>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, FLORIDA LAWMAKERS PREPARE FOR A SPECIAL SESSION ON VACCINATION AND MASK MANDATES.

THE GOVERNOR UNVEILS PLANS FOR A NEW ROUND OF VOTING LEGISLATION FOR NEXT YEAR, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA BACKS DOWN IN ITS CONFLICT OF INTEREST FIGHT WITH FACULTY.

BUT WHAT DOES THE CONTROVERSY SHOW ABOUT POLITICS AND HIGHER EDUCATION IN FLORIDA?

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M NANCY ALVAREZ AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT, WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

AND WE DO THIS EVERY WEEK BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, IN THE STUDIO WITH ME TODAY, MATTHEW PEDDIE FROM 90.7 WMFE.

IT'S SO NICE TO SEE YOU IN PERSON AGAIN.

AND VIA SKYPE, CHRISTOPHER HEATH, WHO COVERS POLITICS FOR WFTV CHANNEL 9.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS WEEK.

WELL, FIRST TONIGHT, AS GOVERNOR DESANTIS FILES HIS PAPERWORK TO RUN FOR REELECTION NEXT YEAR, TWO IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISSUES FACE FLORIDA LAWMAKERS.

FIRST, A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE STARTS ON MONDAY IN RESPONSE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S VACCINE MANDATE.

>>WE WILL COMBAT THE OSHA RULE- >>LAWMAKERS WILL DEBATE A SERIES OF BILLS DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION, BUT IT'S SENATE BILL 2B THAT ENCAPSULATES THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA.

>>I JUST THINK PEOPLE ARE SO SICK OF CONSTANTLY BEING BOSSED AROUND, RESTRICTED, MANDATED, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OFF OF IT, AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS, AND SO- >>UNDER THE PROPOSAL, PRIVATE EMPLOYER COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES ARE PROHIBITED.

VACCINE POLICIES MUST INCLUDE EXEMPTIONS FOR HEALTH OR RELIGIOUS CONCERNS, PREGNANT WOMEN, OR THOSE WHO ANTICIPATE PREGNANCY, EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19, EMPLOYEES WHO CHOOSE PERIODIC COVID-19 TESTING OR PPE AS AN ALTERNATIVE.

EMPLOYERS WHO VIOLATE THESE RULES WILL BE FINED.

GOVERNMENT ENTITIES MAY NOT REQUIRE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS OF ANYONE, INCLUDING EMPLOYEES.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS MAY NOT REQUIRE STUDENTS TO BE COVID-19 VACCINATED.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY NOT REQUIRE STUDENTS TO WEAR FACE MASKS.

>>AND WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, YOU CAN FIND THE TEXT OF ALL THE BILLS FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION ON OUR WEBSITE IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIAL SESSION, GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS PLANNING A NEW ROUND OF VOTING LEGISLATION FOR NEXT YEAR.

MY COLLEAGUE, STEVE MORT SPOKE WITH A REPUBLICAN AND A DEMOCRAT TO GET THEIR THOUGHTS ON BOTH ISSUES.

LET'S START WITH REPUBLICAN SENATOR DENNIS BAXLEY ON THE BILLS LINED UP FOR NEXT WEEK ON VACCINE MANDATES.

>>PEOPLE ARE JUST WEARY OF THESE TOTALITARIAN-TYPE MEASURES OF ORDERING PEOPLE ON THEIR HEALTHCARE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE PRIVACY ACT PROTECTED.

AND YET, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SORT THAT OUT AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION.

WHY ARE WE ADDING THESE EXTREME MEASURES THAT ARE VIOLATING PEOPLE'S INDIVIDUAL RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR HEALTHCARE PATH?

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

AND IT IS A BIG CHALLENGE TO OUR LIBERTY.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT A POINT WITH THIS, THAT IT SHOULD WEIGH THAT MUCH.

AND I DON'T THINK THE CENTRALIZATION OF POWER IS THE WAY TO DO IT.

A LOT OF IT IS A RESISTANCE TO THESE FOLKS THAT THINK THAT'S PROGRESS FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OVER AND TELL EVERYBODY WHAT TO DO.

>>WELL, THAT SEGUES INTO THE VOTING ISSUE THAT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE WANTS TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICE OF ELECTION CRIMES AND SECURITY TO INVESTIGATE ELECTION CRIMES AND FRAUD.

ISN'T THAT AN EXAMPLE OF MORE GOVERNMENT THAT YOU'RE OPPOSING?

>>WELL IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY WRAPPED AROUND A BIGGER ISSUE.

