>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS FLORIDA LAWMAKERS DEBATE BILLS ON ISSUES RANGING FROM GUNS TO VOTING.

WHAT WILL THE U.S. SUPREME COURT'S RULING ON VACCINE MANDATES MEAN FOR FLORIDA COMPANIES?

AND THE CENTRAL FLORIDA'S ARTS COMMUNITY GETS A MAJOR BOOST.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT.

AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOU.

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

JOINING US THIS WEEK, CHRISTOPHER HEATH, WHO COVERS POLITICS FOR WFTV CHANNEL 9, AND CURTIS MCCLOUD FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13, WHO JUST RETURNED FROM COVERING THE START OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN TALLAHASSEE.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

REALLY APPRECIATED IT.

>>SAME HERE.

>>YEAH.

>>ALL RIGHT.

FIRST, TONIGHT, LET'S START WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I SPOKE ABOUT IT THIS WEEK WITH AUBREY JEWETT, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT UCF.

>>THE LEGISLATURE HAS TWO CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

THEY HAVE TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET, AND EVERY 10 YEARS, AND THIS IS THE TIME, THEY HAVE TO REDISTRICT.

THEY HAVE TO DRAW NEW MAPS FOR THE STATE HOUSE, THE STATE SENATE, AND THE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

>>LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR LAWMAKERS.

REPUBLICANS HAVE FILED A BILL WHICH WOULD BAN ABORTION AFTER 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY WITH EXCEPTIONS IN CASES OF SERIOUS MEDICAL EMERGENCIES FOR THE MOTHER OR FATAL FETAL ABNORMALITIES.

IS THIS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES?

>>THIS 15-WEEK ABORTION LIMIT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE SEEN PUSHED IN A LOT OF STATES.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE TO PASS HERE IN FLORIDA THIS TIME AROUND.

I THINK A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR IT.

THERE MIGHT EVEN BE A HANDFUL OF DEMOCRATS WHO ARE STILL MORE PRO-LIFE AND WOULD VOTE FOR IT.

WHETHER MEETS CONSTITUTIONAL MUSTER REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>>THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO RULE A MISSISSIPPI'S 15-WEEK BAN IN THE SPRING, HAS THAT GIVEN CONSERVATIVE SOME HOPE THAT FLORIDA WOULD BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND THIS BILL WERE IT TO BECOME LAW?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK YOU'VE SEEN MORE ENERGY ON THE PRO-LIFE SIDE.

THE REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVE, SOCIAL ISSUE SIDE, AS THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS NEW U.S. SUPREME COURT WILL BE MORE RECEPTIVE TO SHORTENING THE TIME PERIOD WHERE WOMEN ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE ABORTIONS WITH PRETTY MUCH NO RESTRICTIONS.

>>THE GOVERNOR SET OUT HIS DESIRE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE DO MORE ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY, INCLUDING AN ABILITY FOR PARENTS TO SUE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

DOES THAT SEEM TO BE A BROADLY POPULAR PLATFORM FOR REPUBLICANS IN FLORIDA?

WE'VE REALLY HEARD THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY ARGUMENTS STEP UP IN RECENT WEEKS?

>>IT HAS BECOME A MORE POPULAR ARGUMENT IN ALMOST ALL REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATES.

THEY'RE SORT OF PUSHING TOGETHER A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY OBJECT TO IN TERMS OF TEACHING ABOUT RACE, INEQUALITY, EQUITY, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND PUTTING IT UNDER THE BANNER OF CRITICAL THEORY.

AND SO THEY THINK IT'S A WINNING ISSUE.

AND SO THEY'RE PUSHING IT FORWARD.

AND THEY ALREADY PASSED SOME STUFF LAST YEAR.

BUT APPARENTLY, THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S STILL GOOD FOR THEIR REELECTION POSSIBILITY, SO THEY'RE PUSHING IT SOME MORE THIS YEAR.

>>THE LEGISLATURE ALSO LOOKS PRIMED TO PASS ANOTHER ROUND OF VOTING REFORMS, INCLUDING FUNDING IN ELECTION FRAUD AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

THIS IS BROADLY PARTISAN, ISN'T IT?

>>YES.

MOST DEFINITELY, THERE'S POLARIZATION ON THIS ISSUE.

AGAIN, IN FLORIDA AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU SEE REPUBLICAN-RUN STATES, THEY HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR MORE ELECTION SECURITY, AT LEAST THAT'S THEIR VIEW OF IT.

