The 2026 FL Legislative Session over, but incomplete with Political Scientist Chris Muro.

The 2026 FL Legislative Session over, but incomplete with Political Scientist Chris Muro.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
The Florida Legislative session is over, but the work was
left incomplete. The legislature's only mandated job is to pass
an annual balanced budget.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
They haven't.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
That means one special session's upcoming, and more than likely
three of them. Property tax relief and congressional redistricting are
also on tap between now and the June qualifying for
the midterm election. Joining us this week is political scientist
Chris Muro as we break down the session, from the
division in a supposedly Republican legislature, to conflict with the governor,

(00:37):
and more.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
I'm Bill Mick.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
Catch up with me in our podcast at Billmick dot com.
Thanks for joining us this weekend on the Florida Round
Table the legislature decisions and dissension with Chris Muro when
we continue in moments here on the Florida News Network.
Nice to have you with us for the Florida Round Table.

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(03:05):
to have you with us this weekend on the Florida
Around tablein'em Bill, Mick. Chris murro is with us the
political scientist who lives and breathes this stuff probably more
than I do, which is a lot. Chris, good to
see you again. Thanks for coming in, buddy, Bill, what
a pleasure.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
Always great to be with you in your audience. Thank you.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
Let's start out with an overall grade of this legislative session,
or maybe of the last couple. It's been an interesting
couple of years. I've actually enjoyed watching what's going on,
although some of it you got to be concerned about.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, I mean as far as giving us a grade,
I would say this particular session, I'd say maybe a
C minus.

Speaker 1 (03:43):
Oh that far down. I don't know that out of
gone there that love, But okay, okay.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
I mean it's even even a leading Senator Don Gates,
uh huh, the father of the inestimal Matt Gates, said
that it was an embarrassment that we should be ashamed
of ourselves. That was his own critique, and I'd have
to say I go along with most of that. You know,
we have Republicans control every aspect of Florida's government, and

(04:11):
yet here we are again for the second year in
a row with no budget, which is, you know, the
most basic, fundamental.

Speaker 1 (04:19):
And the only thing they're required to do every session exactly.

Speaker 2 (04:23):
So we've got we don't have that, And there was
nothing major that really came out of this session that
was groundbreaking to give relief to the taxpayers of the
state of Florida. So no property tax reform that's meaningful.
We don't have a state budget. We're looking at potentially
three special sessions coming up right just to get a

(04:47):
just to get a budget. We've got one coming up
on the mid decade redistricting. Right, and perhaps there'll be
one on property tax as well.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
Right, and no meaning full insurance legislation either as far
as any relief on homeowners insurance or anything.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
Well, actually, I think there's actually some good news there.
Bill you do. Yeah, yeah, there's a bill Joe Grutterer
is a sponsored and it got through the legislature Senate,
billed one zero two eight. It's going to continue to
reign in citizens. Okay, so citizens insurance for private home

(05:27):
residential homes. Rather just two years ago they were ensuring
about one hundred and one point seven million properties. They're
down to three hundred and thirty thousand.

Speaker 1 (05:37):
Now that's a heck of a depopulation, huge.

Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, it is the new bill that just got.

Speaker 1 (05:41):
By the way, I'm one of the new thrown out
of citizens people. At least that's the plan for now.

Speaker 2 (05:46):
Well, they're now putting some additional limitations on citizens' ability
to write policies for commercial properties. So this is going
to continue to you know, citizens must decrease in the
private sector must increase.

Speaker 1 (06:02):
Well, and we've seen fortunately some increase in companies coming
into the state.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
Seventeen New Providers bill have been approved now to sell
policies in Florida. Since twenty twenty three, seventeen new companies.
That's significant. That is huge. So when we bring in
more competition into the marketplace, we know what happens. That's
when prices actually come down. We get more products, we

(06:30):
get more services, we get more competition, we get better prices.

Speaker 1 (06:33):
Do we know how many of these are new companies
or how many of them are already established in the
industry before they jumped in here to Florida.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
Well, Bill, would you mind? Can I give out a
website for people to absolutely let me say it's a
great tool that it's a brand new tool. It's by
the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida PIFF. They've got a website.
It's going to have all the data that you want
about this who these people are, who the new insurers are,

(07:02):
is going to give you all of the laws, everything, go.
What a great resource for the people of the state
of Florida. But more what is the website PIFF dot
com dot com? That's it? All right? Very good? Well
that and more than half of these are new.

Speaker 1 (07:19):
Insurers, okay, which means they've had to establish the state.
We've got the reserves. We've got the financial ability, they filed.