AND THAT IS THE CONFIDENCE IN OUR OWN VOTERS, IN THE SYSTEM THAT THEY UTILIZE THAT HAS MORE IMPACT ON PARTICIPATION THAN ANYTHING.

IF THEY THINK, "WELL, IT MAY NOT COME MY WAY THAT I HAVE VOTED, BUT I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THIS SYSTEM."

JUST LIKE WE DO THE FLORIDA LOTTERY, PEOPLE DON'T QUESTION WHETHER A LEGITIMATE TICKET WAS PULLED, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON SECURITY OF BEING ABLE TO GIVE THAT KIND OF ASSURANCE.

THEY'RE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF TIGHT SECURITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS THAT WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE IN VOTERS THAT THIS ISN'T A POLITICAL MACHINE OPERATING THE ELECTION, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY A PROCESS BY WHICH EVERYONE CAN DEPEND ON THE ACCURACY AND THE LEGITIMACY OF THESE ELECTIONS.

>>ALL RIGHT.

NOW LET'S HEAR FROM DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE, CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH.

>>FLORIDIANS DESERVE THE FREEDOM TO BE HEALTHY, SAFE, AND PROSPEROUS.

NONE OF THESE PROPOSALS BEING PUSHED BY REPUBLICANS AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS DO THAT.

IN FACT, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY PROLONG THE PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE ALL SO DESPERATE TO GET OUT OF PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTED.

REGARDLESS OF THEIR PARTY AFFILIATION, THEY ARE EXHAUSTED FROM COVID-19.

THEY ARE EXHAUSTED FROM THE POLITICIZATION OF THE VIRUS BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS, WHO HAS POLITICIZED COVID-19 AT EVERY SINGLE TURN, SO THAT CAN PROMOTE HIS OWN POLITICAL AMBITIONS AT THE COST OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF FLORIDIANS.

AND WE'RE ALL JUST TRYING TO MOVE ON FROM THIS.

THE WAY THAT WE DO THAT IS THROUGH VACCINATION.

>>WELL, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ELECTIONS.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE WANTS TO GET RID OF WHAT HE CALLS UNSECURE, HAPHAZARD DROP BOX LOCATIONS.

THAT SEEMS PRETTY SENSIBLE.

DOESN'T IT?

THERE'S NO DATA TO BACK UP THE CLAIM THAT DROP BOXES ARE SOMEHOW NOT SECURE AND ARE MAGNETS FOR ELECTION FRAUD.

THEY'RE NOT, OTHERWISE AS WE WOULD'VE SEEN EVIDENCE OF SUCH.

IN FACT, THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF IS THE ONE WHO SIGNED LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWED FOR THE EXPANDED USE OF DROP BOXES.

IT APPEARS THAT HE'S HAD A CHANGE OF HEART.

AND I SUSPECT THE REASON HE'S HAD A CHANGE OF HEART IS BECAUSE HE IS WANTING TO PANDER TO THOSE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS, QANON TYPES WHO CONTINUE TO MAKE FALSE ALLEGATIONS, THAT SOMEHOW THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, THAT TRUMP IS SECRETLY PRESIDENT, AND THAT WE NEED A FORENSIC AUDIT OF OUR STATE'S ELECTION CYCLE.

HE'S JUST PROMOTING MORE CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND MISINFORMATION ABOUT ELECTION INTEGRITY THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, IS VERY DESTRUCTIVE TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

>>ALL RIGHT.

SO GOOD PERSPECTIVE THERE FROM BOTH SIDES.

SO LET'S START NOW WITH THE SPECIAL SESSION NEXT WEEK.

AND CHRIS, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

WHY DOES THE GOVERNOR SAY THIS IS NEEDED WHEN HE ALREADY SIGNED TO BILL ON VACCINE PASSPORTS EARLIER THIS YEAR?

>>WELL, PART OF WHAT THAT LEGISLATURE WILL BE DOING IN THE SPECIAL SESSION IS ESSENTIALLY CLARIFYING SOME OF THAT.

THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE FINES THAT THE STATE LEVIED AGAINST SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND AGAINST CITIES FOR THEIR VACCINE POLICIES WERE UP TO THE LETTER OF THE LAW.

THIS WILL CLARIFY SOME OF IT.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS THE GOVERNOR SAID WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WANTED A SPECIAL SESSION, WE'VE SEEN THE LEGISLATURE PULL BACK FROM, AND THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED HEADING INTO THE SPECIAL SESSION.

THINGS LIKE COVID-19 LAWSUIT PROTECTIONS ARE NOT IN THESE BILLS.

