WELCOME BACK.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION
WITH RICHARD CORCORAN.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
EFFECTS OF HURRICANE IRMA.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF P
CANS THAT MOVED TO FLORIDA --
PUERTO RICANS THAT MOVED TO
FLORIDA.
SHOULD FLORIDA BE WELCOMING AND
SHOULD THE STATE HELP THEM
FINANCIALLY RESETTLE IN
FLORIDA.
THEY ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS.
SO, WHETHER THEY COME FROM
ALABAMA, GEORGIA, HOUSTON --
TEXAS, LOUISIANA OR PUERTO
RICO, THEY COME, THERE IS
PROGRAMS ALREADY IN PLACE THAT
HELP PEOPLE RELOCATE AND DEAL
WITH DISASTERS.
WE HAVE THEM ACROSS THE BULK OF
OUR NATION WHETHER IT'S FOREST
FIRES IN CALIFORNIA, HURRICANES
IN FLORIDA, WHAT HAVE YOU,
TORNADOES.
SO, ANYBODY THAT RELOCATES THAT
IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN IS OF A
VEILED THOSE BENEFITS TO GET
THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET AND TRY
TO HELP THEM AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE.
SO, YEAH, THEY ARE AMERICAN
CITIZENS.
EASY ANSWER.
THE OTHER PART OF THE
HURRICANE WHICH WE SAW WAS THE
DEATHS OF THE NURSING HOME.
I TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE TOP OF
THE SHOW.
BEFORE I GET YOUR COMMENTS
ABOUT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE
MIGHT DO IN TERMS OF NURSING
HOME REFORM AND WHAT THE
POSSIBILITIES ARE, I WANT TO
PLAY YOU A BIT OF SOUND THAT
CAME FROM A CONGRESSIONAL
HEARING HELD DOWN HERE EARLIER
THIS YEAR IN WHICH FORMER STATE
SENATOR, REPRESENTATIVE TALKED
ABOUT HER EFFORTS WHEN SHE WAS
IN THE LEGISLATURE TO GET
NURSING HOME REFORM.
LET'S PLAY THE SOUND.
INFLUENCE OF SPECIAL
INTERESTS, TELL US WHY FLORIDA
IS IN THIS CRISIS.
REVIEWING THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS
REHAB THIS TRAGEDY WAS
PREDICTABLE WAITING TO HAPPEN.
IN 1998, I WAS A ROOMMATE [
INAUDIBLE ] I INTRODUCED A BILL
TO REQUIRE ALS TO HAVE AIR-
CONDITIONING IN THEIR
FACILITIES.
IMAGINE THEN AIR-CONDITIONING
IN FLORIDA.
I WAS MET WITH FIERCE
OPPOSITION BY AN ORGANIZED
POWERFUL INDUSTRY AND CALLED
NAMES BEGIN WITH [ INAUDIBLE
].
I WAS TOLD SHADE TREES AND FANS
WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.
SENIORS WERE OFTEN COLD AND DID
NOT NEED AIR-CONDITIONING.
EVENTUALLY THE LAW PASSED IN
2000 [ INAUDIBLE ].
THAT IS IN THE FLORIDA STATUTES
TODAY.
THAT IS HER BIT OF WISDOM.
I WANT TO ASK YOU SORT OF A TWO-
PART QUESTION.
HOW POWERFUL IS THE NURSING
HOME LOBBY IN TALLAHASSEE AND,
TWO, REALISTICALLY WHAT KIND OF
REFORMS CAN WE EXPECT?
FIRST, I WOULD SAY TO YOUR
QUESTIONS, ONE I KNOW THE
REPRESENTATIVE WELL.
I WORKED WITH HER ON NURSING
HOME REFORM WHEN SHE WAS IN THE
SENATE.
AND WE PASSED SIGNIFICANT
REFORM.
HOW POWERFUL -- THE ONLY WAY A
LOBBY OR GROUP OR SPECIAL
INTEREST IS POWERFUL IS IF
ELECTED OFFICIALS GIVE THEM
THAT POWER.
WE NEVER SHOULD.
DO THEY?
YEAH, EVERY DAY.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE DONE THAT
AT ALL IN TALLAHASSEE.
THE REFORMS WILL BE
SIGNIFICANT.
TO THE REPORT ON HOLLYWOOD
HILLS, THAT IS CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR.
THAT IS ESTABLISHED AS CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR.
YOU CAN'T LETTING SLATE AGAINST
NOT JUST STUPID BUT AGAINST
CORE RESPECT ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR.
NO CHARGES, NO CRIMINAL
CHARGES.