Speaker 2 (07:26):
The applications, right, and those applications have been approved. Okay.
We're also seeing bill that lawsuits regarding home liability. Homeowners
liability down twenty five percent since twenty twenty three. Okay.

Speaker 1 (07:40):
We've seen this largely because of the assignment of benefits
factor I would imagine well and the tort.

Speaker 2 (07:44):
Reform that went part of the twenty twenty three reforms. Right.
We also have seen bill seventy percent drop in companies
coming forward asking for rate increases, and we pick it
up in moments here on the roundtable.

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Speaker 1 (10:04):
Have a feeling this is going to be a busy weekend.
On the Florida Roundtable, political scientist Chris Muro with me,
I'm Bill Mick. Going to have you along here on
the Florida News Network. Chris, we were talking about the
legislative session, which is our overall focus today, but we
got jumped into insurance homeowners in church pretty quickly and
changes to citizens, new companies coming into the state which

(10:25):
should start impacting homeowners insurance rates and the like.

Speaker 2 (10:29):
What else we got on that from yeah, yeah, and
again reduction in lawsuits, which is great news for consumers.
And again, as we were closing out the last segment
bill a seventy percent drop in companies coming forward asking
the state for rate increases. That's interesting. We're seeing Yeah,
so companies. What that demonstrates is stabilization in the market,

(10:52):
and that's what we want. We want companies to be
able to feel that they are stable, that this market
is a place where they can do business, that it's
going to be profitable, and at the same time they're
going to deliver high quality services to the citizens of
our state. Well, moving in the right direction. Let's let
this continue by focusing on developing the free market and

(11:13):
by getting citizens out of the way and letting that
marketplace do its thing.

Speaker 1 (11:18):
Let citizens actually be an insurer of last.

Speaker 2 (11:20):
Last resort, not first response.

Speaker 1 (11:22):
Absolutely, and I have to agree with you there. Let's
get back into the legislature itself. As this session was
getting going, we came off of a session where there
was a lot of contention between the Governor and the House,
in particular that seems to have continued. The governor opened
the session by refusion to shake the hand of the
Speaker of the House. That tells you there's a level

(11:44):
of animosity there.

Speaker 2 (11:45):
True. And then, of course, in his farewell remarks, Daniel
Perez never even mentioned the governor. So it turned it's
you know, it's it's it's it is it's it's rather
it's disappointing, you know. That's the thing that we're losing
sight of that in politics, it's about the art of
the deal, is about the art of negotiation. It is

(12:07):
a relationship business, and we have to realize that not
everybody has the same interests, the same agenda, or the
same values, even when they're of the same party, even
when they're of the same party. Keeping those things and
the realist perspective, keeping those things in mind, it does
mean negotiation and compromise, and that seems to be out

(12:30):
of favor these days.

Speaker 1 (12:31):
Bill, It certainly does, and I guess for multiple reasons.
I'll tell you one thing that I did feel good
about in that regard is I think Daniel Perez is
probably the strongest speaker of the House I've seen in
my time in Florida, not only started in ninety eight,
but in my time in Florida top speaker that I've seen.
The House has an identity, they have a conservative identity,

(12:53):
and they want to move forward with things that appear
to be good for Florida. The Senate a little slower
on the uptake and the governor wanting to run it
like he did for six years and realize that he's
got people to contend with.

Speaker 2 (13:07):
Well, I'd agree with most of that assessment bill. I'm
glad to see the legislatures back as a legislature, you know,
being covetous of their lawmaking powers is what they should be.
That was the design and what the founders envisioned would happen,
and not just you know, carrying the water of whoever

(13:29):
the executive du jour happens to be, but actually standing
up for the prerogatives of the legislatures, the citizenry representative
that's right, representative democracy, that's what we have, and the
legislature is the front line for that. So I was
glad to see that there's been a little bit of

(13:49):
a renaissance in the legislature being back in the game.

Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yeah, and again government as it's supposed to be. You
mentioned the art of negotiating. It is not supposed to
be necessarily a rubber stamp, cut and draw process. It's
about debate and negotiation, right, right.

Speaker 2 (14:06):
So we've seen some of that, and I think Daniel Perez,
to his credit, they did get the House Joint Resolution
two zero three, It did pass the House. That was
major property tax reform bill. It just went nowhere in
the States.

Speaker 1 (14:22):
Sidate didn't have any interest. No, they just didn't and never.

Speaker 2 (14:26):
Even discussed it. It was it wasn't even on the table.

Speaker 1 (14:29):
I have often said the Florida Senator is where good
legislation goes to doc.