DEMOCRATS LOOK AT THIS AS A WAY FOR REPUBLICANS TO CURTAIL VOTING AMONG DEMOCRATIC-SUPPORTING GROUPS, LIKE MINORITIES, YOUNGER VOTERS, ET CETERA, WHO MIGHT HAVE MORE PROBLEMS CASTING BALLOTS IF YOU MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO CAST ABSENTEE OR GET RID OF DROP BOXES COMPLETELY.

>>LET'S TALK ABOUT GUNS A MOMENT.

LAKE COUNTY REPUBLICAN AND CONGRESSIONAL HOPEFUL, ANTHONY SABATINI, HE'S PROPOSED AN OPEN CARRY LAW.

HE'S BEEN A LONGSTANDING ADVOCATE, OF COURSE, OF FEWER GUN CONTROL MEASURES.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S A REALISTIC CHANCE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD PASS?

>>WE ACTUALLY SEE OPEN CARRY IN A NUMBER OF STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO ON THE ONE HAND, THAT IS NOT QUITE AS CONTROVERSIAL AS IT MIGHT SEEM IF YOU JUST LOOK IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF STATES.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT IT'S A LOT THAT ACTUALLY ALLOW OPEN CARRY.

>>ON THE OTHER HAND, THE LEGISLATURE EXAMINED THIS LAST YEAR AND THEY, EVEN THOSE REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES, THEY DIDN'T PUSH IT THROUGH.

AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR WAS VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THIS.

THEY DIDN'T WANT FLORIDA TO HAVE A REPUTATION OF SCARING OFF TOURISTS, THAT IF YOU COME TO FLORIDA, YOU'RE BASICALLY GOING TO SEE A BUNCH OF LOCALS WITH GUNS STRAPPED TO THEIR HIPS BECAUSE THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IS NERVOUS AGAIN AND THEY HAVE BROUGHT UP THEIR OBJECTIONS AND THEY STILL HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE WITH REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND SO LAST YEAR, I WON'T SAY THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT INFLUENCED THE VOTE, BUT THAT WAS ENOUGH TO KEEP THAT BILL FROM PASSING.

AND SO I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S GOING TO PASS THIS YEAR EITHER.

BUT IT MIGHT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

CURTIS, YOU JUST RETURNED FROM TALLAHASSEE, AS WE MENTIONED.

DOES THE GOVERNOR, WHO'S PRETTY POPULAR WITH THE PUBLIC AT THE MOMENT, DOES HE HAVE HOPE THAT HE'S GOING TO GET HIS AGENDA THROUGH THIS SESSION?

>>HE DOES HAVE HOPE, AND EVEN IN SOME OF HIS SUPPORTERS THEY HAVE HOPE.

AND THEY'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT A LOT OF THE THINGS HE WANTS TO SEE COME TO FRUITION, A LOT OF THE BILLS HE WANTS TO SEE BECOME LAW WILL LIKELY HAPPEN.

EVEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, THERE IS A CAUSE FOR THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE, AND YOU TALK ABOUT ALSO SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS, PROVIDING MORE MONEY FOR TEACHERS, THOSE THINGS ARE LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

THERE ARE SOME MORE CONTENTIOUS POINTS THAT MAY TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUPPORT AND A LITTLE BIT MORE RALLYING TO GET THOSE THINGS TO COME TO FRUITION WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

>>BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE MAJOR THINGS ON THE AGENDA OR SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAY HAVE, LEAD TOWARDS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, DEFINITELY SO.

I MEAN, AND THEN I'LL SAY QUICKLY HERE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE'VE HEARD RUMBLINGS OF POTENTIAL MORE THINGS FOR GOVERNOR DESANTIS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

COULD THAT BE SOMETHING HE HAS HIS SIGHT SET ON?

HE'S NOT GOING TO KIND OF DO THINGS THAT WOULD KIND OF ROCK THE BOAT OR THAT WOULD KIND OF SQUALL HIS POTENTIAL FOR THOSE FUTURE ASPIRATIONS.

>>AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HIS PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS IN A MOMENT.

BUT CHRIS, THE GOVERNOR TOOK MANY BY SURPRISE ON REDISTRICTING, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO GET DONE.

OVER THE WEEKEND BY SUBMITTING HIS OWN CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING MAP.

I MEAN, DOES THAT SIGNAL HE MAY VETO KIND OF A LESS AGGRESSIVE MAP FROM THE SENATE?

>>I MEAN, HE CERTAINLY COULD.

OBVIOUSLY, IT HAS TO GET THROUGH HIS DESK.

THE HOUSE WILL STILL PUT OUT ITS OWN MAP.

THE SENATE ON WEDNESDAY TOOK UP ITS MAP, DID NOT TAKE UP THE GOVERNOR'S MAP.

