>> WELL, HANG ON TO YOUR HATS AND WALLETS AND PURSES, THE FLORIDA LEDGE SLAILT TURE IS
ABOUT TO MEET.
-- LEGISLATURE IS ABOUT TO MEET,
LAWMAKERS WILL GATHER ON TUESDAY
TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR DELIVER HIS
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
HE WILL SAY IT’S VERY GOOD.
AND THEN THEY WILL START ON 60
DAYS OF HEARINGS, DEBATES AND
VOTES.
AT STAKE ARE THE TAXES YOU PAY
AND THE SERVICES YOU RECEIVE.
IT IS A VERY BIG DEAL.
ALTHOUGH THE MACHINATIONS OF
THESE LAWMAKERS OFTEN ARE TOO
ARCANE FOR MOST PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND.
BUT NOT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WATCH
THIS PROGRAM.
SO LET’S TALK ABOUT THE SESSION
TO COME HERE WITH TWO OF SOUTH
FLORIDA’S BEST.
JASON PISO, STATE SENATOR FROM
NORTHEAST MIAMI DADE.
JASON, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> HE’S THE FORMER PROSECUTOR,
TOM FEBRUARYRIZZO IS A
REPUBLICAN ELECTED TO THE STATE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM
DISTRICT 103 THAT INCLUDES
MIRAMAR AND PALM SPRINGS NORTH,
TOM, GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, MICHAEL, AND
HIALEAH GARDEN.
>> AND HIALEAH GARDEN, LET’S NOT
FORGET HIALEAH GARDEN.
LET ME ASK YOU BOTH, AS YOU WELL
KNOW SINCE YOU HAVE SERVED FOR A
COUPLE OF TERMS.
A FEW ISSUES DOMINATE EVERY
LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND JASON,
WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO BE THIS
TIME?
REDISTRICTING?
TIME? REDISTRICTING? AND WHAT ELSE.
>> THEY ARE GOING TO IT BE
REDISTRICTING, SORT OF FOR
LEGISLATORS AS WELL, FOR THE
GENERAL PUBLIC BUT YOU KNOW, I
WOULD BE REMIT-- REMISS IF I
DIDN’T INCLUDE WHATEVER IS SORT
OF ON THE AGENDA OF THE
GOVERNOR.
THAT HAS BEEN THE THEME FOR THE
PAST FEW SESSIONS.
WHATEVER THE HOT-BUTTON TOPIC IS
THAT MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
SORT OF HAVE TO CARRY THE
BUCKETS FOR.
>> YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, TOM
FEBRIZZIO, YOU DO HAVE TO SORT
OF CARRY SOME WATER FOR THE
GOVERNOR, WHAT ARE YOUR ISSUES
THAT YOU HOPE TO ADDRESS IN THE
SESSION?
>> WELL, WE FILED QUITE A FEW
BILLS IN MY, FOR MY DISTRICT IN
PARTICULAR.
THE FIRST, THE MOST IMPORTANT
BILL FOR MY DISTRICT IN
PARTICULAR THAT I FILED, FILED
IT LAST SESSION, FILING IT
AGAIN, THIS SESSION HAS TO DO
WITH BLASTING.
THERE’S GROUND VIBRATION ISSUES
WITH SOUTHWEST BROWARD AND
NORTHWEST MIAMI DADE COUNTY AND
ARE LOOKING TO REDUCE THE GROUND
VIBRATIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY,
FOR WHERE THERE ARE RESIDENTIAL
COMMUNITIES WITHIN ONE MILE OF
THOSE MINES, THAT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR MY DISTRICT.
>> CAN I JUST INTERRUPT TO SAY
CHANNEL 10 GETS CALLS EVERY DAY
FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THESE
AFFECTED AREAS SAYING OUR HOUSE
IS SHAKING.
THERE ARE CRACKS IN OUR WALLS.
I MEAN THIS HAS JUST GONE ON FOR
YEARS, AND YET I DON’T KNOW
WHAT’S BEEN DONE TO REALLY BRING
IT TO STOP IT.