THE QUESTION IN THAT CASE,
NEEDLESS CAUSE OF DEATH FOR
THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHO GETS
ARRESTED.
THEY ALREADY ESTABLISHED IT WAS
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO DECIDE
LET'S GO IN THERE AND FIGURE
OUT WHO DO WE ARREST.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS AND
SCENARIOS, ALL THEY WERE DOING
FOR THE MOST PERNICIOUS REASONS
WAS LOOKING FOR BOTTOM LINE
DOLLARS.
THE STATE DID NOT REQUIRE
THEM TO HAVE A BACKUP GENERATOR
OR AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM.
THE STATE REQUIRES THEM TO
TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTION THAT
IS PRUDENT FOR THE SAFETY OF --
IF IT DOESN'T SPELL IT OUT
IT WON'T HAPPEN.
THEY WILL GET ARRESTED AND
CONVICTED.
SHOULD IT BE SPELLED OUT IN
THE LAW.
WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.
WE HAVE A HURRICANE SELECT
COMMITTEE.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS WHAT
ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO
TO BRING ABOUT GREATER SAFETY
TO THE NURSING HOME INDUSTRY.
KEEP IN MIND HOW MANY SENIOR
CITIZENS WE HAVE WHETHER IT'S
ALS OR NURSING HOMES AND WE HAD
AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AT ONE
HOLLYWOOD HILLS HOME WHERE IT
WAS EGREGIOUS CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR.
AS THE WHOLE, AGAINST THE OTHER
50 STATES WE MATCH UP NUMBER 1
IN TERMS OF HOW WE TAKE CARE OF
AND COVER --
SHOULD FPL BY LAW BE
REQUIRED TO PLACE NURSING HOMES
ON PAR OF EVERYONE WITH TURNING
POWER BACK ON.
YES.
THAT IS --
YOU WOULD SUPPORT THAT IN A
BILL?
ABSOLUTELY.
I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THE -- WHAT GOES ON ABOUT
THAT, THERE IS ALREADY A LIST.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT LIST, ON
THAT LIST ARE THE FRAILIST OF
THE FRAIL.
ADDING ON TO THAT IS
APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR BUT YOU
HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SERIOUS
NEED IN HOSPITALS.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
HANDICAP OR SEVERELY HANDICAP,
BLIND.
YOU GO THROUGH THE LIST.
THEY ARE ALL NECESSARY AND IN A
SERIOUS HURRICANE WITH 48,
WHATEVER, 72 HOURS --
BAL HARBOUR HAD THEIR POWER
ON BEFORE THE NURSING HOME.
THAT IS NOT A PRIORITY.
THIS NURSING HOME WAS ACROSS
THE STREET WITH A HOSPITAL WITH
SIMILAR OWNERSHIP.
EVERYTHING THEY DID WAS
CRIMINAL.
THEY WILL BE HELD
ACCOUNTABILITY.
YOU MADE SANCTUARY CITIES
AN ISSUE.
YOU PROMOTED IT AS SOMETHING
THAT YOU RECENTLY WROTE AN OP-
ED HERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WROTE,
TALKING ABOUT THE 2015 CASE OF
KATE STEINLE MURDERED IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
IF YOU WONDER IF THAT CAN
HAPPEN IN FLORIDA, YOU SAY NOT
ON MY WATCH.
YOU MAKE A STAND TO SAY YOU
WILL PREVENT SANCTUARY CITIES
AND OUT LAW SANCTUARY CITIES.
NAME ME A SINGLE SANCTUARY CITY
IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, A
SINGLE POLICE AGENCY IN THE
STATE OF FLORIDA THAT IS NOT
COOPERATING WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, A SINGLE COUNTY IN
THE 67 COUNTIES IN FLORIDA.
THIS IS A LAW THAT HAS NO --
THERE IS NOTHING CORRECT.
THERE ARE NO SANCTUARY CITIES
IN FLORIDA.
ARE YOU GRANDSTANDING?
NO.
FIRST OF ALL, THAT IS NOT TRUE.
WHAT CITIES?
I WILL GET TO IT.
YOU HAVE TO LET ME FINISH.
RIGHT NOW IN ST. PETERSBURG WE
HAVE A MAY I DON'T REMEMBER, I
KNOW MAYOR KRISEMAN.
DID HE USE THE TERM SANCTUARY
CITY, NO.
BUT ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, HIS
CITY IS A SANCTUARY CITY.
IN JUNE OF THIS LAST YEAR WE
HAD ILLEGAL TAXI CAB DRIVER
KILLED THAT IS BEING
INVESTIGATED.