AND SO THE GOVERNOR'S MAP BY CERTAIN MATH IS GOING TO PERHAPS GIVE YOU AN 18-10 REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT SPLIT IN THE 28 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

THE SENATE MAP, THE ONE THAT CAME UP THROUGH RODRIGUEZ'S COMMITTEE, THAT ONE IS GOING TO PROBABLY COME CLOSER TO A 16-12, STILL REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.

BUT YEAH, THERE'S DEFINITELY QUESTIONS OUT THERE.

AND THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE.

GOVERNORS TRADITIONALLY DON'T SUBMIT THEIR OWN MAP.

>>THEY DON'T DO IT.

>>NOW, LISTEN, LET'S NOT BE NAIVE HERE.

GOVERNORS HAVE A LOT OF SAY.

THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPEN BOTH IN PUBLIC AND IN PRIVATE WHEN THESE THINGS ARE CRAFTED.

THAT'S HAPPENED ALL ALONG.

BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY THE GOVERNOR PUTTING A MARKER OUT THERE AND SAYING HERE'S WHAT I'M THINKING.

NOW, WILL HIS MAP PASS THE WAY IT'S DRAWN?

PROBABLY NOT, BUT IT DEFINITELY SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, HERE'S WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S THINKING.

DO YOU JUST WANT TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO PASS THIS?

>>USING HIS INFLUENCE THERE FOR SURE.

AND CURTIS, PART OF THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT THIS DESANTIS MAP IS CRITICS SAYING IT DILUTES THE VOTING STRENGTH OF MINORITIES.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS HE ACTUALLY CREATES MORE MINORITY DISTRICTS.

I MEAN, WHAT'S THE CONCERN HERE OVER MINORITY REPRESENTATION?

>>YOU KNOW, THE CONCERN COMES TO WHETHER OR NOT THESE MINORITY COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE THE REPRESENTATION THEY NEED TO GET SPECIFIC ISSUES HEARD AT THE LEGISLATURE IN TALLAHASSEE.

THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICANS, YOU TALK ABOUT HISPANICS, EVEN DOWN TOWARDS SOUTH FLORIDA AND EVEN HERE TOWARDS CENTRAL FLORIDA AREA, IT'S A CONCERN THAT SOME OF THOSE SEATS OR ONCE THE LINES ARE REDRAWN, MAY GO AWAY.

THUS, THWARTING OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT MINORITIES HAVE.

AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A COMMUNITY THAT'S ALREADY UNDERSERVED AND SOMETIMES THEY FEEL AS IF THEY'RE MARGINALIZED, SO TO SPEAK, AND MAY NOT GET THE REPRESENTATION OR HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE A MAP, LIKE WHAT THE GOVERNOR PRESENTS OUT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SENATE MAP AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE GOP SUPPORT, BUT ALSO YOU'RE WAY MORE WITH GOP SUPPORT.

BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S FAIR WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE MINORITY SECTORS.

>>YEAH.

AND CERTAINLY WE'RE DOING REDISTRICTING IN A VERY CONTENTIOUS YEAR HERE IN FLORIDA, FOR SURE.

CHRIS LET'S STAY WITH VOTING.

THE LEGISLATURE AS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH AUBREY JEWETT, IS LOOKING TO TAKE MORE STEPS ON ELECTIONS.

THIS OFFICE OF ELECTION CRIMES AND SECURITY IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSING HERE.

SORT OF TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S UNDER CONSIDERATION EXACTLY THIS TIME.

AND OF COURSE ALL THIS IS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME AS THIS BATTLE IN WASHINGTON OVER VOTING RIGHTS.

>>WHAT A LOT OF THIS IS, IS THERE WAS A CALL THAT CAME OUT IN CERTAIN STATES, NOT IN FLORIDA SO MUCH TO AUDIT THE 2020 ELECTION.

AND OF COURSE YOU HEARD SOME PEOPLE ON THE FRINGE HERE IN FLORIDA SAY WE NEED TO AUDIT THE ELECTION.

WELL, DONALD TRUMP CLEARLY WON FLORIDA.

SO THIS ISN'T A LOT OF WAYS DESANTIS ANSWERING THAT CALL BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE AN AUDIT OF FLORIDA.

BUT WHAT THIS DOES IS HE SAYS, OKAY, WE'LL PUT A SECURITY FORCE OUT THERE THAT IS GOING TO INVESTIGATE THESE CRIMES.

$6 MILLION LAYOUT FOR A SECURITY FORCE TO GO INVESTIGATE ELECTION CRIMES.

OF COURSE, CRITICS OF THIS HAVE QUICKLY POINTED OUT ONE, WHAT'S THE IMPETUS BEHIND IT?