>> WELL, I’VE BEEN WORKING, I
WORKED HARD LAST YEAR TO BRING
AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE HERE IN
TALLAHASSEE.
I’VE BEEN DOING THE SAME THIS
SESSION.
I REFINED THE BILL TO LIMITED
SCOPE BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW,
THE AGGREGATE CONCRETE
INSTITUTE, VERY IMPORTANT IN THE
STATE OF FLORIDA.
HAS TO DO WITH COST OF
CONSTRUCTION AND THAT’S
IMPORTANT AND WE DON’T WANT TO
CAUSE TROUBLE FOR THAT AND WE
CERTAINLY DON’T WANT TO TAKE
AWAY ANYBODY’S JOB BUT WHERE
THESE MINES ARE
ASSOCIATED-- SITUATED, WITHIN
ONE MILE OF RESIDENTIAL AREA,
SPECIFICALLY THE RIVERA MILES OR
PALM SPRINGS NORTH COMMUNITY AND
WEST MIAMI LAKES COMMUNITY, ARE
VERY CLOSE.
SOMETIMES JUST DIRECTLY OVER
I-75.
THOSE HOUSES SHAKE QUITE A BIT.
MY HOUSE IS A COUPLE MILES AWAY
AND SHAKES QUITE A BIT,
ESPECIALLY THIS LAST WEEK.
THAT IS ONE OF OUR IMPORTANT
ISSUES BUT I ALSO FILED A
TELEHEALTH BILL, WE FILED IT IT
LAST YEAR, IT PASSED THE HOUSE.
IT DIDN’T PASS THE SENATE,
UNFORTUNATELY.
IT IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
BILL BECAUSE IT ALLOWS ACCESS TO
MEDICAL CARE FOR FOLKS.
I ORIGINALLY FILED IT IT IN MIND
OF FOLKS LIKE MY TBRAND MOTHER
BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY IN HER
ELDER YEARS, SHE HAD A HARD TIME
GETTING AROUND FOR DOCTORS
APPOINTMENTS FOR TWEAKING
MEDICATION.
>> CAN I INTERRUPT.
THE ISSUES YOU HAVE MENTIONED
ARE SORT OF THE BREAD AND BUTTER
ISSUES THAT ARE PEOPLE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT.
I’M SURE JASON PISO WOULD AGREE.
PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT SCHOOL,
CRIME, HEALTH INSURANCE, TAXES,
AND THAT’S ESSENTIALLY WHA YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT JASON, TO GO BACK TO YOUR
EARLIER POINT, THE GOVERNOR IS
REALLY ENGAGED IN THE CULTURE
WARS HERE.
TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE A
STATE MILITIA THAT WOULD REPORT
TO HIM.
I MEAN IS THAT SOMETHING WE
REALLY NEED?
WITHIN NO.
AND I ASK, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS ARE
LIKELY LAYING IN BED ON A LAZY
SUNDAY RIGHT NOW WATCHING THIS.
AND WE LEAVE OUR FAMILIES AND
COME UP HERE TO DO OUR BEST FOR
CONSTITUENTS.
I’M NODDING MY HEAD WHILE TOM IS
TALKING ABOUT HIS ISSUES THAT
ARE IMPORTANT LIKE THEY ARE TO
THE 15 CITIES I REPRESENT.
WHETHER ST ENVIRONMENTAL,
ININFRASTRUCTURE, THE KIDS
KILLING KIDS WHAT ARE WE DOING
ABOUT THAT, MY FIRST TERM HERE,
WE DEALT WITH IMMIGRATION, ON
SOMETHING THAT WAS ALREADY SORT
OF IN LAW, CODIFYING IT FOR WHAT
WE CALL RED MEAT AT THIS POINT.
LAST YEAR WE SPENT A WOL DAY ON
TRANSGENDER ATHLETES.
THERE WERE 11 OF THEM OVER SIX
YEARS.
