DOUG DUCEY

Social Media

Doug Ducey: “Looking Forward To Working With The Arizona Republican Party & Chairman Robert Graham To Ensure We Elect A Republican To The White House!” [Governor Doug Ducey Facebook, 4/30/16<https://www.facebook.com/dougducey/posts/896501700471736>]

Doug Ducey: “Thanks To Debbie Moak & Grand Canyon University For Bringing Together Student Leaders From Across ‪#‎AZ! ‪#‎YLDAZ16” [Governor Doug Ducey Facebook, 4/29/16<https://www.facebook.com/dougducey/posts/895969747191598>]

KidsCare

Arizona Republic’s EJ Montini Criticized Doug Ducey For Failing To Act On KidsCare Even Though “The Federal Government Would Cover 100 Percent Of The Health Care Cost For 30,000 Children Of The Working Poor In Arizona Through 2017, Perhaps Even Through 2019.” “Budgets are difficult. This is easy. The federal government would cover 100 percent of the health care cost for 30,000 children of the working poor in Arizona through 2017, perhaps even through 2019. One-hundred percent All it would take is a simple vote. A legislative check mark. A nod. It’s a no brainer, and it’s not getting done. Legislature has yet to reinstate KidsCare. It’s free. Free. But Senate President Andy Biggs hasn't allow the bill to reinstate the program -- HB2309 -- to come up for a vote.  And Gov. Doug Ducey, who said he placed the highest priority on families and children has said, well, nothing.” [EJ Montini Column, Arizona Republic, 5/2/16]

Prop 123

‪Doug Ducey: “Prop123 Puts $3.5 Billion Into K-12 Public Schools Over The Next 10 Years Without Raising Taxes.” ‪“#‎Prop123 puts $3.5 billion into K-12 public schools over the next 10 years without raising taxes. It's a crucial first step to funding our schools and getting teachers and students the resources they need. It's as simple as 1-2-3, vote YES on May 17.” [Governor Doug Ducey Facebook, 4/29/16<https://www.facebook.com/dougducey/posts/895959723859267>]

Doug Ducey: “It's A Crucial First Step To Funding Our Schools And Getting Teachers And Students The Resources They Need.” ‪“#‎Prop123 puts $3.5 billion into K-12 public schools over the next 10 years without raising taxes. It's a crucial first step to funding our schools and getting teachers and students the resources they need. It's as simple as 1-2-3, vote YES on May 17.” [Governor Doug Ducey Facebook, 4/29/16<https://www.facebook.com/dougducey/posts/895959723859267>]

AZ GOP Convention

Associated Press: At The Arizona GOP Convention, Doug Ducey “Called The Past Eight Years ‘The Most Futile In Modern American History’ And Said That It's Time To ‘Put A Republican In The White House And Hillary Clinton In The Big House.’” “Gov. Doug Ducey opened the convention by calling on the party faithful to end Democratic control of the White House. Ducey called the past eight years ‘the most futile in modern American history’ and said that it's time to ‘put a Republican in the White House and Hillary Clinton in the Big House.’” [Associated Press, 5/1/16<http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-05-01/trump-backers-yell-foul-over-loss-at-arizona-gop-convention>]

Substance Abuse

Doug Ducey: “Substance Abuse And Domestic Violence Are Among Our Most Pressing Priorities…These Are Difficult Issues, And Not Everyone Wants To Talk About Them.” “[Ducey] praised the young leaders for tackling tough issues such as bullying, distracted driving, teen dating violence and civics education. He noted that the first bill he proposed was the American Civics Act. ‘Substance abuse and domestic violence are among our most pressing priorities,’ he said. ‘These are difficult issues, and not everyone wants to talk about them.’” [GCU News, 4/29/16<http://news.gcu.edu/2016/04/gov-ducey-praises-arizona-youth-leaders-at-gcu-leadership-event/>]

RICK SCOTT

Social Media

Rick Scott: “On My Way To Tell CA Businesses Why FL Has The Best Business Climate. #FLvsCA.” [@FLGovScott, Twitter, 5/1/16<https://twitter.com/FLGovScott/status/726833678316277760>]

Rick Scott Highlighted A Letter To The Editor From Connecticut About A Resident Planning To Move To Florida For Lower Taxes. “'I Don't Want To Go, But Less-Pricey Florida Keeps Calling' @hartfordcourant.” [@FLGovScott, Twitter, 5/1/16<https://twitter.com/FLGovScott/status/726850053302792200>]