SO A LOT OF IT IS JUST TRYING TO, I THINK, MASSAGE WHAT WAS ALREADY PASSED DURING THE REGULAR SESSION, CLARIFY A FEW THINGS GOING FORWARD, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT DOES ALSO SEND A MESSAGE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN OUT ON THE FOREFRONT OF SAYING, "WE'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE YOUR PERSONAL LIBERTY," AND THIS IS A WAY FOR HIM TO DO THAT.

>>ALL RIGHT, MATT, TURNING TO YOU NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT OTHER PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF LAWMAKERS.

ONE INCLUDES LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A WITHDRAWAL FROM THE FEDERAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, OSHA.

>>RIGHT.

BIG DEAL THERE.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THESE ADDITIONAL BILLS.

>>YEAH, WELL THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR IS AN INTERESTING PROPOSAL.

WE DID HEAR FROM SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, CHRIS SPROWLS.

HE DESCRIBED OSHA AS BEING WEAPONIZED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TRY AND USE IT TO FORCE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO THE IDEA WITH THAT BILL IS TO LAY UP THE FRAMEWORK FOR FLORIDA TO WITHDRAW FROM OSHA, TO SET UP ITS OWN OFFICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH.

THERE'S TO BE A REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, BACK TO THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND SENATE PRESIDENT IN JANUARY SOMETIME.

>>WOW.

>>THERE'S SOME MONEY SET ASIDE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

SO INTERESTING POLITICS AT PLAY AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

>>AND YOU GOT TO BELIEVE OTHER STATES WILL BE WATCHING HOW IT PLAYS OUT HERE, AS THEY USUALLY DO.

THEY'RE ALWAYS WATCHING HOW IT PLAYS OUT IN FLORIDA.

AND THIS DRAFT LEGISLATION WOULD BAN GOVERNMENT ENTITIES FROM REQUIRING VACCINE MANDATES OF ANYONE, INCLUDING EMPLOYEES AND PREVENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM IMPLEMENTING COVID VACCINATIONS OR MASK REQUIREMENTS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT.

TAKE A LISTEN TO ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS HERE, SPEAKING TO NEWSNIGHT LAST WEEK.

>>THAT MAKES THE JOB HARDER WHEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE NIMBLE, TO ADJUST TO THE ENVIRONMENT AT THE TIME.

WHO KNOWS WHETHER WE'LL SEE ANOTHER VARIANT OR NOT, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS TO KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE DURING A PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS DURING ANY OTHER CRISIS.

>>SO CHRIS, THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO SUING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SAYING HE'S PROTECTING JOBS.

BUT DEMOCRATS SEE POLITICS AT PLAY HERE.

SO DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR IS BANKING ON ISSUES LIKE THIS TO HELP HIS REELECTION NEXT YEAR AND MAYBE ANY FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR HIM?

>>WELL, I MEAN, YEAH, IT'S A POLITICAL MOVE BOTH WAYS.

YOU HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DOING SOMETHING THEY THINK IS IN THEIR BEST, NOT JUST POLITICAL INTEREST, BUT ALSO THE NATION'S INTEREST.

AND THE GOVERNOR RESPONDING BY DOING SOMETHING THAT HE BELIEVES IS IN FLORIDA'S BEST INTEREST, BUT IS ALSO IN HIS PERSONAL BEST INTEREST.

LISTEN, POLITICIANS DO THIS EVERY TIME.

AND WE SAW THIS ...

IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, YOU SAW DEMOCRATIC STATES SUING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, REPUBLICAN STATES SUING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

THIS HAS BECOME PRETTY MUCH PAR FOR THE COURSE DURING A DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION, IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, YOU SUE THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, AND VICE VERSA WHEN THE ROLES ARE REVERSED.

>>AND MATT, THIS ANTI-VACCINE MANDATE PUSH COMES AS VACCINES ARE ROLLED OUT FOR 5 TO 11 YEAR OLDS.

I KNOW WE HAD VIDEO ALL WEEK OF LITTLE KIDS ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES.

SO WMFE HAS BEEN COVERING THE ROLLOUT LOCALLY AS WELL.

HOW'S IT GOING?

>>IT'S A MIXED BAG.

SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE OFFERING VACCINES TO THOSE KIDS 5 TO 11 YEARS OLD, SOME AREN'T.

ORANGE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE CLINICS GOING ALL WEEK AT SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS AROUND THE DISTRICT.

AND AS OF TUESDAY EVENING, THEY SAID SOME JUST OVER A 1000 KIDS IN THAT 5 TO 11 BRACKET HAD GOTTEN A SHOT.

SO THAT'S A SMALL FRACTION OF THE ELIGIBLE STUDENT POPULATION THERE, BUT IT'S A START.

IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE, TOO, THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA HASN'T REALLY REQUESTED A LOT OF VACCINES, AT SOME 90,000 I THINK THEY REQUESTED, COMPARED TO TEXAS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THOSE 5 TO 11 YEAR OLD VACCINES, THEY REQUESTED SOME 1 MILLION.

SO NOT QUITE SURE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, BUT AT THIS POINT, AT LEAST, THERE IS ENOUGH VACCINE TO GO AROUND.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE STATE MAY HAVE TO UP ITS REQUEST AT SOME POINT DOWN THE TRACK IF MORE PEOPLE START REQUESTING THOSE VACCINES FOR THE KIDS IN THAT AGE BRACKET.

>>INTERESTING.

CHRIS, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME REPORTING THAT YOU'VE DONE ON CHARGES FOR COVID TESTS.

MANY PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE JUST SUPPOSED TO BE FREE LIKE VACCINATIONS.

BUT IS THAT THE CASE?

>>WELL, IF YOU GO TO A GOVERNMENT RUN SITE, EITHER COUNTY OR A CITY RUN SITE OR A STATE RUN SITE, THEN IT WILL BE FREE.

FREE BEING A RELATIVE TERM, TAXPAYERS OBVIOUSLY PICK UP THE TAB.

BUT YOU WILL NOT.

NOW IF YOU GO TO A PRIVATE CLINIC, THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO IF YOU GO TO A PRIVATE CLINIC FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

YOUR INSURANCE WILL BE BILLED FOR IT, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE, THE BILL WILL BE COMING TO YOU.

AND IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU GO.

WHEN THE CARES ACT WAS PASSED IN 2020, THERE WERE LIMITS PLACED ON EXACTLY HOW MUCH YOU COULD CHARGE FOR A COVID TEST, BUT IT DID HAVE A PRETTY BIG LOOPHOLE IN IT, WHICH IS THAT THERE'S ALL SORTS OF FEES YOU CAN TACK ON AND WE'RE TO SEE SOME OF THESE CLINICS DO THAT.

THERE ARE CLINICS THAT ARE POPPING UP IN AIRPORTS, ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS WHO NEED TO GET A COVID TEST.

AND OF COURSE YOU'RE PAYING A CONVENIENCE FEE AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO GET ON A FLIGHT.

SO WE'RE STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE GET THESE BILLS FOR A COVID TEST.

AND THEY'RE SAYING, "WAIT, I THOUGHT IT WAS FREE."

NOT NECESSARILY.

AND IT ACTUALLY DOVETAILS INTO SOMETHING THAT IS IN THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE TAKING UP DURING ITS SPECIAL SESSION.

AND THAT IS IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYEE AND YOU CHOOSE NOT TO BE VACCINATED AND YOU SAY, "I'LL JUST DO THE COVID TEST EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS TO SATISFY THIS REQUIREMENT, " CHECK WITH YOUR INSURANCE.

BECAUSE A LOT OF INSURANCE PROVIDERS ARE SAYING, "WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE COVERING THE COST FOR BIWEEKLY TESTING.

IF YOU WANT TO GET TESTED FOR YOUR EMPLOYMENT, THAT'S GOING TO BE ON YOU.

SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR INSURANCE IS THERE.

BUT AGAIN, THAT COULD BE A COST THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START TO SEE IF THEY DECIDE RATHER THAN GET VACCINATED, THEY'D RATHER JUST DO THE TESTING.

THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO PAY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET.

>>AND WE WANT TO REMIND YOU, YOU CAN JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE AT WUCF TV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.

ALL RIGHT, CHRIS, LET'S SWITCH GEARS AND TALK ABOUT VOTING AND THE GOVERNOR'S PLANS FOR A NEW OFFICE OF ELECTION CRIMES AND SECURITY.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR ENVISIONS HERE WITH THIS NEW AGENCY WORKING.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

>>BASICALLY, THIS WOULD BE AN AGENCY THAT WOULD FALL UNDERNEATH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WHICH IS OF COURSE AN APPOINTED POSITION THAT IS UNDER THE GOVERNOR.

AND SO IT WOULD BE ABOUT A $6 MILLION EXPENDITURE FOR THIS AGENCY TO GO OUT AND INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE ANY ISSUES DEALING WITH ELECTION FRAUD AND ELECTION INTEGRITY.

AND WHEN YOU TALK TO SUPERVISORS, REPUBLICANS, AND DEMOCRATS, THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT THIS.

THEY'RE LIKE, "SHOW US THE NEED FOR THIS."