WE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING AS RELATES
TO UNEMPLOYMENT EVEN THOUGH I
WAS AWAY FROM HOME ALL BUT 41
DAYS IN 2020 WORKING ON
UNEMPLOYMENT.
THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, THEY’LL
SPRING UP SOMETHING ABOUT
ABORTION, SOMETHING ABOUT BEING
WOKE, SOMETHING ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
A WHOLE SMATTERING OF THINGS
THAT DON’T IMPROVE YOUR LIFE,
DON’T INCREASE THE SAFETY OF OUR
CHILDREN AND CERTAINLY DO
NOTHING FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE
OR FOR ACTUAL SMALL BUSINESSES
AND PROTECTION, THINGS LIKE
THAT.
THE THINGS WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE
DOING.
WE DON’T DO THEM.
>> WELL, YOU DO THEM AFTER THE
OTHER, THE GOVERNOR’S OTHER
ISSUES OFTEN.
AND IT IS BOTH DEMOCRATS AS WELL
AS REPUBLICANS TRIEF THESE
AGENDAS.
BUT YOU KNOW, TOM FEBRIZZIO, HE
JUST MENTIONED THIS WOKE, HE THE
GOVERNOR DOESN’T LIKE
SENSITIVITY TRAINING, PEOPLE
COME IN TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO GET
ALONG WITH PEOPLE, HE REALLY
SAYS THAT IS ALL PART OF THE
CRT, CRITICAL RACE THEORY, KIND
OF ISSUE.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?
>> MY VIEW IS CRITICAL RACE
THEORY IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN’T
HAD A NEED TO DEAL WITH THAT IN
SCHOOLS HISTORICALLY.
I DON’T SEE WHY THAT HAS TO COME
INTO THE CURRICULUM NOW.
MY CONSTITUENTS WHERE GENERALLY
AGAINST IT.
THE CONSTITUENTS HAVE REACHED
OUT TO ME ARE AGAINST IT.
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU,
IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR MY
COMMUNITY ALSO INCLUDE A CONDO
FRAUD BILL, THAT I FILED, AND I
FILED IT WITH REGARD IT TO
CONDOMINIUM ISSUES.
AND I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH MY
EMAILS WHILE HAVE I BEEN WAITING
HERE THIS MORNING, I’M GETTING A
HUGE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO BELIEVE
THAT THAT CONDO FRAUD TASK FORCE
WE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE SHOULD
EXPAND ALSO TO HOMEOWNERS
ASSOCIATION.
AND THESE ARE BILLS, WE ARE
DOING A LOT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS
A LOT OF NATIONAL RHETORIC AND A
LOT OF POLITICAL BACK AND FORTH,
WHICH IS IMPORTANT, IT’S
UNEQUIVOCALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
WE ARE DIVIDED IN MANY WAYS,
UNFORTUNATELY BUT WE’RE HERE, UP
HERE TO DO THE PEOPLE’S WORK AND
WE ARE DOING THE PEOPLE’S WORK
IN MANY WAYS.
AND I THINK THE CONDO FRAUD BILL
THAT I HAVE FILED THAT I HOPE
HAS A STRONG SENATE PARTNER, AND
I EXPECT THAT IT’S GOING TO MOVE
ALONG THROUGH THE COMMITTEE
PROCESS AS WELL AS MY BLATION
THE TELEHEALTH BILL, ANOTHER
BILL THAT IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT THAT I FILED HAS TO DO
WITH GIVING POLICE OFFICERS
PORTAL TO PORTAL INSURANCE
COVERAGE SO WHEN THEY DRIVE
THEIR POLICE CARS FROM HOME INTO
THE POLICE STATION AND BACK AND
FORTH, THEY ARE PROVIDED AUTO
INSURANCE COVERAGE BY THE ACTUAL
AGENCY SO THAT THEY DON’T HAVE
TO PUT OUT OF POCKET FOR THEIR
OWN AUTO INSURANCE POLICY.
>> I HAD NO IDEA, THEY WEREN’T
COVERED.
ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMAN GENTLEMEN,
HOLD ON, WE’RE GOING TO COME
BACK, MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU
AND ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION IN JUST A MINUTE.