Expert Witnesses

News Service Of Florida: The Florida Supreme Court Was Set To Decide On A 2013 Law Signed By Rick Scott And Supported By Businesses That “Tightened A Standard For Expert Witnesses Who Testify In The State's Courtrooms.” “In a debate that includes major business and legal groups and raises separation-of-powers questions, the Florida Supreme Court will decide whether to reject a controversial 2013 law that tightened a standard for expert witnesses who testify in the state's courtrooms. Arguments have flooded into the Supreme Court since mid-March after The Florida Bar Board of Governors and a key Bar committee recommended that justices reject the standard. While the issue is somewhat esoteric, it is part of a decades-long fight in Tallahassee between business groups and plaintiffs' attorneys about restrictions on lawsuits. Business groups heavily lobbied for the 2013 expert-witness law, arguing that moving to the different standard would reduce ‘junk science’ going before jurors — a contention disputed by plaintiffs' attorneys, who argued that the standard would drive up costs and cause delays in litigation. The Republican-dominated Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott approved moving to the standard, known in the legal world as the ‘Daubert’ standard. But a major part of the debate now focuses on whether only the Supreme Court has the right to set such procedures for the judicial system.” [News Service of Florida, 5/1/16<http://www.ocala.com/article/20160501/WIRE/160509994?Title=Battle-builds-over-expert-witness-law>]

Nuclear Power

Florida Power & Light Was Set To Pass $50 Million On To Its Customers To pay For Clean-Up Of An Underground Salt Water Plume At Its Turkey Point Facility. “At a rare state Senate field hearing, Florida Power & Light defended its operation of the troubled cooling canal system at Turkey Point and its plans to contain the spread of an underground salt water plume. For the first time, the utility also put a price tag on its ongoing clean-up efforts at the nuclear power plant on southern Biscayne Bay — an estimated $50 million this year alone. FPL’s vice president of governmental affairs, Mike Sole, told a standing-room-only crowd at the Friday afternoon meeting in Homestead that the bill for that work would likely be passed along to customers.” [Miami Herald, 5/1/16<http://staugustine.com/news/florida-news/2016-05-01/fpl-customers-likely-will-pay-clean-nuclear-plant#.VydXJfkrLIU>]

Minimum Wage / Trade mission to CA

HEADLINE: “California Leaders: Gov. Rick Scott’s Trip To The State Not Likely To Produce High-Paying Jobs.” [Naples Daily News, 4/30/16<http://www.naplesnews.com/news/politics/california-leaders-gov-rick-scotts-trip-to-the-state-not-likely-to-produce-high-paying-jobs-318fbaac-377634191.html>]

Naples Daily News: “Scott's Trip Starts In Southern California On Sunday And Also Includes Taking Part In A Panel Discussion At The Milken Institute Global Conference In Beverly Hills.” [Naples Daily News, 4/30/16<http://www.naplesnews.com/news/politics/california-leaders-gov-rick-scotts-trip-to-the-state-not-likely-to-produce-high-paying-jobs-318fbaac-377634191.html>]

Rick Scott: “California Is One Of The Worst States For Taxes…We're One Of The Best States For Taxes. We're Heading In The Right Direction And California Is Absolutely Heading In The Wrong Direction.” “California's job recovery is well underway and other states are looking to get in on the action. Florida Gov. Rick Scott has scheduled a business-recruitment trip to California next week and he's ratcheted up the effort by taking out radio ads blasting the Golden State's $15 minimum wage. The Republican governor also is getting personal by taking on the ‘tax and spend administration’ of Jerry Brown, California's Democratic governor. ‘California is one of the worst states for taxes,’ Scott said in a telephone interview. ‘We're one of the best states for taxes. We're heading in the right direction and California is absolutely heading in the wrong direction.’” [CNBC, 4/29/16<http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/29/california-dreamin-why-florida-wants-jobs-from-the-golden-state.html>]

Rick Scott On Trade Missions To Kentucky, Connecticut, And Pennsylvania: “These States That Have Governors Raising Taxes And Regulation And Having An Anti-Business Attitude, It's Just Helping Us To Get More Jobs In Our State.” “Scott, who is in his second term as governor, also has targeted Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Connecticut. Last month, he invited Yale University to move to Florida after Connecticut lawmakers sought to tax profits from the Ivy League school's $25.6 billion endowment. ‘These states that have governors raising taxes and regulation and having an anti-business attitude, it's just helping us to get more jobs in our state,’ Scott said.” [CNBC, 4/29/16<http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/29/california-dreamin-why-florida-wants-jobs-from-the-golden-state.html>]