Speaker 2 (14:32):
Yeah. Yeah, Well, perhaps we're going to have a special
session that's going to bring this issue back. It does
seem to me that, you know, there are some alternatives here. Bill.
An easy fix is just maybe doubling the homestead exemption,
you know, I mean, if worst comes to worse, at
getting one hundred thousand dollars of a homestead exemption rather

(14:55):
than just the current status quo, right, I mean, you know,
we don't have to have the whole thing eliminated right
off the bad There could be an incremental way to
get there.

Speaker 1 (15:06):
Do you think there are fears and you hear them
from the cities and counties of what that does revenue
wise across the state.

Speaker 2 (15:14):
Of course, they said the same thing about Amendment five
back in twenty twenty four, that it was going to
you know, by paging the one of the homestead exemptions
to the rate of inflation, that that was going to
you know, gut budgets at the local level. We hear
that every time.

Speaker 1 (15:28):
That sounds to me like fear of elected officials that
don't really want to do the job we've asked them
to do, which has properly managed these governments at all
levels across the state.

Speaker 2 (15:37):
Yeah, Well, a typical county here in Brevard County, or
rather in Florida rather like Brevard County, their budgets are
about two and a half billion dollars per year, and
when it comes to basic things like infrastructure, they tend
to go the bond route rather than using it from
the general fund.

Speaker 1 (15:53):
And which really that budget number has doubled in ten years,
and the population hasn't done that, and the services needed
haven't done that. They seem to be expanding government instead
of fiscally managing it properly.

Speaker 2 (16:08):
Well, absolutely, Bill, because if you look at the population
growth in an average county, it's been about one point
nine percent a year, but the budgets have been increasing
about eight to nine percent per year. The fact of
the matter is is the counties and the local governments
they need a reduction in their revenue. They need to
get less money in revenue from the taxpayer that's the

(16:28):
only way to rein in because that, in my mind,
is the biggest issue moving forward for Florida is controlling
the spending of the local, municipal and county government.

Speaker 1 (16:39):
Well, and they all run saying we're fiscally responsible. We
put them in office expecting that, and every one of
them seems to be on the grow government bandwagon.

Speaker 2 (16:48):
Makes it tough. That seems to be where we're at
these days. Government is growing and growing exponentially, built at
every level. It's not decreasing. Yep.

Speaker 1 (16:58):
You mentioned that the budget for two years straight now
has not been done during the regular session. Last year
they went over forty five days. They're not going to
meet again until the middle of April to start on
this thing. Who knows how long it'll take. Did you
were able to discern the major differences between the House
and the Senate when it comes to the budget. Is

(17:18):
it a matter of priorities or are there reasons that
they're wanting to push this down the road.

Speaker 2 (17:23):
Well, the House, like you said, is standing firm in
the principle that we want to have a budget that's
smaller than the previous year. And so there's a close
to a two billion dollar difference between the House and
Senate version, and the Senate just hasn't agreed to compromise
to get closer to that House number, and the Governor

(17:46):
wants to see an increase in the spending. So you've
got the Senate and the Governor seem to be on
the side of we need to increase the budget over
last year while the House is standing firm. That's been
the biggest point of contempt, if.

Speaker 1 (18:01):
You had to call it. How do you see it
going when they get into special session?

Speaker 2 (18:05):
Well, I think that there will be some increase from
where the House is now, but I think that the
Senate is going to have to compromise. I think they're
going to have to come down. They're going to have
to accept that there's going to be some cuts.

Speaker 1 (18:16):
One of the things that may be a problem here
is Senate President Ben Albritton's baby piece of legislation in
the Rural Renaissance didn't even get heard in the House.

Speaker 2 (18:26):
No, no, they didn't consider it at all. Now, thankfully
it's dead. Yeah, and that's going to be the end
of it after this year, and hopefully it'll never rear
its head again. You know, it's just a pork barrel
spending that the project that he wants to, you know,
as his legacy, and so thankfully it's not being entertained,
and I don't think there's any way that it's going

(18:47):
to come back in a special session.

Speaker 1 (18:49):
Bill that could shut a special session down real quick. Good, Yeah,
that can make it happen. What else did you see
out of this session that you really thought was something
worthy of accomplishment or something that they should have done
and maybe didn't.