IS THERE ENOUGH CRIME OUT THERE?

AND TWO, WHERE'S THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON THE PEOPLE WE KEEP SEEING IN THE VILLAGES ARRESTED FOR VOTING IN MORE THAN ONE STATE?

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, HASN'T SAID A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THAT, BUT YET WANTS TO INVESTIGATE ELECTIONS CRIMES.

THIS IS A POLITICAL MOVE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S ALSO A MOVE THAT'S GOING TO COST TAXPAYERS BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING AS PERMANENT AS A TEMPORARY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM.

$6 MILLION WILL GROW IF IT'S APPROVED, IT WILL GROW OVER THE YEARS.

>>FOR SURE.

LET'S SWITCH GEARS CURTIS TO THE STOP WOKE ACT.

THIS WAS SOMETHING WE SAW THE GOVERNOR UNVEIL BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.

LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING IT AS SENATE BILL 148, WHICH IS PRETTY BROAD IN SCOPE.

DOESN'T MENTION CRITICAL RACE THEORY BY NAME, BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF BUSINESSES AND ALSO SCHOOLS AS WELL.

EXPLAIN A BIT WHAT THIS BILL DOES.

>>SO ESSENTIALLY, AND NORMALLY WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THAT THEY GO STRAIGHT TO CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

IT'S A COMPONENT OF IT, WHILE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, IT DOESN'T MENTION CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE BILL ITSELF.

BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT DOES, IT GIVES PEOPLE OR IN PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES OR IN THE CASE THAT IS NORMALLY DISCUSSED ABOUT PARENTS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUE A SCHOOL SYSTEM OR A SCHOOL DISTRICT, IF FOR SOME REASON THEY BRING UP OR THEY TRY TO TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

IT GIVES THEM THE WHEREWITHAL TO SUE AND ALSO RECOUP LEGAL FEES IF THEY SO HAPPEN TO GO THROUGH THE...

IT MOVES THROUGH OR MATRICULATES THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT DOES HERE.

AND WHEN YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE STOP WOKE ACT, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH TRYING TO KIND OF...

I DON'T WANT TO SAY PUSH THE AGENDA OF THE GOVERNOR, BUT IN A SENSE, AS THE GOVERNOR SAID HIMSELF, EVEN IN HIS SPEECH, HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, THEY DON'T WANT TO USE PUBLIC DOLLARS, STATE DOLLARS TO TEACH STUDENTS TO HATE.

SO IT GOES BACK TO THAT MISSION OF NOT SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY ON TEACHING STUDENTS TO HATE.

BUT ALSO KIND OF CREATE THIS SORT OF TENSION OR FRICTION, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S CLASSROOMS WHERE YOU HAD THINGS COMING OFF OF 2020, LIKE THE GEORGE FLOYD SITUATION, WHERE IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT IN THE CLASSROOMS TODAY, BACK WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT TOPICS AND DISCUSSIONS HAPPEN IN SCHOOL THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE NECESSARILY IN TEXTBOOKS.

>>REALLY QUICK, COUPLE OF OTHER ISSUES, THE ABORTION ISSUE, CURTIS.

DEMOCRATS THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY POLITICALLY UNWISE FOR REPUBLICANS TO PASS THIS 15 WEEK RESTRICTION UNDER CONSIDERATION.

DO YOU GET THE IMPRESSION FROM YOUR TIME IN TALLAHASSEE THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE SORT OF EMBOLDENED BY TEXAS AND OTHER STATES THAT HAVE PASSED SIMILAR MEASURES?

>>DEFINITELY.

SO WE SPOKE WITH SPEAKER CHRIS SPROWLS, AND HE MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY JUST THAT, MENTIONED TEXAS.

HE ALSO MENTIONED THE DOBBS CASE OUT OF MISSISSIPPI.

HE MENTIONED THAT ONE AS WELL, BASICALLY SAYING THAT, HEY, WE WANT TO BE IN THE POSITION HERE IN FLORIDA.

SO WE'RE WATCHING THESE OTHER CASES, WATCHING WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE OTHER STATES, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE SUPREME COURT SITUATION IN MISSISSIPPI TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE WITH THEM TRYING TO GET 15 WEEKS AS WELL.

IT WAS CHALLENGED BY ONE OF THE ABORTION CLINICS THERE IN MISSISSIPPI.

AND THAT IS KIND OF THEIR POINT WITH FLORIDA.

THEY'RE LOOKING TO THESE OTHER STATES TO SEE HOW THEY'RE HANDLING.

