with my attorneys about appealing Judge's Cooper's ruling to the 1st District Court of Appeal," he said. "We plan to decide whether to appeal within a few days." - Orlando Sentinel, 7/29/14
And this is just crazy:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/...
A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that a Florida law that discourages physicians from asking patients about guns is constitutional, despite doctor warnings that such questions are vital to their work.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court decision that invalidated the 2011 law, advocated by guns rights groups. The law says that "unless information is relevant to patient's medical care or safety or safety of others, inquiries regarding firearm ownership or possession should not be made." It allows for disciplinary action against doctors who violate it.
"We find that the Act is a legitimate regulation of professional conduct," the appeals court wrote in its 2-1 decision. "The Act simply codifies that good medical care does not require inquiry or record-keeping regarding firearms when unnecessary to a patient’s care."
"It is not a physician's business whether his or her patient chooses to exercise their fundamental, individual right to own a firearm," Chris Cox, president of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement praising the decision.
The American Academy of Pediatrics plan to appeal the three-judge panel's ruling in favor of the Florida law to the full appeals court, Rathore said. But while the legal challenge continues, other states are looking to adopting similar measures. The AAP said in a statement denouncing the decision that 10 other states have introduced a similar bill since Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed it into law in 2011. - TPM, 7/29/14
By the way, Scott should be worried about this and this issue should help Crist since he's on the right side of this issue:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/...
Florida's attempt to become the 24th state to completely legalize medical marijuana is beginning to look inevitable – with a new poll showing support from 88 percent of likely voters.
The level of support is the same as Quinnipiac University Polling Institute's previous poll on the subject, which came out in May. This time, the highest support (95 percent) came from people ages 18 to 29; the lowest (80 percent) came from Republicans.
Amendment 2, which would legalize medical marijuana in the state, needs 60 percent of the vote to pass this November.
The new numbers are significant because two well-funded opposition groups have formed since the May poll -- Don't Let Florida Go to Pot, a campaign from the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Drug Free America Foundation, and Vote No on 2, a project of Drug Free Florida.
While months of campaigning by both sides so far has not appeared to change support, the battle will likely continue heavily until November. - Orlando Sun-Sentinel, 7/29/14
By the way, if you haven't seen this, you should:
We can beat Rick Scott but we have to make sure the base comes out and votes. Click here to donate and get involved with Crist's campaign:
http://www.charliecrist.com/