Speaker 2 (19:00):
Yeah, well, Bill, I think the biggest most consequential bill
that's been passed by the Florida legislature is House Bill
forty seven. For decades, Bill, we've been trying to get
reform of an institution, a bureaucracy known as the Department
of Children and Family Services, And for way too long,

(19:25):
this bureaucracy has been able to take children away from
their parents, and they do so for months and years
at a time, and it costs parents tens of thousands,
if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to get their
children back. And Bill, the new law that has just

(19:47):
been passed by the Florida Legislature, and I'm assuming it'll
be signed by the governor, is going to bring about
some much needed reform. No longer can a DCF investigator
by his or herself claim that there is a abuse
going on. And if a medical doctor, if you take

(20:07):
your child to the doctor, they've got bruises, they've got cuts,
or some sort of injury on what they're doing. Now
they call DCF, they separate them from their parent, and
it ignores the fact that some children do have medical
conditions that lend itself to bruising or bleeding or some
sort of malady.

Speaker 1 (20:28):
My middle son was accident prone and we had a
frequent flyer card to the emergency room. And when I
was a policeman, after I left the job started doing
private investigative work. There were cases where over doting parents
who didn't have resources had kids in the emergency room
all the time because that's what their medical card paid for.

(20:50):
And they had taken kids out of this home. We
were investigating a very loving family who doted over their
kids who lost Now this was in West Virginia, wasn't here,
but a very similar situation to what you're talking about.
So this legislation, what's it put in play? That's gonna well,
now take the.

Speaker 2 (21:05):
Parent, the parent who is who is effacing an allegation
has the right now to require a second opinion from
a medical doctor. And there's a pure a window, a
period window where they get to do that. They get
to pick the doctor who's going to do the second opinion,
and they get to make that disclosure that their child

(21:29):
has been diagnosed with some sort of illness that makes
them prone to either accidents or to bruising or to bleeding.
Rather than just the emotional knee jerk reaction that we've
seen from DCF just to pull children away from their parents,
regardless of any sort of mitigating circumstance that's interruing and

(21:53):
instead of punishing actual abusers, what this does is, in
ninety percent of the cases, bill takes children away from
loving and nurturing parents just because they can, just because
it's the bureaucratic rule. So this is a breath of
fresh air. It was a bipartisan achievement bill this happens,

(22:15):
which is rare in this lige, which is very rare,
but it had overwhelming support. It was introduced by a
Democrat in the Senate, it was introduced by a Republican
in the House, and it had overwhelming support. Veto proof
support when it passed both chambers.

Speaker 1 (22:30):
Isn't that interesting? It is tied to the DCF issue.
We're still under the shadow of a Hope, Florida grand
jury investigation in Tallahassee we've not heard the results of yet.
Is that weighing in on any of these discussions that
are happening with DCF or anything.

Speaker 2 (22:45):
And I've got about twenty seconds, well, not necessarily DCF,
but definitely with the government Governor's emergency fund that's had
an impact.

Speaker 1 (22:53):
And that there are changes there. We'll pick it up
with that when we continue on the roundtable.

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Speaker 1 (27:03):
Catching up with the legislative session this weekend On the Florida.
Round table, of course if you, miss anything we do
pick up. Our podcast it's right at the top of
the page at billmick.

Speaker 2 (27:11):
Dot com joining me This Week, chris miro.

Speaker 1 (27:14):
Political scientist as we look at, this Session, and chris
we were talking about CHANGES, to dcf a new change
in the, law THERE and i was asking about the
financial implications of things that went On With. Hope florida
that money is ostensively to help families and, the like
not all of it went. That way that's thus the
investigation and still no results on the grand jury. Investigation

(27:35):
yet i'm just wondering if there's political timing behind when
they released, those results because that's the ONLY thing i
could think they would either be telling us yes their
indictments or no they' or not based on. Political concerns
but you said it will impact and has impacted the
governor's emergency funds that were a big subject over the
last several.

Speaker 2 (27:54):
Months, HERE well i think all, of That The hope,
florida thing and just the fact that there's been such
acrimony between the governor and the legislature in the past couple.
Of sessions it kind of has has been a confluence
of all those things have led us to this point
Where The florida legislature in twenty twenty two deposited four

(28:15):
point seven billion dollars bill into an emergency fund for the. Governor's,
disposal wow do you know how much is left? IN
that i have. No clue under two hundred million that's all.
That's left so it's been Used two in, other words
we're in a continuing state of emergency for something all,

(28:36):
the time. Exactly now, Moving forward give a man, of
fish teach a man. To fish throw him in. The
ocean this, this fund while it's going, to maintain there's
going to be some new restrictions, on it so that
future governors are going to have to come to the
legislature every few months and provide auditing and information. Like

(28:57):
that there's going to be some more restrictions. On it
and right now there's no, new money so the legislature has.
Not agreed and that's one thing they may be talking
about when the special session over the budget gets together
built is if they're going to allocate any money for that.

