STATE CAPITAL BRIEFS (EVENING EDITION): FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

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NEGRON-LED SENATE COMMITTEE SPENDS $16.1 MILLION
With Republicans trying to hold on to their large majority in the Florida Senate, a political committee led by incoming Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, spent $16.1 million from Aug. 26 through Thursday, according to a newly filed finance report. The Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee also raised more than $7.5 million during the period, with six-figure contributions coming from businesses and political committees such as Disney Worldwide Services, Inc., a Florida Chamber of Commerce PAC, Florida Power & Light and a Florida Justice Association PAC, according to the report posted Friday on the state Division of Elections website. In all, the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has spent $22.8 million since January 2015.

SOLAR INITIATIVE BACKERS SPEND ANOTHER $4.3 MILLION
The group backing a controversial solar-energy ballot initiative spent more than $4.3 million from Oct. 22 to Thursday, with most of the money going to advertising, according to a newly filed finance report. Consumers for Smart Solar spent $4,365,012 during the period, bringing its overall spending on the initiative to $25.47 million. The group has raised slightly more than $26 million, with much of the money coming from Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric Co. and Gulf Power. Consumers for Smart Solar is spearheading what is known as Amendment 1 on Tuesday's ballot. The amendment, in part, would enshrine in the Florida Constitution existing rules about the use of solar energy by private property owners. The proposal also includes a more-contentious provision, which states that people who haven't installed solar on their property "are not required to subsidize the costs of backup power and electric grid access to those who do." Proponents say the second provision offers consumer protections for people who don't install solar panels. But opponents argue it could result in "discriminatory charges" against rooftop solar users and limit the desire of people to go solar.

'TRAVEL RELATED' ZIKA CASES CONTINUE TO MOUNT
Florida health officials on Friday announced eight new cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, including two infections involving pregnant women. The new cases bring the total to 1,128 cases in the state. Five of the cases involved people who were infected outside the state but came to Florida, including cases in Miami-Dade, Indian River and Palm Beach counties. Two of the "travel-related" cases involved pregnant women, but the state Department of Health does not identify the home counties of the women. Zika is a special concern for pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects, with Florida now reporting 133 total cases involving pregnant women. Health officials reported two new cases that were acquired locally in Miami-Dade County, where state and federal health officials have established two Zika warning zones, including one in Miami Beach. The final new case involved a person who is not a Florida resident. Zika remains a major concern, particularly in southeast Florida, prompting this unusual message from the Broward County government on Friday: "Don't worry about mosquitoes when you vote. All early voting sites have been treated by mosquito control to prevent the Zika virus." Broward has the second highest number of travel-related Zika cases in Florida at 131, only exceeded by Miami-Dade with 252 travel-related cases, according to state health officials.

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11/4/2016

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