Rick Scott On Florida Compared To California: “We Operate Our Government More Efficiently. I've Cut 4,200 Regulations Since I Got Elected In 2010. We've Also Streamlined The Permitting Process.” “Under Brown, California has become more aggressive at cutting red tape, and his economic development agency adopted a Lean Six Sigma approach to state regulations and permitting. What that means is the agency trains state officials, regulators, permitting departments and other agencies on how to increase their efficiency rates. Scott isn't buying it. ‘We operate our government more efficiently. I've cut 4,200 regulations since I got elected in 2010. We've also streamlined the permitting process.’ The latest figures show that about 420,800 jobs were added in California in the 12 months ending in March. Florida added 234,300 jobs during the period. Last year, California created nearly 460,000 jobs, or more than Florida and Texas combined.” [CNBC, 4/29/16<http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/29/california-dreamin-why-florida-wants-jobs-from-the-golden-state.html>]

Rick Scott: “If You Look At Job Growth Rate And You Look At Wage Growth Rate, And You Look At Labor Force Rate, We're Beating The National Average And We're Beating California.” “Still, California remains the nation's No. 1 state for manufacturing output, jobs and exports. The state has an estimated 38,000 manufacturing companies. The next closest state is Texas with under 19,000. Scott dismisses the California job-creation figures and contends it's an unfair comparison given California has a population of about 39 million while Florida has about half that number, 20 million people. ‘If you look at job growth rate and you look at wage growth rate, and you look at labor force rate, we're beating the national average and we're beating California.’ He also touted Florida's 15 cargo container seaports and added that the state has ‘four of the fastest-growing ports in the country. It's because we've made big infrastructure investments. Also helping us … California continues to go on strike every so often. And we've got the expansion of the Panama Canal.’” [CNBC, 4/29/16<http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/29/california-dreamin-why-florida-wants-jobs-from-the-golden-state.html>]

CNBC: Contrasting Florida With California, Rick Scott “Touted Florida's 15 Cargo Container Seaports And Added That The State Has ‘Four Of The Fastest-Growing Ports In The Country. It's Because We've Made Big Infrastructure Investments.” “Still, California remains the nation's No. 1 state for manufacturing output, jobs and exports. The state has an estimated 38,000 manufacturing companies. The next closest state is Texas with under 19,000. Scott dismisses the California job-creation figures and contends it's an unfair comparison given California has a population of about 39 million while Florida has about half that number, 20 million people. ‘If you look at job growth rate and you look at wage growth rate, and you look at labor force rate, we're beating the national average and we're beating California.’ He also touted Florida's 15 cargo container seaports and added that the state has ‘four of the fastest-growing ports in the country. It's because we've made big infrastructure investments. Also helping us … California continues to go on strike every so often. And we've got the expansion of the Panama Canal.’” [CNBC, 4/29/16<http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/29/california-dreamin-why-florida-wants-jobs-from-the-golden-state.html>]

CNBC: Dismissing California’s Economic Record, Rick Scott Said “California Continues To Go On Strike Every So Often.” “Still, California remains the nation's No. 1 state for manufacturing output, jobs and exports. The state has an estimated 38,000 manufacturing companies. The next closest state is Texas with under 19,000. Scott dismisses the California job-creation figures and contends it's an unfair comparison given California has a population of about 39 million while Florida has about half that number, 20 million people. ‘If you look at job growth rate and you look at wage growth rate, and you look at labor force rate, we're beating the national average and we're beating California.’ He also touted Florida's 15 cargo container seaports and added that the state has ‘four of the fastest-growing ports in the country. It's because we've made big infrastructure investments. Also helping us … California continues to go on strike every so often. And we've got the expansion of the Panama Canal.’” [CNBC, 4/29/16<http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/29/california-dreamin-why-florida-wants-jobs-from-the-golden-state.html>]

UC Berkeley Economist Michael Reich: Rick Scott’s Claim That California’s $15 Minimum Wage Will Lead To 700,000 Lost Jobs Was “Way Outside The Consensus Of Economists.” “It is not yet clear how raising the wage floor gradually through 2023 will affect employment. American Apparel and other garment manufacturers have indicated that the wage increase may induce them to shift their production out of the L.A. area. Scott’s estimate of 700,000 jobs comes from a study that is not based on data about California, and some economists say that projection is off-base. ‘It’s way outside the consensus of economists,’ says Michael Reich, an economist at UC Berkeley. Reich led a 2015 study on the impact of a $15 minimum wage in Los Angeles, and found that giving people more money to spend would balance out any negative effect of more expensive labor, even after factoring in price increases and automation. That study found no net job loss in the city.” [Los Angeles Times, 5/2/16<http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-florida-gov-jobs-minimum-wage-20160429-story.html>]