Speaker 1 (29:14):
Emergency, fund well part of that money that was allocated
was used as the governor a couple of years ago
had Reinstituted The Florida state guard and there were questions about.
Management there there were questions about, expenditures there and those
are still unresolved as FAR as.

Speaker 2 (29:30):
I know and about five hundred and sixty million half
a billion has been used in immigration enforcement with the
promise of being reimbursed BY, the feds which has not,
happened yet but that has been one of the. Talking points,
the narrative, let's say is that we're going to get that,
money back but so far that's not.

Speaker 1 (29:53):
Coming Down the pike and all of these things playing
into the special session on the budget because that's where
the negotiations are going.

Speaker 2 (29:59):
To, happen. Yeah exact so it just adds to the
drama of moving forward without a state budget at. This point.

Speaker 1 (30:06):
Very true you mentioned something when we were talking before
the show about homeowners association legislation.

Speaker 2 (30:14):
Regarding, that yeah tell me how. What, happened yeah there
was a, major Bill A house bill sixty. Five seven
it did Pass, the house it ended up dying In.
The senate but bill this is going to allow homeowners'
associations to file dissolution of, the covenant meaning they could

(30:36):
dissolve the actual homeowners association if the members sign a
petition and sixty percent vote to DISSOLVE. The hoa it's
kind of a mechanism for there have been certain circumstances
throughout the State. Of florida about forty four percent of
homeowners live IN, an hoa so it does affect millions

(30:58):
and millions. Of people this will allow them the opportunity
IF an hoa gets out, of control if it, Becomes
oppressive this gives the members a chance to DISSOLVE the
hoa and begin with a Brand.

Speaker 1 (31:11):
New covenant it got Through, the house, it did but
didn't get To. The senate are you saying it's still
alive in the next session.

Speaker 2 (31:18):
Next, year oh it'll. Be back It'll, come absolutely it'll
be back for. Next year you know a lot of,
these laws that's. What happens bill, you know takes a
while to get them across. The, finish yeah like texting.
While driving you know that that took about five sessions to.
Get that that many. It did but that's how, lawmaking,
Is right you introduce it the, first time and it

(31:39):
sometimes it, takes two three or. More SESSIONS but i
think there's some big momentum, behind that and we'll see that.

Speaker 1 (31:45):
Next session something that's causing some consternation In The United,
states congress PARTICULARLY The, us senate Is The Save, america
Act and florida has basically first in, the nation jumped
on and done something.

Speaker 2 (31:58):
Very similar how did this? Work Out The Save? Florida
Act house bill nine nine, to one and that was that.
Was passed it was kind of came out of nowhere
and just, you know passed overwhelmingly both how Both The
state house And The.

Speaker 1 (32:13):
State senate it sounds hard to claim the r on
your voter. Information card if you're not in favor of something, like, THIS.

Speaker 2 (32:21):
Yeah I think i've heard you say. That, though yeah
don't get mad, at Me but i'm not a supporter of. This,
bill okay tell. Me why i'll tell, you why because
first and foremost is that you remember the governor set
up An elections. Integrity, office, yes okay and we're going
to maintain.

Speaker 1 (32:37):
Which has already gone beyond the scope of what it
looks like his. Job is but.

Speaker 2 (32:40):
Go ahead and we did Also Pass senate Bill seventy
you might remember that from the twenty twenty. One session
tell me what. It, DID well i have more and
more restrictions on voting and polling and showing of identification
and provisional balloting and all. The rest so what are
we seeing as the? Problems? There, then well the problem
is is that we've had since, that time we've had

(33:04):
seven People in florida who have been accused of registering
to vote as. Non, citizens okay seventy seven total since nineteen.
Ninety nine nationwide bill not.

Speaker 1 (33:18):
Mean we're not looking, at it or does it mean
it's Not, being.

Speaker 2 (33:21):
No what it means is is that there was a
law passed in nineteen ninety, six Bill The Illegal Immigration
reform act of nineteen ninety six that codified that non
citizens are not eligible to register to vote because the
qualifications for voters are set by. State, legislatures correct and
that is a. Constitutional provision so this all it did

(33:45):
was codify what the states. Already had no state has
it where it's legal to be a non citizen. And
register so this is a solution looking for a problem that.
Doesn't exist we've got lots of resources. To prosecute if
you are a non citizen and you register, to vote
you are subject, to deportation you're subject to, felony indictments

(34:08):
you're subject To a there's a lot at. Stake here
so there's Just an there is not a. Major Problem
The heritage foundation bill not a, Liberal, group no not.
At all they have an election fraud monitor At The heritage. Foundation's,
website okay since nineteen, ninety nine seventy seven non citizen

(34:31):
votes since nineteen. Ninety nine. That's interesting there's more people
registering in multiple counties who. Are citizens they Register In,
broward county and they Register In, hillsborough county and they
might Register In deval county.