I INTERVIEWED ALAN HAYES, FORMER REPUBLICAN FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

HE'S NOW THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OUT IN LAKE COUNTY.

AND HE SAID, "LISTEN, CHRIS, AS A FORMER APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE JUSTIFICATION FOR $6 MILLION TO BE SPENT HERE.

WE ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF THESE SYSTEMS IN PLACE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, THROUGH ATTORNEYS AND THROUGH THE SYSTEMS THAT EACH OF THE SUPERVISORS HAVE IN PLACE."

HE QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT ...

HE SAID, "IF THERE'S A FRAUD OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO SPEND $6 MILLION, THEN GREAT SHOW US THE FRAUD.

LET'S SPEND THE MONEY.

BUT IF WE'RE JUST SPENDING $6 MILLION TO SPEND IT, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE JUSTIFICATION."

YOU HEAR THAT FROM HIM.

YOU HEAR THAT FROM DEMOCRATS AS WELL SAYING, "WHY EXACTLY ARE WE SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY?

IS THERE REALLY A PROBLEM OR IS THIS JUST MESSAGING?"

>>THE PROPOSALS WOULD ELEVATE THE CRIME OF BALLOT HARVESTING, FOR EXAMPLE, TO A THIRD-DEGREE FELONY.

SO MATT, EXPLAINED WHAT THAT IS, AND TO CHRIS'S POINT, HOW WIDESPREAD IS IT IN FLORIDA AND OTHER PLACES?

>>RIGHT.

I MEAN THE PHRASE BALLOT HARVESTING DOES SOUND A BIT NEFARIOUS, BUT IN REALITY IT'S NOT.

I MEAN IT HAPPENS IN NUMEROUS STATES.

MANY STATES IT'S COMPLETELY LEGAL.

ESSENTIALLY, IT IS WHERE SOMEBODY OTHER THAN THE VOTER CAN COLLECT A MAIL-IN BALLOT FROM THAT VOTER AND TAKE IT TO THE BALLOT BOX.

AND SOMETIMES THEY COLLECT MULTIPLE BALLOTS.

IT'S USUALLY DONE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING TO A BALLOT BOX, OR IN SOME CASES WHERE A VOTER IS ELDERLY OR DISABLED, OR MAYBE THEY JUST DON'T TRUST THE POSTAL SYSTEM TO GET THEIR BALLOTS THERE.

SO IT DOES HAPPEN.

OPPONENTS SAY IT OPENS THINGS UP TO FRAUD AND ABUSE, BUT OF COURSE, PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT IT SAY THIS IS GOING TO REALLY MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.

>>YEAH.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS NEW RESTRICTIONS AS WELL ON DROP BOXES, CHRIS.

SO WHAT IS HIS ISSUE WITH DROP BOXES?

AND HAS HE ALWAYS BEEN A PROPONENT OF LIMITING THEM?

>>NO.

IN 2019, ACTUALLY, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A BILL THAT BASICALLY OPENED UP DROP BOXES.

AND THIS GOES BACK TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD AT IN FLORIDA FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THAT IS GETTING THEIR VOTERS TO VOTE BY MAIL, GETTING THEIR VOTERS TO REQUEST THAT BALLOT, TO FILL IT OUT, AND TO GET IT BACK.

IT STREAMLINES THE PROCESS.

IT LETS YOU BANK THE VOTE SO TO SPEAK.

THE THING THAT WE SAW IN 2020, GRANTED THIS WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW DEMOCRATS SUDDENLY GET REALLY, REALLY GOOD AT VOTE BY MAIL AND FOR THE FIRST TIME ACTUALLY TURN IN MORE VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOTS THAN REPUBLICANS.

THE DROP BOXES HAS BECOME A POINT OF CONTENTION.

DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU SAW RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THEM.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS THOSE TIGHTENED EVEN MORE SO THAT THE DROP BOXES ARE CONSTANTLY BEING MONITORED AT ALL TIMES.

AND IT REALLY WOULD HAVE A LIMITING EFFECT WHEN YOU TALK TO SUPERVISORS ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD ALL OPERATE BECAUSE THE ONUS REALLY FALLS ON THEM.

BUT THIS HAS BECOME AN ISSUE YOU FOR THE GOVERNOR, WHERE ONCE AGAIN IT IS, "WE NEED TO LIMIT THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORKING THE WAY WE THOUGHT IT WOULD."

>>THIS EFFORT FOLLOWS THIS YEAR'S PASSAGE OF SB 90, WHICH TIGHTENED RESTRICTIONS ON MAIL-IN VOTING DROP BOXES AND OUTSIDE MONEY.