THEY WANT BE IN THE POSITION TO SAY THAT, OKAY, WE WANT TO MOVE IT HERE.

I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S 24 WEEKS, THEY WANT TO MOVE IT TO 15 TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

>>NOW REALLY QUICK CHRIS, ANTHONY SABATINI'S OPEN CARRY PROPOSALS, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME?

>>I MEAN, I DON'T THINK LEADERSHIP WOULD TRUST SABATINI TO DELIVER LUNCH MUCH LESS OF BILL TO THE FLOOR.

HE HAS BURNED A LOT OF BRIDGES IN THE GOP AND CLEARLY DEMOCRATS ARE NO FAN EITHER.

NOW I WILL SAY THIS, THAT WILTON SIMPSON, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE HAS SIGNALED THAT HE'D BE OPEN TO CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, NOT NECESSARILY THE EXACT SAME THING, BUT VERY SIMILAR, BUT NOT QUITE THE SAME THING.

I WOULD SAY THIS, IF THIS THING HAD A LEGITIMATE SHOT OF PASSING THIS SESSION, IT WOULD'VE BEEN GIVEN TO A MEMBER THAT IS IN BETTER STANDING THAN ANTHONY SABATINI.

>>CERTAINLY WE SAW THE TOURISM INDUSTRY STEP IN WHEN WE HAD THE WHOLE DEBATE IN THIS STATE OVER STAND YOUR GROUND.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW AT THAT TIME.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THE REPORTING IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND AXIOS THIS WEEK ABOUT TENSIONS BETWEEN FORMER PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS, CHRIS.

LONG TERM POLITICAL OPERATIVE, AND TRUMP ALLY, ROGER STONE HAS CALLED DESANTIS DISLOYAL THIS WEEK AMONG OTHER THINGS.

I MEAN, WHAT WAS THE GENESIS FOR ALL THIS, FOR THIS BLOW UP AND HOW HAS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE RESPONDED TO THIS REPORTING?

>>THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS DONE EVERYTHING IT CAN AT LEAST ON THE POLITICAL SIDE TO THROW COLD WATER ON THIS, THIS IS NO BIG DEAL.

THIS IS ALL MEDIA NAVAL GAZING HERE.

THIS IS NO BIG DEAL.

BUT ROGER STONE DOES HAVE AN AVENUE TO FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

AND IF ROGER STONE IS SAYING THESE THINGS PUBLICLY, IT HAS TO HAVE SOME KERNEL, SOME NUGGET OF TRUTH TO IT.

AND LISTEN, IF DONALD TRUMP WANTS TO RUN IN 2024, AND IF HE'S EYEING THAT HE WANTS TO CLEAR THE FIELD AND THE EASIEST WAY TO CLEAR THE FIELD IS TO IDENTIFY ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COULD POTENTIALLY CHALLENGE YOU CLEARLY, RON DESANTIS IS LINING THINGS UP FOR A POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL RUN.

TRUMP HAS TO SEE THAT.

>>AND HE ALSO HAS TO LOOK AT IT AS THIS AND SAY, YOU GOT TO BE GOVERNOR BECAUSE I WENT ON TWITTER ON LATE DECEMBER OF 2017 AND ENDORSED YOU OVER ADAM PUTNAM.

THAT'S WHY YOUR GOVERNOR, KNOW YOUR PLACE.

WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO COME TO FRUITION IN A VERY PUBLIC FIGHT, OR IT'S ALL GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE BACK CHANNEL STUFF OF PEOPLE TALKING OFF THE RECORD TO REPORTERS, WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

BUT I THINK AFTER THE MIDTERMS, WE'LL GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHERE THIS FALLS.

>>AND WE ARE A LONG WAY FROM 2024.

WE SHOULD MAKE A NOTE OF IT.

>>WE FEEL LIKE THAT.

>>FOR SURE.

WELL, YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO THE BILLS THAT WE DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW TONIGHT ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND READ A LOT MORE.

OKAY, LET'S SWITCH FOCUS TO THE PANDEMIC FOR A MOMENT.

THE SUPREME COURT LAST WEEK STRUCK DOWN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S VACCINE MANDATE FOR LARGE EMPLOYERS, BUT ALLOWED IT TO REMAIN IN PLACE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

IN FLORIDA, LAWMAKERS IN NOVEMBER PASSED RULES REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO OFFER OPT OUTS FOR WORKERS WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE VACCINATED.

THAT LEGISLATION ALSO BARS UNIVERSITIES FROM REQUIRING STUDENTS TO BE VACCINATED WITH CLASSES RESUMING LAST WEEK AT THE STATE'S HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

>>STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF RECENTLY RETURNED TO FLORIDA CAMPUSES AMIDST SURGING CASE NUMBERS.