>> ON THIS WEEK IN SOUTH FLORIDA WE ARE PREVIEWING THE UPCOMING SESSION OF THE FLORIDA
LEGISLATURE, IT STARTS ON
TUESDAY WITH REPRESENTATIVE TOM
FABRICIO AND JASON PISO.
I DON’T THINK THAT SURFSIDE IS
IN YOUR DISTRICT BUT IT IS JUST
BELOW YOUR DISTRICT IN FACT IF
IT IS NOT IN YOUR DISTRICT.
>> NO, NO, MICHAEL T IS IN MY
DISTRICT AND I WAS THERE EVERY
SINGLE DAY BUT ONE.
>> I REMEMBER SEEING YOU THERE.
SO THE QUESTION THEN BECOMES,
WHAT SHOULD THE LEGISLATURE DO?
TO-- ABOUT CONDOMINIUMSNESS WE
PROPOSE A NUMBER OF IDEAS, WE
NEED TO SHORTEN THE
RECERTIFICATION PROCESS.
WE NEED TO CONSIDER BUILDING IN
THE PLACE OF WHERE THEY ARE
FOUND.
SO SOMETHING THAT IS COASTAL
WITH A HIGH WATER TABLE THAT IS
SUBJECT TO, CONDOS IS A PERFECT
EXAMPLE.
OF THE IMPORTANCE, THE CRITICAL
IMPORTANCE OF NOT HAVING PRIDE
OF AUTHORSHIP.
BECAUSE WE ARE IN A REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY I WON’T BE THE ONE THAT
CARRIES CONDO BILLS.
I FILED IT IT BUT REPUBLICANS
DON’T LET DEMOCRATS GET WINS.
AND SO YOU HAVE TO KIND OF
SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE A LITTLE BIT
AND LET OTHER PEOPLE.
SO TOM FABRICIO WHO I RESPECT
CARRYING A CONDO FRAUD TASK 8-1
1-RBG THE-- 811, THE COUNT PART,
THEY ARE NOT IN CONDO HEAVY
DISTRICT, 64 PERCENT OF MY
DISTRICT ARE CONDOS THOSE ARE MY
CONSTITUENTS, A FRIEND OF MINE,
COLLEAGUE, JEN BADLY, BE
COMPETENT, SMART, SHE WILL BE
CARRYING THE CONDO BILL THAT
JASON PISO SHOULD HAVE BEING IN
A CONDO HEAVILY-- HEAVY
DISTRICT, HER LEADING BILL LAST
WAS FARM EQUIPMENT.
THAT IS THE WAY IT IS, IF IT T
IS PARTISAN.
LAST YEAR THE-- ACADEMY IN MY
DISTRICT WANTED TO FIRE TEACHERS
WHO GOT VACCINATED, ONE MATH
TEACHER TOLD THE FIFTH GRADERS
DON’T HUG YOUR PARENTS PARENTS I
THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED,
QUACKERY, I COULDN’T GET MY
AMENDMENT PASSED TO PROHIBIT
THAT.
BUT THE FOLLOWING SESSION, THE
PAST SESSION, IT IT WAS PUT IN
THE BILL SECTION 7 THAT NO ONE
PAID ATTENTION TO EXCEPT FOR ME.
SO IF YOU DON’T HAVE PRIDE OF
AUTHORSHIP HERE YOU CAN GET A
LOT DONE.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS, WE ARE IN
TIE HYPERPART I SAN,
HYPERPOLARIZED SITUATION SO IF
THE LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUES THAT
INVOLVE YOUR FAMILY AND MY
FAMILY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE
BETTER SERVED BY SOMEONE ELSE
CARRYING THE BILL, SO BE IT IT T
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE.
>> SO YOUR NAME MAY NOT BE ON IT
BUT YOU HAVE GOT YOUR
FINGERPRINTS ON IT, THAT IS
MAYBE JUST AS IMPORTANT.
TOM FABRICIO.