SO MATT, REMIND VIEWERS WHAT THAT LAW DID.

>>SURE.

WELL, I MEAN, CHRIS MENTIONED THE DROP BOXES AND THERE'S OBVIOUSLY IT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE TRICKY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS IF YOU APPLY FOR A MAIL-IN BALLOT, YOU NOW HAVE LESS TIME BETWEEN WHEN YOUR APPLICATION IS GOOD.

SO ESSENTIALLY YOU MAY THINK THAT YOU APPLIED ONCE, YOU CAN JUST KIND OF ...

IT'LL COME TO YOU NEXT TIME THERE'S AN ELECTION.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

YOU GOT TO KEEP APPLYING.

SO THAT MAKES THAT KIND A LITTLE MORE ONEROUS ON THE VOTERS.

BACK TO THE BALLOT HARVESTING, TOO, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN ONLY TAKE YOUR OWN BALLOT OR SOMEBODY, YOUR FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMEBODY IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

SO IT CRACKS DOWN ON THAT AS WELL.

SO DEFINITELY SOME RESTRICTIONS COMING IN AND OF COURSE, OPPONENTS SAY, "THIS IS GOING TO MAKE IT EVEN TOUGHER TO VOTE.

AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON LIMITING THE TURNOUT."

>>RIGHT.

THE TURNOUT.

EXACTLY.

VERY INTERESTING.

AND CHRIS, DIGGING A LITTLE DEEPER HERE, ACCORDING TO THE STATE'S OWN AUDIT, THE 2020 ELECTION WENT EXTREMELY SMOOTHLY, SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE.

BUT LAKE COUNTY STATE REP ANTHONY SABATINI WANTS A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WHAT IS DRIVING THAT PUSH IN SOME GOP QUARTERS?

AND HOW DO MAINSTREAM FLORIDA REPUBLICANS VIEW THOSE CALLS?

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

>>YEAH.

LET, LET'S START WITH WHAT'S REALLY PUSHING THIS, AND THAT IS THE FACT YOU'VE SEEN OTHER REPUBLICAN STATES OR STATES WITH A MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS LOOKING AT ... YOU'RE LOOKING AT TEXAS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARIZONA'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE, WHERE THEY'VE DONE SOME OF THESE AUDITS.

AND IT'S A POLITICAL TOOL.

IT IS SOMETHING WHERE YOU'RE COMING OUT AND SAYING, "WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND ... BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE HAD TO BE FRAUD.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DIGGING AND DIGGING AND DIGGING UNTIL WE FIND SOMETHING."

AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT FINDING SOMETHING.

IT'S JUST ABOUT THE PROCESS.

BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU'RE INVESTIGATING, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING.

>>WHEN YOU TALK TO ELECTION SUPERVISORS, REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, THEY POINT TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID, WHICH IS THE 2020 ELECTION IN FLORIDA, I MEAN, WE WERE A SHINING EXAMPLE, WHICH IS REALLY A DEPARTURE FROM, IF YOU REMEMBER BUSH V. GORE IN 2000, WHEN WE WERE LAUGHING STOCK.

FLORIDA GOT ITS ACT TOGETHER.

BY THE TIME THE POLLS CLOSED WEST OF THE APALACHICOLA.

WE'RE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE WE BASICALLY HAD THE ELECTION DONE.

WEEKS AND MONTHS LATER, OTHER STATES ARE COUNTING BALLOTS.

WE WERE DONE.

WE HAD A FLAWLESS ELECTION AND THE GOVERNOR EVEN SAID THAT, BUT THIS HAS BECOME NOW A POLITICAL TOOL.

>>AND SO YOU'VE SEEN CERTAIN PEOPLE LOOK AT OTHER STATES WHERE THEY'RE DOING THESE AUDITS AND THEY WANT ONE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN RESISTANT TO THAT.

AND PART OF THE REASON HE IS PUSHING FOR THIS ELECTION INTEGRITY UNIT, THIS EXPENDITURE OF ABOUT $6 MILLION TO HIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INVESTIGATE ELECTION CRIMES.

THIS IS BASICALLY HIS ANSWER TO, "WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO AN AUDIT, BUT WE WILL DO SOMETHING."

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A STATE AUDIT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S BECOME A BIT OF A BATTLE CRY, ESPECIALLY IN DEEPLY RED DISTRICTS.

>>AND CHRIS, IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THE LAKE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IS NOT HAPPY WITH ANY OF THIS.

>>NO, HE IS NOT, ALAN HAYES.

I MEAN HE PUT UP ON HIS PAGE, HIS OFFICIAL SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION PAGE SAYING, "LISTEN, YOU WANT AN AUDIT?