IT'S A PROBLEM IN THE STATE OF
FLORIDA.
BUT THE BIGGER QUESTION IS
THIS.
IT'S NOT JUST SANCTUARY CITIES.
YOU DON'T GET WRAPPED AROUND
THE UNDERLYING ISSUE THAT I
TALKED ABOUT AT LENGTH IS THE
RULE OF LAW.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A WELL
ESTABLISHED RULE OF LAW THAT IS
TRUST AND TRUE, THE SINGLE MOST
IMPORTANT FACTOR TO MAKING US
THE GREATEST DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM
IN MANKIND IS THE RULE OF LAW.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THE
UNDERLYING ISSUE IS, YOU
JEOPARDIZE A SOCIETY MOVING
FORWARD.
THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THAT SHOULD BE FOUGHT EVERY
STEP OF THE WAY.
ALL RIGHT.
I CAN GIVE YOU ANOTHER
EXAMPLE.
JUST TO MAKE MY POINT THAT IT'S
NOT THE UNDERLYING ISSUE.
WE HAVE A NEWLY ELECTED STATE
ATTORNEY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA
THAT DECIDED ON HER OWN THAT
THE DEATH PENALTY LAWS THAT THE
PEOPLE --
THIS IS A SANCTUARY CITY
ISSUE.
MY POINT IS IT'S ABOUT RULE
OF LAW.
IN THAT CASE, WITH HER, I HAVE
CALLED FOR HER REMOVAL.
IF YOU CANNOT BE AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL, HOLD UP YOUR HAND AND
SAY I WILL FIGHT FOR THE
CONSTITUTION AND UP HOLD THE
LAW AND YOU ROUTINELY VIOLATE
IT BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU KNOW
IT BETTER, THEY SHOULD BE
REMOVED FROM OFFICE.
IF WE WANT TO PROTECT
FLORIDIANS, LET'S TALK ABOUT
SENATE BILL 456 THAT WOULD BAN
BUMP STOCKS.
DO YOU SUPPORT AN EFFORT TO BAN
THOSE?
WHAT I SUPPORT --
YOU DON'T?
MY POINT IS WHAT I SUPPORT,
WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
THAT BUMP STOCK ISSUE WILL COME
UP.
THERE WILL BE A GUN LEGISLATION
FROM THE LEFT, FROM THE RIGHT.
THE BUMP STOCK ISSUE WILL BE
WILDLY DEBATED AND GET THAT
INFORMATION AND RESEARCH IT.
YOUR POSITION IS -- WHAT IS
YOUR POSITION?
RIGHT NOW I THINK THAT WE
NEED MORE INFORMATION FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO MAKE A DECISION.
THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE
RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK THAT
IS THE ISSUE.
IT'S NOT GUNS.
IT'S NOT FERTILIZER.
IT'S NOT TRUCKS.
THOSE AREN'T THE PROBLEMS.
IT'S PSYCHOTIC PEOPLE WITH EVIL
IN THEIR HEARTS.
AUDREY GIBSON HAS A BILL
THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR -- A
COMPANION BILL IN THE HOUSE
THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR FAMILY
MEMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
MENTALLY ILL TO PETITION THE
COURT TO TAKE GUNS AWAY FROM
THEM.
IT WOULD ALLOW THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT -- ESSENTIALLY LIKE
A BAKER ACT FOR GUNS.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT A MEASURE IN
WHICH A JUDGE WAS ABLE TO RULE
THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT
MENTALLY COMPETENT TO POSSESS
FIREARMS AND HAVE THEM TAKEN A
WAY FOR UP TO A YEAR.
AGAIN, I WILL LOOK AT THAT
LEGISLATION.
WE ADDRESSED SOMETHING SIMILAR
TO THAT TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO
DEALING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND
GUNS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW HERS
DIFFERENTIATES.
YOU WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF
LEGISLATION THAT PREVENTS
MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS OR
PEOPLE ON SUSPICION --
SUSPECTED OF MENTAL ILLNESS OF
FIREARMS.
THE PROCESS HAS TO BE JUST
AND FAIR.
ALL RIGHT.
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ISSUED
A RULING THAT SAID THERE SHOULD
NOT BE DRILLING FOR OIL IN THE
EVERGLADES.
THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO DRILL
FOR OIL SIX MILES WEST OF
MIRAMAR.
FLORIDAFLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GET
THAT RIGHT?
I HAVEN'T SEEN THE SPECIFIC
RULING.
I HAVE BEEN A LONG ADVOCATE FOR
PROTECTING THE PRISTINE NATURE
OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
YOU WANT TO GET RID OF --
ELIMINATE PIP.
