The FLORIDA Channel

Florida Face to Face
Remembrances of Senator Jim King

Florida Face to Face
Guest:   Charles Bronson, Commissioner of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Commissioner Bronson about the future of agriculture in Florida's economy.  Topics include the upcoming Farm to Fuel summit, record price-gouging settlement with Morgan Stanley, new restrictions on the labeling of honey, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Charles Drago, Secretary, Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Secretary Drago about the mission and challenges of the agency responsible for licensing and regulating Florida businesses.

Florida Face to Face
Guest:   Senator Bob Graham, Governor of Florida, 1978-1986

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with retired Florida statesman Bob Graham about the importance of civics education in middle and high schools.  The former U.S. Senator and Governor also discusses his new book, "America, the Owner's Manual: Making Government Work for You."

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Attorney General Bill McCollum and Agriculture & Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Attorney General McCollum and Commissioner Bronson on the affects of proposed budget cuts on their state agencies.  Topics include internet predators, Medicaid fraud, mortgage fraud, drought conditions, price gouging, internet scams and more.   

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Sen. Jeff Attwater -
President of the Florida Senate and
Rep. Larry Cretul, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with President Attwater and Speaker Cretul about the budget process. Topics include anticipated cuts, federal stimulus dollars, alternative revenue sources and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Sen. J D Alexander - Chair, Senate Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Senator Alexander about the budget process.  Topics include a new website being developed that will allow any Floridian to see how their tax dollars are spent, the use of federal stimulus dollars to help balance the current budget., and more.

Florida Face to Face
Governor Charlie Crist’s State of the State Address

Topics:  In this special edition, Florida Face to Face focuses on two issues, Florida's economy and the 2009-10 budget.  Included in the program are excerpts from Governor Crists State of the State address from March 3, and Senate President Jeff Attwaters remarks at the opening of the 2009 session.

Florida Face to Face
Guest:  Rep. Larry Cretul,
House Speaker Pro Tempore

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Speaker Cretul about the challenges of the upcoming legislative session.  Topics include the budget deficit, proposed federal economic stimulus plan, Seminole gaming compact, property taxes, sales tax exemptions, new revenue sources and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests:  Rep. David Rivera, Chair House Full Appropriations Council on Education and Economic Development and
Senator JD Alexander, Chair, Senate Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with budget leaders from the House and Senate.  Topics include the reductions made this week to the 2008-09 budget, and a look ahead to the challenge of crafting a new budget for 2009-10.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Eric Smith,
Commissioner, Department of Education

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Commissioner Smith about Florida's improvement in a national survey on education quality.  Topics include the challenges the department faces as the legislature meets in a special session to rebalance the 2008-2009 budget, a look ahead to the 2009-2010 education budget, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Craig Fugate,
Director, Division of Emergencey Management

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Director Fugate about the 2008 Hurricane season, one of the most active and expensive on record.  Topics include the record flooding from Tropical Storm Faye, how Floridians should prepare for hurricanes and other natural disasters, budget challenges and more..

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Senator Jeff Atwater,
President of the Florida Senate

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with President Attwater about the January 5th special session to re balance the budget.  Topics include the president's new leadership team, his Select Committee on Florida's Economy, the possibility of more revenues or agency consolidations, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Ken Pruitt,
President of the Florida Senate

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with President Pruitt about his career in the legislature and his two-year term as president. Topics include education reforms, biomedical research, term limits, the economy and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Kurt Browning, Secretary, Florida Department of State

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Secretary Browning about the preparations for the 2008 general election in November.  Topics include the large number of new registered voters, early voting, voter verification, and more.

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Governor Crist about Florida's economy.  Topics include unemployment, housing sales, Accelerate Florida initiative, green technology, 2009-2010 budget, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest:  Dr. Willis N. Holcombe, Chancellor, Community College System, Florida Department of Education

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Chancellor Holcombe about the effects of the economy on the state community college system.  Topics include the transition from a community college system to a state college system, Amendment 8, the effect of the freshman cap on enrollment at state universities on the community college system, funding challenges due to budget cutbacks, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest:  Bill McCollum,  Florida Attorney General

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with General McCollum about the thousands of gasoline price-gouging complaints his department is investigating as a result of Hurricane Ike and other storms.  Topics also include recent lawsuits filed against mortgage fraud rings, the Inspectors General's report on the licensing of criminals as mortgage brokers, illegal Seminole gaming activity, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Charles Bronson, Commissioner,
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Commissioner Bronson about the thousands of gasoline price-gouging complaints his department is investigating as a result of Hurricane Ike and other storms.  Topics also include the state's role in developing alternative energy sources such as biofuels, offshore oil drilling, the effect of Tropical Storm Fay on agriculture, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest:  Walt McNeil, Secretary,
Florida Department of Corrections