WE'VE AUDITED.

YOU WANT TO BRING ME ISSUES OF FRAUD, BRING THEM TO ME.

BUT SO FAR PEOPLE HAVE MADE ALLEGATIONS, BUT THEY'RE NOT BRINGING ANY PROOF.

THEY'RE NOT BRINGING ANY INFORMATION."

AND AT THE END OF IT, HE BASICALLY SAYS, AND THIS IS A QUOTE, "PUT UP OR SHUT UP."

JUST BASICALLY SAYING, "IF YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS FRAUD, BRING ME THE EVIDENCE.

IF YOU KNOW THAT THINGS HAPPENED THAT WERE NEFARIOUS IN LAKE COUNTY, BRING THEM TO ME.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HILLSBOROUGH.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF ATLANTA OR OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES.

I'M NOT IN CHARGE OF THAT.

IF YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN LAKE COUNTY, IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING WENT WRONG HERE, BRING IT TO ME.

BUT STOP MAKING ALLEGATIONS IF YOU CAN'T BACK THEM UP."

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE.

>>INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT.

AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA AND THE FOUR BILLS UP FOR DISCUSSION IN THE SPECIAL SESSION SECTION ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

ALSO FIND A LINK THERE TO THE RESULTS OF THE STATE'S AUDIT OF THE 2020 ELECTION AS WELL.

>>ALL RIGHT, FINALLY TONIGHT, POLITICS AND FLORIDA'S HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LAST WEEK REVERSED COURSE ON PLANS TO PROHIBIT THREE PROFESSORS FROM TAKING PAID OUTSIDE WORK ON A CASE CHALLENGING THE STATE ON VOTING LAWS.

THIS WAS A BIG TALKER.

THE SCHOOL HAD CALLED THE WORK A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE UF IS A STATE OF FLORIDA INSTITUTION.

BUT CRITICS CHARGED THAT THE BAN WAS A POLITICAL ATTACK ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

STEVE MORT SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNION, THE UNITED FACULTY OF FLORIDA, >>THE UNIVERSITY DECIDING THAT IN THIS ONE CASE IT'S OKAY, AND THAT IT WON'T BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS NOT THE SAME THING AS THEM DECIDING THAT ALL FUTURE CASES WILL ALSO NOT BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

SO THE DISCUSSION HAS NOT ENDED.

THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER, BUT WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THIS SHORT TERM SOLUTION AND MOVE THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM UF.

>>WELL, ARE YOU HAPPY WITH UF'S DECISION TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO REVIEW ITS CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY?

OR DO YOU THINK IT'S CLEAR AS IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN?

>>WE DO THINK IT'S CLEAR AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN AND CONVENING A TASK FORCE TO ONE DAY POSSIBLY GIVE A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE IS TYPICAL ADMINISTRATIVE BACKPEDALING.

WE THINK THE SOLUTION HERE IS VERY SIMPLE AND THAT SOLUTION IS THAT FACULTY SERVING AS EXPERT WITNESSES IN CASES, WHETHER FOR OR AGAINST THE INTEREST OF THE STATE, CAN NEVER CONSTITUTE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR A UNIVERSITY.

>>THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS THIS WAS JUST AN INTERNAL UF MATTER AND THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DECISION ON THESE PROFESSORS.

DO YOU BELIEVE THEM?

>>WELL, THAT'S ALL THE INFORMATION WE HAVE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THAT FOR NOW.

AND WE TRULY HOPE THAT THAT IS THE CASE.

AND WE HOPE TO SEE THAT UPHELD MOVING FORWARD, THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY ACTIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY THAT COULD BE CALLED POLITICAL INFLUENCE.

AND THAT'S NOT JUST A POSITION WE WOULD TAKE WITH GOVERNOR DESANTIS.

THAT'S A POSITION WE WOULD TAKE WITH ANY GOVERNOR.

THIS WAS NOT ONLY SHOCKING, BUT IT WAS A SIGN THAT UF HAS A REAL PROBLEM AT ITS CORE OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE.

POLITICS SHOULD STAY OUT OF EDUCATION.

>>SO WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, WHICH IS ALSO PART OF THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, HOLDS THE LICENSE FOR WUCF.

WE DID REACH OUT TO UF FOR AN INTERVIEW, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST.

SO MATT, WE'LL START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

THE PROFESSORS IN THIS CASE SUPPORTED BY THE UNION ARE SUING UF CHARGING THAT THERE IS A PATTERN OF POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.

SO WHAT IS THE THRUST OF THIS LAWSUIT?