Insurance Commissioner

Miami Herald: The Florida Cabinet’s Consensus Pick For State Insurance Commissioner “Switched His Party Affiliation From Being A Democrat To ‘No Party Affiliation’ On March 29, 18 Days After He Applied To Become The Insurance Commissioner.” “On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott and the three other members of the Florida Cabinet settled on Altmaier to be Florida’s new insurance commissioner… Altmaier may have helped his case for the position in March after he first applied. Election records show he switched his party affiliation from being a Democrat to ‘no party affiliation’ on March 29, 18 days after he applied to become the insurance commissioner. All four cabinet members are Republicans.” [Miami Herald, 4/29/16<http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article74762637.html>]

Zika

WGCU: Rick Scott Said He Was “Working With Every County On The Zika Virus.” “Gov. Rick Scott was in Fort Myers on Friday, talking about Zika virus preparations in the state. Zika is linked to deformities in unborn babies. It’s a mosquito-borne virus, but Florida’s more than 90 cases are so far only travel-related. The governor said he’s ready for the possibility of Zika-infected mosquitoes to cross over state lines. Scott said he’s already working with every county on the Zika virus.” [WGCU, 4/29/16<http://news.wgcu.org/post/gov-rick-scott-prepares-florida-zika-infected-mosquitoes>]

Rick Scott On Fighting Zika: “The First Thing We Have To Do, Is Monitor It And Then The Next Thing We Do Is Continue What Like Lee County Does Already With Their Spraying.” “‘We're blessed that the only thing that's happened is travel-related Zika,’ said Scott. ‘But the first thing we have to do, is monitor it and then the next thing we do is continue what like Lee County does already with their spraying. And if you find a case, even if it's travel-related, which the mosquito board is already doing, go in and make sure it doesn’t spread.’” [WGCU, 4/29/16<http://news.wgcu.org/post/gov-rick-scott-prepares-florida-zika-infected-mosquitoes>]

Insurance Hike

Palm Beach Post: “A Four-Year-Old Company That Contributed To Gov. Rick Scott's Committee And Became One Of The State's Five Biggest Property Insurers Wants To Raise Rates In Palm Beach County, And Much Of South Florida, Up To 25 Percent.” “One stunned advocate uses the word ‘skyrocket.’ A four-year-old company that contributed to Gov. Rick Scott's committee and became one of the state's five biggest property insurers wants to raise rates in Palm Beach County, and much of South Florida, up to 25 percent.” [Palm Beach Post, 4/29/16<http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/insurer-and-scott-donor-seeks-up-to-25-rate-hike-i/nrDsN/>]

Palm Beach Post: Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Co. Sought “A 14.9 Percent Average Increase Statewide” Despite The Fact That “The Company’s Reported Claim Losses Through 2015 Have Been Falling, Not Rising, As A Share Of Premiums.” Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Co. has never had a hair ruffled from a Florida hurricane. Yet the company whose growth has come mostly from taking customers of state-run insurer Citizens Property Insurance Corp. seeks a 14.9 percent average increase statewide. Heritage officials have joined an industry chorus expressing concern about rising costs for non-storm claims such as plumbing leaks. Company officials said they did not want to talk about records reviewed by The Palm Beach Post that show the company’s reported claim losses through 2015 have been falling, not rising, as a share of premiums.” [Palm Beach Post, 4/29/16<http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/insurer-and-scott-donor-seeks-up-to-25-rate-hike-i/nrDsN/>]

Palm Beach Post: “More Than 84 Percent Of Its Customers Have Come From State-Facilitated Transfers Of Customers, Such As Citizens Takeout Offers.” “In four years of existence, Clearwater-based Heritage has grown to become one of the state’s five largest insurance companies by customer count with more than 266,000 policies. One trade publication has called it the fastest-growing property insurer in the nation. Its primary engine of growth is not a mystery. More than 84 percent of its customers have come from state-facilitated transfers of customers, such as Citizens takeout offers. Less than 16 percent have been what the industry calls ‘voluntary’ customers who arrive from the open market.” [Palm Beach Post, 4/29/16<http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/insurer-and-scott-donor-seeks-up-to-25-rate-hike-i/nrDsN/>]

Palm Beach Post: “Heritage Won A Narrow 3-2 Citizens Board Vote To Award It Up To $52 Million To Take Citizens Customers Shortly After Heritage Contributed $110,000 To Scott’s Let’s Get To Work Committee.” “A key and controversial deal came in 2013. That’s when Heritage won a narrow 3-2 Citizens board vote to award it up to $52 million to take Citizens customers shortly after Heritage contributed $110,000 to Scott’s Let’s Get to Work committee. Most insurers got no special payments to take customers, and the plan bypassed the normal Citizens committee process. A Scott-appointed Citizens board member made the motion that the deal go forward.” [Palm Beach Post, 4/29/16<http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/insurer-and-scott-donor-seeks-up-to-25-rate-hike-i/nrDsN/>]

