The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – March 28, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2016

LOPEZ-CANTERA ADDRESSES ECONOMIC CLUB: Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who is running this year for U.S. Senate, is slated to speak to the Economic Club of Tampa. (Monday, noon, Jackson's Bistro, 601 South Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa.)

GRAHAM SPEAKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: Former U.S. Sen. and Gov. Bob Graham, D-Fla., will speak to the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. (Monday, noon, Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

PRIMARY RESULTS CERTIFIED: The Elections Canvassing Commission will certify the results of the March 15 presidential primary elections. The certification will happen at the beginning of a state Cabinet meeting. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

CABINET CONSIDERS INSURANCE, REVENUE CHIEFS: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will take up a series of issues, including interviewing finalists for the jobs of insurance commissioner and executive director of the Florida Department of Revenue. The finalists for the insurance-commissioner job are state Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, and Jeffrey Bragg, who ran a federal terrorism risk insurance program. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

BOARD OF EDUCATION HOLDS CONFERENCE CALL: The State Board of Education will hold a conference call to address issues related to bond financing. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-339-2688. Code: 136 027 06.)

LONG-TERM CARE TRAINING OFFERED: The state Agency for Health Care Administration will conduct training for nursing-home providers, associations and other parts of the industry. The training will be broadcast to locations in various parts of the state. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee. Also, University of South Florida, 4103 USF Cedar Circle, Tampa. Also, Agency for Health Care Administration Regional Services Center, 2295 Victoria Ave., Fort Myers. Also, The Florida Hotel and Convention Center, 1500 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. Also, Courtyard by Marriott, 2440 West Cypress Road, Fort Lauderdale.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Board of Governors will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 2379 Broad St., Brooksville.)

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AT GROUND BREAKING: U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., are expected to take part in a ground-breaking ceremony for a pedestrian bridge that is part of what is known as the UniversityCity plan. The event will be hosted by Florida International University and the city of Sweetwater. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Florida International University, parking garage 6, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, 11200 S.W. Eighth St., Miami.)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will consider numerous parole cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

STATE INVESTMENTS AT ISSUE: The Investment Advisory Council, which reviews investments by staff of the State Board of Administration and makes recommendations, will meet. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., The Hermitage Centre, 1801 Hermitage Blvd., Tallahassee.)

PINELLAS LAWMAKERS DISCUSS SESSION: Several Pinellas County lawmakers will speak to the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club about the 2016 legislative session. Lawmakers expected to attend include Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg; Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater; Rep. Kathleen Peters, R-Treasure Island; Rep. Larry Ahern, R-Seminole; Rep. Chris Latvala, R-Clearwater; Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg; and Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg. (Wednesday, noon, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.)

TOLEDO RAISES MONEY: A fund-raising reception is slated for Republican Jackie Toledo, who is running in Hillsborough County's state House District 60. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Carmel Kitchen and Wine Bar, 3601 West Swann Ave., Tampa.)

SMITH RAISES MONEY: A fund-raising reception is slated for Republican Rebecca Smith, who is running in Hillsborough County's state House District 60. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Tampa Garden Club, 2929 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa.)

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

TRAIL PROJECTS DISCUSSED: The Florida Greenways and Trails Council will meet and is expected to discuss trail projects. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Douglas Building, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee.)

HEALTHY KIDS BOARD MEETS: The Florida Healthy Kids Corp. Board of Directors will meet in Orlando. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., Orlando.)

SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is expected to release its weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE SEEKS VETERANS' SUPPORT: Republican Brian Mast, a candidate in Congressional District 18, will campaign with veterans in Palm Beach County. (Thursday, noon, American Legion Post 271, 775 U.S. 1, Tequesta.)

GRABELLE RAISES MONEY IN CD 11: A fund-raising reception is scheduled for Republican Justin Grabelle, who is running in Congressional District 11. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Harbor Hills Country Club, 6538 Lake Griffin Road, Lady Lake.)

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016

WATER ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Steering Committee of the Central Florida Water Initiative is scheduled to meet. The committee includes representatives of the St. Johns River Water Management District, the South Florida Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Tohopekaliga Water Authority. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., TOHO Water Authority, 951 Martin Luther King Blvd., Kissimmee.)

LEGISLATIVE SESSION REVIEWED: Members of the Capitol Press Corps will discuss the 2016 legislative session during a gathering of the Capital Tiger Bay Club. (Friday, 11:45 a.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

MEDICAID DRUG LIST AT ISSUE: The AHCA Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee will consider recommendations of drugs to be included in the Medicaid program's preferred drug list. (Friday, 1 p.m., Tampa Hilton Airport/Westshore, 2225 North Lois Ave., Tampa.)