TELL ME WHY?
IT'S A NO FAULT SYSTEM.
I DON'T CARE WHERE IT IS IN
SOCIETY, EVEN IN DIVORCE.
WHEN YOU TELL SOMEONE THAT THEY
CAN GO OUT AND ONE SIDE CAN BE
IN EGREGIOUS BEHAVIOR BUT
BECAUSE WE HAVE NO FAULT ALL
THE BEHAVIOR IS IGNORED AND YOU
HAND OVER PEOPLE CHECKS FOR
$10,000, IT'S CAUSING AUTO
INSURANCE RATES TO RISE.
SO, THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
AND PEOPLE OUGHT TO HAVE
LETTING MAT COVERAGES TO
PROTECT THEIR BODILY INJURIES.
YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF
MANDATORY BODILY INJURY.
A FAR BETTER SYSTEM.
GET RID OF THE FREE $10,000
THAT IS DRIVING UP INSURANCE
RATES, THAT CREATED COTTAGE
INDUSTRIES UP AND DOWN THE
STATE OF PEOPLE GETTING BARELY
GRAZED TO THE POINT THERE IS NO
PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THEIR AUTO
AND THEY GET WHATEVER
TREATMENTS THEY GET SO THEY USE
UP THE $10,000 AND YOU AND I
ARE PAYING FOR IT.
MANDATORY BODILY INJURY
COULD RAISE RATES.
THE IMPORTANT THING WE ARE
LOOKING AT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHEN YOU MOVE FROM A PIP SYSTEM
COSTING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS SPREAD ACROSS ALL
INSURANCE PAYERS AND MOVING TO
A MANDATORY THAT YOU GET A RATE
REDUCTION.
IF WE CAN GET AGGREGATE RATE
REDUCTION AND MOVE TO A SYSTEM
THAT IS SANE, NORMAL AND COMMON
SENSE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE
OF FLORIDA BENEFIT.
YOU SUPPORT A BILL THAT SAYS
IF YOU GET BULLIED IN SCHOOL
YOU GET AVOUCHER TO GO TO A
PRIVATE SCHOOL.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WON'T
GIVE AVOUCHER FOR.
SOMETIMES THESE QUESTIONS I
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY
COME FROM.
YOU ARE TELLING ME YOU ARE
OKAY WITH A YOUNG GIRL OR YOUNG
BOY GOING TO SCHOOL BEING
PHYSICALLY OR SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED AND THEY HAVE TO STAY
IN THERE --
SEXUAL ASSAULT IS DIFFERENT
THAN BEING BULLIED.
OF THE 50,000 REPORTED
INCIDENTS, ONLY ABOUT 5,000
RELATE TO BULLYING OR
NONPHYSICAL VIOLENCE.
THE REST ARE FIGHTING,
PUNCHING, SEXUAL ASSAULTS,
HARASSMENT.
IT'S PHYSICAL PAIN AND TORTURE
FOR THOSE CHILDREN.
WE WILL WORRY THAT WE HAVE A
CHILD WHO IS SUFFERING.
YOU SHOULD READ THE STORIES.
SUFFERING FROM PTSD.
WHAT ABOUT THE UNDERLYING
PROBLEM.
SHOULDN'T YOU DEAL WITH THE
UNDERLYING PROBLEM, THE PERSON
THAT IS DOING THE BULLYING,
SEXUAL ASSAULTING.
WE HAVE A CODE OF CONDUCT.
THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED BETTER
BY OUR SCHOOLS BUT IN THE
MEANTIME, IN THE MEANTIME,
WHILE THEY FIGURE THAT OUT,
LET'S TAKE THAT CHILD THAT WE
PROMISED TO GIVE AN EDUCATION,
SUFFERING FROM PTSD BECAUSE HE
IS GETTING HIS BACK SIDE KICKED
EVERY DAY AND PUT HIM IN AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE SO HE
CAN GET AN EDUCATION.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE
OPPOSE THIS.
IT'S TAKING MORE MONEY FROM
PUBLIC TO PRIVATE.
EVERY STUDY OUT THERE,
HARVARD, CONSERVATIVE, LIBERAL,
STANFORD CONSERVATIVE, EVERY
STUDY SHOWED THAT WHEN YOU HAVE
THESE PROGRAMS, THE RISING TIDE
RATES SHIFT.
OF THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KIDS,
40,000 GO TO COLLEGE.
THEY ARE POOR, SINGLE PARENTS,
70% MINORITY.
MR. SPEAKER THANK YOU FOR