WE HAVE ALL FOLLOWED AND WE, IN
THE MEDIA CERTAINLY HAVE
FOLLOWED FERVENTLY WHATEVER THE
GOVERNOR HAS SAID ABOUT COVID-19
AND ON THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK HE
SAID AND THE CORRECTER OF THE
KEPT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN
FLORIDA SAID WELL, WE HAD A
MILLION TEST KITS IN A WAREHOUSE
AND NOBODY ASKED FOR THEM SO
THEY EXPIRED AND WE HAD TO THROW
THEM AWAY.
I MEAN FRANKLY, THAT STRIKES ME
AS A TERRIBLE WASTE OF TEST KITS
WHICH ARE IN HIGH DEMAND, WHAT
DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, I GOT TO TELL YOU, I
DON’T HAVE THE HE CAN TAILS ON
THAT, IF YOU HAD TOLD ME ABOUT
THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE AHEAD OF
TIME I WOULD HAVE GOT SOME
INFORMATION ON IT IT I PRESEUM
THAT THE KITS THAT EXPIRED WERE
NOT REQUESTED AND THEY HAVE A
SHELF LIFE AND THAT SHELF LIFE
EXPIRED.
>> YEAH.
>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS I HAD
A BRIEFING ON MONDAY AT BROWARD
GENERAL AND I SPOKE JUST SHORTLY
BEFORE THIS INTERVIEW NOW WITH
BROWARD GENERAL C.E.O. AS FAR AS
WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN
BROWARD COUNTY WITH REGARD TO
THE COVID AND OMICRON NUMBER, WE
SEE THAT BROWARD GENERAL
THROUGHOUT THAT SYSTEM, NOT ONLY
BROWARD HOSPITAL IN FORT
LAUDERDALE BUT THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE SYSTEM, THEY HAVE 258
PATIENTS CURRENTLY, THEY HAVE
NINE PEDIATRIC PATIENTS THAT IS
ACROSS THE SYSTEM OVERALL.
NOT MANY OF THOSE ARE IN THE
ICU.
IT’S THE VAST MAJORITY ARE NOT
IN THE ICU.
AND WHAT THEY ARE FINDING IS
ABOUT 86 PERCENT OF THOSE
PATIENTS THAT ARE HOSPITALIZED
ARE UNVACCINATED.
>> JUMP IN.
>> YEAH, LET ME JUMP IN, THE
METRIC SHOULD NOT BE, IS NO
LONGER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON
ICU BEDS, IT IS THE ECONOMY,
STUPID.
LET’S BE VERY CLEAR.
HAVE I HAD FLIGHTS CANCELLED
THIS WEEK.
WE HAVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE
WOEFULLY UNDERSTAFFED.
IT IS THE ECONOMY.
AND I FIND MYSELF IN THIS WEIRD
TWILIGHT ZONE BECAUSE OF THE
PAST COUPLE OF SESSIONS WE HAVE
A GOVERNOR THAT WANTS TO CREATE
A FLORIDA OSHA, CREATE A FLORIDA
MILITIA, ASK FOR $5 MILLION
DURING SPECIAL SESSION WITH NO
EARMARKS, DEADLINES OR
BENCHMARKS OR ANY KIND OF
METRICS TO DETERMINE THE
EFFICACY OF THE REQUEST.
THIS IS A GUY WHAT RAN ON
DEREGULATING THINGS AND WE ARE
REITING REGULATORY AGENCIES FOR
LETTING THINGS EXPIRED.
HE WAITED UNTIL THE MIDNIGHT
HOUR DURING COVID LAST YEAR ON
EVICTION MORATORIUM.
THE GUY DOESN’T GET ECONOMICS,
HE DOESN’T GET FINANCE.
HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND TIME VALUE
ED MONEY.
>> I KNOW YOU BOTH HAVE A
LOT-- I KNOW YOU BOTH HAVE A LOT
MORE TO SAY.
>> THE FACT IS THAT THE PEOPLE
ARE.
>> I APPROXIMATE GOING TO HAVE
TO SAY-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.