Speaker 1 (34:48):
And the duplications aren't, being caught and they're not being.

Speaker 2 (34:50):
Caught now we have better, technology now and that could
be something That The florida legislature. Works on but the
idea that it's non citizens that are registering and manipulating,
our elections there's zero data to show that that's the.

Speaker 1 (35:08):
Can't we see stories out Of either California Or new
york or other major city locations around the country where
they actually vote to allow residents not, necessarily citizens to
be able to vote in their.

Speaker 2 (35:19):
Local, Elections Well san Francisco, AND, washington DC and i
think it's Somewhere, In, vermont Okay Cram.

Speaker 1 (35:29):
Apple, corners yeah.

Speaker 2 (35:31):
They have a provision where non citizens can vote in local. Municipal,
elections okay but. That's, it okay. That's interesting. That's it
there's no state where you can vote in a statewide
election or for a, state legislature and there's nowhere in
the country where you can vote legally in a federal
election if you're not. A, citizen.

Speaker 1 (35:52):
Well on my, LOCAL show i have talked frequently about the,
election integrity crowd buying onto any conspiracy theory that fit
their predetermined agenda and running. With it and running with
it hard and ignoring what the, law says how the
elections are conducted here and that type. Of thing so

(36:13):
does THIS election id law does it do anything in
particular that changes Anything?

Speaker 2 (36:17):
In, FLORIDA well i mean you're going to have in order,
to register you're going to have to have, a passport
or you're going to have to have a. Birth certificate
and of course this Does start, january first twenty. Twenty
seven we're assuming the governor is going to sign this.
Into law but those.

Speaker 1 (36:31):
Prevent the driver's licenses take care, of that because you've
already done that with the, driver's, License, right.

Speaker 2 (36:36):
Yeah if you have the if you, have Updated you're
but if you're a new voter, getting registered and let's
say you don't have a driver's, license, yet right maybe.
You're younger that's who it's really going to affect is
going to be younger voters who are getting involved for the,
first time or older voters who are moving and changing

(36:56):
address or, changing name be due to marriage or things of.
That nature. You know so it.

Speaker 1 (37:01):
Really those are routine things that people do all the,
time anyway though.

Speaker 2 (37:05):
They are but now to reapply you're going to have
to provide. A passport if you don't, have one you're
gonna have to provide a. Birth certificate if it doesn't
have your it's got to be an original. Birth certificate by,
the way there's a lot of people that don't have.

Speaker 1 (37:19):
Those, bill, yeah well and there are still some folks
alive who weren't born when they were handing out.

Speaker 2 (37:24):
Birth. Certificates, YEAH so, i mean if if the idea
is to get fewer younger people, TO vote, i said
let's increase the voting age to thirty rather than.

Speaker 1 (37:32):
Going on i'm NOT sure i would, oppose that to.
Be honest, then again if you can draft them, at
eighteen they ought to have a say. In, It true
we've got a lot of grounds still to cover here
On the Florida. Round table we appreciate that you join
us each weekend here on your favorite. Radio station we'll
be back with Political Scientists chris miro nuclear power For

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Speaker 1 (40:01):
Welcome back On the Florida Round Table bill mick with
Political Scientists chris Miro and chris fast.

Speaker 2 (40:06):
Moving shows it always is when.

Speaker 1 (40:07):
You're here we mentioned advanced nuclear the modular nuclear bill
that was passed out Of The florida house didn't make
its way Through.

Speaker 2 (40:16):
The senate.

Speaker 1 (40:18):
I've Had monique miller on the representative who sponsored. The
bill i've had some of the experts she's talked with
on here on the. Round table sounds like a darn
good idea, for energy especially when you're looking AT these
ai data centers and all the energy they're going to
take be able to produce their own on their. Own
property what happened to?

Speaker 2 (40:35):
This bill and that's a good point you bring, up
too BILL the ai, data centers that's been a divisive issue.
As well and, You know florida is. Moving forward we
want to limit the, you know just give them a
blank check to create a data center wherever they. Want
to but that's a. Great point if we are going
to HAVE these ai data centers that are going to
be consuming a lot, of energy we need to start

(40:58):
looking at diversifying our. Energy portfolio in what better way
than This Advanced nuclear reactor bill Sponsored By monique miller
that Passed the House of. Representatives unanimously bill that should
not say a lot jan to vote. Against us shouldn't
it say?