Palm Beach Post: Heritage’s Plan To Take Citizens Customers “Bypassed The Normal Citizens Committee Process…[After] A Scott-Appointed Citizens Board Member Made The Motion That The Deal Go Forward.” “A key and controversial deal came in 2013. That’s when Heritage won a narrow 3-2 Citizens board vote to award it up to $52 million to take Citizens customers shortly after Heritage contributed $110,000 to Scott’s Let’s Get to Work committee. Most insurers got no special payments to take customers, and the plan bypassed the normal Citizens committee process. A Scott-appointed Citizens board member made the motion that the deal go forward.” [Palm Beach Post, 4/29/16<http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/insurer-and-scott-donor-seeks-up-to-25-rate-hike-i/nrDsN/>]

Heritage’s Proposed 14.9 Percent Rate Hike Falls Just Under The 15 Percent Threshold To Trigger A Hearing By State Regulators. “Yet the company whose growth has come mostly from taking customers of state-run insurer Citizens Property Insurance Corp. seeks a 14.9 percent average increase statewide. Heritage officials have joined an industry chorus expressing concern about rising costs for non-storm claims such as plumbing leaks…State regulators are not required to hold a hearing on a rate increase under 15 percent — interestingly, 14. 9 percent falls just short — but they have the power to call one, a spokeswoman for the Office of Insurance Regulation said.” [Palm Beach Post, 4/29/16<http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/insurer-and-scott-donor-seeks-up-to-25-rate-hike-i/nrDsN/>]

Palm Beach Post: “Scott Vetoed A Bill That Passed Unanimously Last Year With Consumer Protections That Could Have Made It Easier To Go Back To Citizens Under Certain Conditions — Such As A Sharp Rate Increase From A Private Insurer.” [Palm Beach Post, 4/29/16<http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/insurer-and-scott-donor-seeks-up-to-25-rate-hike-i/nrDsN/>]

Everglades

Rick Scott Called On The Federal Government To Allow Florida To Continue Pumping Water Out Of Certain Regions Of The Everglades And Into Everglades National Park Because It Threatened Animals Living There. “Gov. Rick Scott says more emergency pumping is needed to avoid flooding Everglades animals in western Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Scott is calling on the federal government to extend the increased draining that sends more water than usual from Everglades sawgrass marshes in western Broward and Miami-Dade and into Everglades National Park. Back in February, Scott and other state officials warned of a potential wildlife disaster if something wasn't done to reduce water levels that threatened to flood the high ground that deer, wading birds, panthers and other animals need to survive. Now. Scott is asking for federal approval to continue the emergency pumping that is otherwise scheduled to end by May 11.” [Sun-Sentinel, 4/29/16<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-emergency-draining-boost-20160429-story.html>]

Sun-Sentinel: Rick Scott’s Request To Extend Pumping Into The Everglades National Park Was Part Of A Larger Plan Aimed At “Creating An Alternative Route To The South” For Water Being Pumped Out Of Lake Okeechobee.  “The governor's proposal envisions creating an alternative route to the south for some of that lake water, by prolonging the extra pumping in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Getting more water to Everglades National Park, and filtering out pollutants along the way, is the goal of a multibillion-dollar state and federal Everglades restoration plan. That involves using reservoirs, water treatment areas and pumps to recreate the natural flow of water that once existed from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay — before South Florida farming and development drained half the Everglades. This emergency pumping has been a good ‘field test’ for plans to pump more water south, said Kevin Kotun, Everglades National Park's chief hydrologist. Park officials support extending the increased pumping, he said.” [Sun-Sentinel, 4/29/16<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-emergency-draining-boost-20160429-story.html>]

Let’s Get To Work

Rick Scott’s Let’s Get To Work PAC Raised $107,000 In April, Nearly Half Of Which Came From The Villages Real Estate Development Company. “Gov. Rick Scott's ‘Let's Get to Work’ political committee has raised at least $107,000 in April, with nearly half the money coming from a major Central Florida development company, according to information on the committee's website. Political committees and candidates are required to report full April financial information to the state Division of Elections by a May 10 deadline. But the Let's Get to Work website lists contributions through April 22. The committee received $50,000 this month from The Villages real-estate development company, according to the list. The website does not list expenditures by the committee in April. Let's Get to Work has played a critical role in Scott's successful election campaigns and in promoting his agenda.” [The Ledger, 5/1/16<http://www.theledger.com/article/20160430/news/160439983>]