UCF, STUDENT ASHLEY EPPL SAYS SHE'S VACCINATED AND WEARS A MASK ON CAMPUS TO MINIMIZE HER RISK.

>>IT SPREADS TO EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING.

SO I FEEL LIKE IF EVERYONE JUST TAKES PRECAUTION OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WE CAN STOP THE SPREAD.

>>THE STATE LAW SIGNED BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS IN NOVEMBER BARS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FROM REQUIRING STUDENT TO BE COVID 19 VACCINATED.

UCF SAYS FACIAL COVERINGS ARE EXPECTED, BUT NOT MANDATED MAKING AVAILABLE THOUSANDS OF KN95 MASKS.

UCF FRESHMAN CARA BURROWS SAYS SHE AGREES STUDENTS SHOULD BE FREE TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES AND MASKS.

>>I'M EXTREMELY ANTI MASK.

I WILL NOT SHOP ANYWHERE THAT REQUIRES A MASK.

I WON'T GIVE THEM MY BUSINESS.

THAT'S HOW I FEEL.

AND IF WE DO KEEP ON COMPLYING, THEN THIS WILL BE A FOREVER PANDEMIC.

>>STATE UNIVERSITIES, SUCH AS UCF ARE FULLY OPEN.

EVEN WHILE COLLEGES IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN FLORIDA HAVE STARTED THEIR SPRING SEMESTERS ONLINE ONLY.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS CALLED FOR COLLEGES WHO FORCE STUDENTS TO LEARN REMOTELY TO REFUND TUITION FEES.

UCF SAYS, FACULTY SHOULD NOT REQUIRE IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE FOR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THE SEMESTER, BUT IT'S NOT ASKING FOR CLASSES TO BE RECORDED OR STREAMED.

>>THIS STRAIN OF THE VIRUS IS MUCH MILDER.

>>MICHAEL DEICHEN IS THE ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF UCF STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES.

>>WE'RE STRONGLY ADVOCATING FOR VACCINES.

WE BELIEVE THAT'S THE SAFEST AND BEST APPROACH, BUT BETWEEN THE PERSONS THAT ARE ALREADY VACCINATED, 80% OF OUR STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THIS LAST BIG, HUGE WAVE OF OMICRON, THIS CAN INSPIRE A LOT OF IMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THE END RESULT IS GOING TO BE GOOD.

>>IN THE MEANTIME, UCF AND OTHER COLLEGES SAY THEY'LL UPDATE THEIR COVID PROTOCOLS AS THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO CHART AN UNCERTAIN PATH.

>>ZOEMAR LEBRON COMPILED THAT STORY.

CHRIS, BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION, WE SHOULD TOUCH ON A STORY THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES AT WFTV BROKE THIS WEEK.

AND THAT IS THAT ORANGE COUNTY'S HEALTH DIRECTOR.

DR. RAUL PINO HAS BEEN PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.

WHAT DID YOUR COLLEAGUES LEARN?

>>OH, SHANNON BUTLER GOT THE TIP ON THIS EARLIER IN THE WEEK AND WAS ABLE TO FLUSH IT OUT AND GET THE INFORMATION OUT ON TUESDAY.

AND BASICALLY, IT ALL STEMS FROM DR. PINO RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THE LOW VACCINATION RATE WITHIN THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

AND SAYING ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE OUT THERE TELLING PEOPLE GET VACCINATED, GET BOOSTED YET IF YOU LOOK AT US, THAT'S NOT WHERE WE'RE AT.

AND BECAUSE HE WORKS FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THE STATE OF FLORIDA OBVIOUSLY CAME IN AND SAID THIS IS NOT WHAT OUR LAWS ALLOW.

FLORIDA, IF YOU REMEMBER THE SPECIAL SESSION FROM LAST YEAR HAS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYERS AND INSTITUTIONS TO MANDATE MASKS AND MANDATE VACCINES.

SO THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS PUTTING ITS THUMB ON THE SCALE ON THIS ONE.

AND DR. PINO'S BASICALLY WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

>>CURTIS, LET'S SWITCH TO HIGHER EDUCATION THEN.

STATE COLLEGES ARE PRETTY MUCH CLOSE TO PRE PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS NOW.

I MEAN, ARE THEY EVEN KEEPING TRACK OF HOW MANY CASES THERE ARE?

>>SOME ARE SOME ARE NOT, BUT IT JUST KIND OF DEPENDS, IN A SITUATION IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO DO SO BECAUSE A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE GETTING TESTED BY OTHER MEANS.