Speaker 10 (41:15):
A lot?

Speaker 1 (41:15):
It should And the house didn't take it up Or.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
The Senate the senate did not take it up even
though it.

Speaker 1 (41:20):
Passed unanimously now that's only Because the senates devoid.

Speaker 2 (41:24):
A leadership but let's, move, On, right well but hopefully
that's going. To, CHANGE yeah i. Hope so but, right
Now The united states is the largest producer of. Nuclear
energy twenty percent of our entire energy portfolio.

Speaker 13 (41:37):
Is.

Speaker 2 (41:37):
Nuclear bill the only country that has a larger percentage
of their nuclear or rather their energy portfolio based on
nuclear Energy. Is france i'm going, to say by, the,
way now remember the you know this climate change group
that MEETS The Un, climate committee they meet every couple
of cop they, call, It right they just had That

(41:57):
in dubai in three was the. Last meeting twenty two
nations bill signed on to increase triple by the end
of this decade their nuclear. Energy capability twenty two nations
and We're, Talking Japan, south Korea The united states all

(42:19):
signing on. To this so This, IS florida, i think
being at the cutting edge OF recognizing us eleven percent
of our energy portfolio right now currently is nuclear bill
here in, the state in the State. Of, florida okay
that needs to increase to about, thirty percent and it would.

Speaker 1 (42:37):
Increase it as my understanding with The interviews i've done on,
the subject quickly, and, safer yes than what nuclear has
been perceived of in. The, past absolutely you think it's
as momentum. MOVING forward i think.

Speaker 2 (42:49):
IT does i think. IT does i think there's a
lot that you can. Sell this it's better for, the
environment it's a, low carbon low emission type. Of energy
it is safer. Than transporting actually now that we've seen
and this new advanced, nuclear reactor these things are not like,

(43:12):
you know.

Speaker 1 (43:12):
The physics don't allow it to have a, milk down
which is absolutely amazing.

Speaker 2 (43:16):
To me and that's a worry off, the Table right and,
these things these new units. Are, small yeah they're, not
big huge reactors like you, would see, you know in
the movies. And things it's just the technology has just.
Been stunning the advancements and technology on this. Very True
so i'm hoping that we're going to see this in
the next session and get.

Speaker 1 (43:35):
THIS done i don't think it. GOES away i think
it's one of those, Recurring things like, you, said absolutely
one of the special sessions we're going to have is
about mid season. Congressional redistricting tell me how you're. Reading
that how's that going to? Play out?

Speaker 2 (43:48):
YOU KNOW i i know the governor, wants this he wants,
it badly which which does not. Mean THAT and i
kind of think that there's some opposition to it within the.
State legislature i'm going to say, Right, NOW bill i
think it's sixty forty against getting. Redistricting, done interesting that's
my take On what i'm reading it. Right now and

(44:11):
from a point a perspective of ethics, And, constitutionalism bill
this should not.

Speaker 1 (44:20):
Get passed i'm not a fan of, it happening to.
Be honest just stick with the every ten years exactly
and then be strong enough to win elections if you
think you need another Seat, in congress?

Speaker 2 (44:28):
Right exactly and how has this been? Playing out how
are we doing on the mid decade For District are republicans?
Doing well does it look?

Speaker 1 (44:36):
That way it looks like right now They've, got texas
made a Change in california countered and beat them at their,
own game.

Speaker 2 (44:43):
And now We have virginia that they have got on
the ballot that possibly they can pick up four. Seats
there indiana balked and didn't, Move forward kansas didn't. Move forward,
right now You've got republicans plus One. Bill wow but
that doesn't take Into Account corey Mills from. District seven

(45:05):
he's got, big trouble big, trouble. There Okay And tony
Gonzales in texas who had to resign just about a.
Week ago both of those districts now are ranked competitive
By The Cook. Political report they used to be, solid rest,
solid red they're now toss ups.

Speaker 1 (45:26):
Competitive, elections well we'll talk some more about the congressional
races as we continue saying sixty forty it's not going
to happen changing the. Districts here, that's probably in, my
estimation a. Good thing we'll.

Speaker 2 (45:38):
Take a look at the Makeup.

Speaker 1 (45:40):
Of congress what does what are we looking at as
we march toward the Midterms, in november and what's that
mean for the future of the country as far as.
Policy goes but we continue On the Florida round table
From The Florida.