LET'S DIG INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>>SURE.

I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY BASIC.

THEY'RE SAYING, ESSENTIALLY, THAT THE UNIVERSITY'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY'S UNLAWFUL.

THEY SAY THE POLICY OF NOT ALLOWING ACADEMICS FROM SERVING AS EXPERT WITNESSES WHEN THE UNIVERSITY THINKS THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE IS BASICALLY A VIOLATION OF THEIR FREE SPEECH AND THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

AND IT DOESN'T GET ANY MORE BASIC THAN THAT.

SO THEY REALLY ARE DIGGING INTO THAT FREE SPEECH, FIRST AMENDMENT PRINCIPLE THING AND THEY'RE HOPING TO GET SOME RESOLUTION ON IT, AS WE HEARD.

>>CHRIS, TURNING TO YOU NOW, HOW HAVE THE PROFESSORS IN THIS CASE RESPONDED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S DECISION TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THIS OUTSIDE WORK?

>>WELL, I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU HAVE PROFESSORS CLEARLY THAT ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD.

I HAVE INTERVIEWED DR. SMITH SEVERAL TIMES.

I'VE INTERVIEWED DR. MCDONALD SEVERAL TIMES FOR ELECTION STORIES.

THEY ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WHEN IT COMES TO THESE THINGS.

AND SO TO EXPECT THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE, IT DOES HAVE A VERY ...

IT KIND OF SENDS A BIT OF A CHILLING MESSAGE TO OTHER PROFESSORS, BECAUSE THESE ARE THESE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND FLORIDA ELECTIONS BETTER THAN PRETTY MUCH ANYONE FROM A GRANULAR DATA LEVEL.

AND TO SEE THEM SILENCED AND TO SEE THEM TOLD THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S PAID TESTIMONY, IT RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

AND I KNOW THE UNIVERSITY'S OBVIOUSLY BACKTRACKED ON THIS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF THIS IS WHERE THE LINE IS FOR THESE THREE, WHAT OTHER FIELDS ARE WE TELLING PROFESSORS THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TESTIFY IN FOR VARIOUS ISSUES?

NOT JUST ELECTIONS, BUT IF FOR ANYTHING ELSE THAT A UNIVERSITY MAY HAVE AN EXPERT IN.

>>THE UF TASK FORCE SET UP TO LOOK AT ITS CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY MET FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK.

SO HERE IS WHAT UF PRESIDENT KEN FUCHS SAID IN A EMAIL TO STAFF.

"THE TASK FORCE WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO ME ON HOW UF SHOULD RESPOND WHEN EMPLOYEES REQUEST APPROVAL TO SERVE AS EXPERT WITNESSES IN LITIGATION IN WHICH THEIR EMPLOYER, THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IS A PARTY.

I'M ASKING THE TASK FORCE TO PROVIDE ME WITH PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS BY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH."

SO THAT'S THE QUOTE THERE FROM THE UF PRESIDENT.

AND THAT'S UNLIKELY TO PLEASE FACULTY, GIVEN THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM THAT UNION PRESIDENT THAT SAYS THIS IS A CUT AND DRY ISSUE.

>>THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IN FACT, THERE WAS A PROTEST THIS WEEK WITH UNION, MEMBERS OF FACULTY AND STUDENTS.

ESSENTIALLY THE UNITED FACULTY OF FLORIDA, WHO WE HEARD FROM EARLIER, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THESE EXPERT WITNESSES, IT'S FINE THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY BEING ALLOWED TO TESTIFY NOW, BUT THEY SHOULD BE PAID.

AND THEY HAVE A LONG LAUNDRY LIST OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY.

SOME OF IT GOES TO HOW THE UNIVERSITY DEALT WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

SO THEY'RE NOT HAPPY.

THEY'RE UNLIKELY TO BE MOLLIFIED BY THIS, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE LITIGATION PLAYING OUT, I THINK.

>>YEAH.

AND WE'LL ALL BE COVERING IT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

AND WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE LAWSUIT AGAINST UF ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S INTERESTING.

AND YOU CAN ALSO FIND MUCH MORE FROM ALL THE INTERVIEWS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

ON THE NEWSNIGHT PODCAST, YOU'LL FIND IT AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT OR WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

>>WELL, FLORIDA, WE COULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT YOU WHAT FOR HOURS, RIGHT?

BUT THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO MATTHEW PEDDIE FROM 90.7, WMFE, AND MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE CHRISTOPHER HEATH, WHO COVERS POLITICS FOR WFTV CHANNEL 9.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30, RIGHT HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, HAVE A GOOD AND SAFE WEEKEND.