SOME ARE DOING AT HOME TESTS, SOME ARE GOING TO OTHER LOCATIONS SO IT'S HARD FOR THE SCHOOLS TO ACTUALLY TRACK THAT INFORMATION WHEN THE STUDENTS AREN'T GETTING TESTED AND THE INFORMATION ISN'T GETTING BACK TO THE SCHOOLS.

A LOT OF THEM LIKE TO USE THIS INFORMATION JUST TO KIND OF GIVE THEM A GAUGE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHERE THEY STAND.

BUT A LOT OF THEM HAVE JUST AS YOU MENTIONED, ARE MOVING AWAY FROM IT BECAUSE THEY ARE BACK TO KIND OF PRE PANDEMIC STANCES.

I MEAN, A LOT OF CAMPUSES DON'T REQUIRE THAT YOU WEAR MASK IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, SOME OF THEM IT'S KIND OF AN INSIDE OUTSIDE THING.

IT JUST KIND OF DEPENDS.

BUT FOR THE MOST POINT HERE, IT'S HARD TO KIND OF KEEP A TRACK ON WHAT THESE STUDENTS DO.

>>AND CERTAINLY THE TONE SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED PARTICULARLY AT UCF WHEN IT COMES TO THE OMICRON VARIANT.

I MEAN, THERE HAD BEEN CONCERNS, RIGHT, CHRIS FROM THE TEACHERS UNIONS ABOUT A RETURN TO IN-PERSON CLASSES, RIGHT AT THE START OF THE SEMESTER.

BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN CLEAR THAT HE WANTS IN-PERSON TUITION TO CONTINUE.

>>HE ABSOLUTELY DOES.

AND IT DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL.

OBVIOUSLY, PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS HAVE A LOT MORE LEEWAY THAN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

AND WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THE UNIONS, WHAT THEY'RE REPRESENTING IS THE FACULTY, THAT'S THEIR CONCERN.

AND FACULTY RUNS THE GAMUT FROM YOUR GRAD STUDENTS AND YOUR PROFESSORS THAT HAVE JUST STARTED TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN TEACHING AND MAYBE UP THERE IN YEARS, A LITTLE MORE VULNERABLE, MAYBE HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.

AND SO THE UNIONS ARE BASICALLY SAYING, LISTEN, WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO OUR MEMBERS.

AND OUR MEMBERS ARE A DIVERSE GROUP.

THE STUDENT POPULATION MAY BE YOUNGER, MORE RESILIENT TO THIS, OUR POPULATION THAT WE REPRESENT, MAYBE NOT.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY A PUSH PULL THERE.

>>LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VACCINE MANDATES FOR A MOMENT, CURTIS, I MEAN, DOES THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING THAT WE MENTIONED ON THE OSHA MANDATE SORT OF OFFER SOME CLARITY TO BIG COMPANIES HERE IN FLORIDA, WHO'D SORT OF BEEN NAVIGATING THAT DISCREPANCY BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE RULES?

>>IT DOES.

IT ACTUALLY DOES.

AND KIND OF, IT GIVES THEM THE ANSWERS THAT THEY SO BEEN SEEKING WHEN IT COMES TO ALL OF THIS.

SOME DO WE REQUIRE OUR EMPLOYEES TO GET THE VACCINE OR NOT?

NOW MOST OF THEM ARE KIND OF BACKTRACKING.

AND EVER SINCE THAT RULING BASICALLY SAYING THAT, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO GET THE VACCINE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

THEY LEAVE IT UP TO A CHOICE HERE.

AND OF COURSE, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION OVER THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT HERE SAYING THAT MOST COMPANIES, PRESIDENT PUTTING OUT THAT MANDATE SAYING THAT MOST OF THESE COMPANIES, YOU'VE GOT TO GET YOUR EMPLOYEES VACCINATED.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF FUNCTION.

>>NOW, THAT'S KIND OF WE'RE TALKING, WE'RE SEEING KIND OF A STEP BACK HERE.

SOME OF THESE COMPANIES SAYING HERE, HEY, IT'S UP TO YOU.

YOU DO WHAT FEELS COMFORTABLE FOR YOU.

AND WE SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.

NOW, WILL WE SEE THAT KIND OF SHIFT?

WILL IT KIND OF GET KICKED BACK AND THIS BE OVERTURNED?

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHERE THAT ENDS UP.

>>I MEAN, WE SAW THE SUPREME COURT TAKE A DIFFERENT STANCE ON THE CMS MANDATE AND OF COURSE, FLORIDA REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR HAVE TAKEN A PRETTY STRONG STANCE ON THAT RULING.