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believe it's time to wrap Up The Florida. Around table
Political Scientist chris muro. With us thank you for spending
your time here. As, well chris let's do a little
prognosticating as we take a look at the. Future here

(49:09):
governor's race up in well for the primary and then the.
General election what do you, see, There Well Governor.

Speaker 2 (49:16):
Byron donalds we called this Last, Year bill we said this.
Last year nothing's changed he's going to be the next
governor of the State. Of florida it's not a. Competitive
race there's. Nothing here Even Though jerry demings looks like
he's going to get the nomination For, the democrats it. Doesn't.
Matter Right the republicans have.

Speaker 1 (49:34):
A having trouble raising money on, that side.

Speaker 2 (49:36):
Aren't they oh they. Always, do yeah, You Know byron
donalds is breaking, fundraising records he's Got the. Trump endorsement
it's just not even a. Competitive race and the fact Is,
is republicans Whether It's ashley moody getting reelected or getting
elected To the senate after Her Appointment, byron donalds the
fact of the matter is is you've got sixty five
percent of the, white vote over sixty percent Of the

(49:59):
hispanic vot vote On the republican coalition Here. In, FLORIDA
okay i call That the. Rubio coalition none of the
dynamics are. Changing there so in order For a democrat to,
win statewide they have to reduce the white Vote for
republicans down to about fifty five or, six percent and

(50:19):
they have to get at least fifty percent Of the.
Hispanic vote they also have to Not Be. Nicki. Freed,
True true, so yeah none of. That's happening so we're
going to continue to see the status quote Here In
Florida byron donald's as your, Next Governor ashley moody Winning
the senate seat Outright.

Speaker 1 (50:37):
In november appre's to be nothing changes in the makeup
Of the florida legislature much other than people who are
turned out and new new bodies.

Speaker 2 (50:44):
Coming. In yeah but as far as you Look for cardida, makes,
up now do.

Speaker 1 (50:47):
You Look for veto proof majorities?

Speaker 2 (50:48):
TO stay? I do. I do i Think The florida
legislature will continue to maintain it's, You know veto proof,
majority status super. Majority status, SO yeah i think that's
going to be. The case nothing in the dynamics Show
any florida continues to be one of the most reliably. Republican,
states yeah, Very TRUE and i think that's where we're

(51:09):
going to continue for the.

Speaker 1 (51:10):
Foreseeable future what about for this second Term Of donald
trump In The. White house the Midterms. Are november how
are you seeing the numbers playing out In, the house
In the senate when we, get there or what are
the factors we're looking at that will.

Speaker 2 (51:24):
Impact, that well you've got a record number of retirements
bill On the, republican side we haven't seen this many
retirements since.

Speaker 1 (51:30):
Twenty eighteen concerns me EVERY time i See the president
pick somebody Out of congress AND say i want to
put you in. The administration you're jumbling the numbers In.
The congress when, that happens.

Speaker 2 (51:39):
You are especially From the. House side. Uh huh. You
know I'm Glad Mark wayne mullins Leaving the senate to
GO to Dhs though i'm happy. About THAT but i will,
say this when you go and pick members From the
house when you've got a two or three seat majority doesn't.
Make sense but the fact that you're in the majority
and you've got lots of, people retiring that's never a good.
Sign bill, right then you've got a series of. Special

(52:02):
elections democrats have won every single one. Of them now
we're not Talking about California And New. York city we're Talking, About,
arkansas Texas And, new hampshire all where legislative seats were
Held by republicans and. They flipped so the fact you
have one or two, of those that's. That's nothing but
when you start getting a streak, like this it's something

(52:24):
to be concerned. About right THE.

Speaker 1 (52:27):
Next i, Am okay the next point.

Speaker 2 (52:30):
Is quick the next point is is that the generic
Ballot shows democrats up by. Five points this is the
ballot where they ask people You voted Republican? Or democrat
and every time this, was predicted, accurately built every. Single
TIME so i think there's a lot of credibility here.

Speaker 1 (52:49):
On that what can a win and a ran can
an economy turning? Around quickly does that change?

Speaker 2 (52:54):
Those numbers the Economy, Can BILL but i think it's
going to be a. DIFFICULT sell i think He's a
democrat that's going to. Close It, chris mureau it's been a.
Great hour, thank you.

Speaker 1 (53:03):
MY friend i will look forward to having you back
and we'll have a lot to get Into. Before november enjoy.
Your weekend we'll see you next week On the Florida.

Speaker 2 (53:11):
Round table.

Speaker 4 (53:15):
You've been listening To The florida Roundtable with bill may
on News and public affairs presentation Of The Florida. News
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(53:36):
florida roundtable at fnnonline dot net