I MEAN, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS HERE IN FLORIDA WHO ARE A BARRED UNDER STATE LAW, RIGHT, FROM REQUIRING VACCINATION?

>>I MEAN, THE THREE OF US MISSED A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO CORPORATE LITIGATION BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE...

I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO GET SORTED OUT.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS REAL TENSION BETWEEN HERE'S THE STATE LAW, HERE'S WHAT THE FEDS ARE SAYING.

SUPREME COURT'S GIVEN ITS BLESSING TO WHAT THE FEDS ARE SAYING BUT STATE LAW IS STANDING OVER HERE SAYING, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

IT PUTS THEM IN A DIFFICULT POSITION AND I WOULD IMAGINE THERE'S A LOT OF ATTORNEYS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF BILLABLE HOURS, BOTH DRAFTING UP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOSPITALS, AND THEN DEPENDING ON IF THERE'S LITIGATION REPRESENTING THEM IN COURT.

>>AND OF COURSE UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HAD SAID RIGHT BEFORE THAT SUPREME COURT RULING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE MANDATING VACCINATIONS FOR THEIR STAFF.

OF COURSE, WITH OPT-OUTS AS FLORIDA REQUIRES.

CHRIS, JERRY DEMINGS THIS WEEK SAID HE HAD TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID 19.

THE VIRUS IS ALSO CAUSING, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE STARTED RECORDING, SOME ISSUES AT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE A LOT OF LAWMAKERS SEEM TO BE COMING DOWN WITH COVID.

I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THAT DURING THE SESSION?

AND ARE THERE ANY MITIGATION MEASURES IN PLACE AT THE CAPITOL?

>>WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IS HAVING A QUORUM.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT TO HAVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, TO HAVE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS, TO HAVE A FLOOR SESSION.

OBVIOUSLY, FLOOR SESSION'S MUCH BIGGER, 120 MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE YET 40 OVER IN THE SENATE.

SO YOU CAN LOSE A COUPLE AND STILL HIT A QUORUM.

BUT WHEN THESE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE HAPPENING, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT, YOU CAN'T HOLD A MEETING.

WE HAD FOUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS CANCELED ON WEDNESDAY WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF NOTIFICATION AS TO WHY, THE SUSPICION BEING THAT THEY COULDN'T GET A QUORUM PRESENT.

OR THIS HAS ALSO BEEN ALSO FLOATING AROUND AT THE CAPITOL, CERTAIN MEMBERS WEREN'T GOING TO BE THERE.

AND IF YOU NEED ENOUGH MEMBERS THERE FOR CERTAIN VOTES TO GO CERTAIN WAYS, YOU CANCEL THE MEETING AND WAIT UNTIL THEY'RE HEALTHY TO BE THERE.

>>ORLANDO STATE REPRESENTATIVE, CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH, OF COURSE ALSO SAYING THAT HE HAD TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID 19 AS WELL.

WELL A REMINDER, YOU CAN JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE AT WUCFTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM.

ALL RIGHT, FINALLY, TONIGHT, WE WANTED TO MENTION A BIG MOMENT FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

LAST FRIDAY SAW THE OPENING OF STEINMETZ HALL IN THE DR. PHILLIPS CENTER IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO.

THE MORE THAN $600 MILLION VENUE HAS TAKEN YEARS TO PLAN AND CONSTRUCT.

AND ITS BUILT AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ACOUSTIC PERFECT SPACES.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE SCENES FROM THE OPENING CEREMONY LAST WEEK.

>>I HOPE YOU WILL ALL REMEMBER THAT ON JANUARY 14TH, 2022, YOU ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF STEINMETZ HALL.

>>THERE'S NOT A THEATER LIKE IT IN THE WORLD.

SO IT HAS AN N ONE RATING FOR ACOUSTICS.

PERFECT SOUND.

IT HAS A MULTIFORM STRUCTURE WHERE A HUNDRED MILLION POUND PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE CHANGES THE SHAPE OF THE ROOM.

>>THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW, THIS FACILITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE RELEVANT.

>>HOW DO YOU MAKE A PLACE THAT FEELS THAT WELCOMING TO EVERYONE?

AND SINCE WE HAVE 78 MILLION PEOPLE THAT VISIT HERE, PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THEIR CITY CENTER AND THIS IS IN THE CITY CENTER.

SO IS IT FOR THE TOURISTS?

ABSOLUTELY, OUR VISITORS BUT IT'S ALSO FOR KIDS, IT'S FOR ANYONE TO COME AND ENJOY.

>>THE OPENING FINALLY OF STEINMETZ HALL.

WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO CHRISTOPHER HEATH FROM WFTV CHANNEL 9 AND CURTIS MCCLOUD FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

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

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.