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Secretary McNeil about his recent appointment to the Department of Corrections.  Topics include the efforts the department is making to reduce recidivism, substance abuse programs, community work prisons, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Charlie Crist, Governor of Florida

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Governor Crist about Florida's economic climate. Topics include the Governor's recent trade mission to Europe, mortgage fraud, offshore oil drilling, alternative energy solutions, affordable health care, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Dr. Eric Smith, Commissioner, Florida Department of Education

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Commissioner Smith about his first year as the leader of Florida's public education system. Topics include the budget challenges due to the economy and changes to Florida's property tax laws, public school accountability, state graduation rates, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Secretary Kurt Browning,
Florida Department of State

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Secretary Browning about the diverse roles of the Department of State.  Topics include the preparations for the 2008 primaries and general election, recent election law changes, budget cuts affecting the state's libraries and the arts, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Dr. Douglas Beach, Secretary, Florida Department of Elder Affairs

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Secretary Beach about issues that affect Florida's seniors. Topics include 2008 budget cuts, health insurance, senior centers, crimes against the elderly, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Senator Steven Geller,
Senate Minority Leader

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Leader Geller about the recently signed budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year. Also discussed are the Senator's autism bill, property insurance reforms, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Bill McCollum,
Florida's Attorney General

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with General McCollum about a new initiative to shut down dog fighting operations in the state. Also discussed are anti-crime legislation passed during the 2008 session including tougher gang laws, internet safety, mortgage fraud and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Secretary Holly Benson, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Secretary Benson about health care legislation signed by Governor Crist this week. Among the topics discussed are affordable health care policies, mandated autism coverage, reforms to the process for opening new medical facilities and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Representative Marco Rubio, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives

Topics: This special episode features Speaker Rubio's farewell address from the House floor on May 2nd, 2008.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Senator Ken Pruitt, President of the Florida Senate

Topics: This special episode features Senate President Ken Pruitt's farewell address from the Senate floor on May 1st, 2008.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Education Commissioner Eric Smith

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Commissioner Smith about Education Legislation being dicussed in the 2008 legsilative session. Among the topics discussed are education budget cuts, high school grading, revisions to sunshine standards, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Charlie Crist, Governor of Florida

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Governor Crist about the progress of the 2008 legislative session. Among the topics discussed are the budget, affordable health care legislation, the "Guns to Work" bill, the "Farm to Fuel" program and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp and Charles Bronson, Commissioner of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Lt. Governor KottKamp about the newly released Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey which shows drug abuse by Florida's teens is on the decline. He also discusses the future of Florida's space industry, affordable health care and more. Commissioner Bronson discusses the future of Florida's Florida Forever and Farm to Fuel programs and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Alex Sink, Florida's Chief Financial Officer and Kevin McCarty, Commissioner, Office of
Insurance Regulation

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with CFO Sink about legislation to fight annuity fraud among Florida's seniors. The CFO also discusses Florida's Catastrophe Fund and Citizens Property Insurance Company. Commissioner McCarty discusses recent court decisions including the suspension of Allstate Insurance Company's certificate to write new policies in Florida.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Dr. Mark Rosenberg, Chancellor, State University System of Florida

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the Chancellor about issues affecting Florida's public universities. Topics include budget reductions, tuition increases, campus
security and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Senate Minority Leader
Steven Geller and House
Minority Leader Dan Gelber

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the Democratic leaders from the House and Senate on their views of the 2008 legislative session so far. Topics include budget reductions, economic stimulus, proposed changes to Florida's education system and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Senator Ken Pruitt,
President of the Florida Senate

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with President Pruitt about the progress of the 2008 legislative session. Topics also include budget reductions, economic stimulus, and proposed changes to Florida's education system.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Representative Marco Rubio, Speaker of the
Florida House of Representatives

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Speaker Rubio about the recently passed budget reduction plan. Topics also include property taxes and insurance, Medicaid reform, climate change and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: President-Pro Tempore Lisa Carlton, Chairman of the Senate Fiscal Policy and Calendar Committee and Speaker Designate Ray Sansom,Chairman of the House Policy and Budget Committee

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the Budget Chairs of the House and Senate about the budget challenges facing the state legislature as they prepare for the 2008 session. Topics include further reductions in the current '07-'08 budget, the governor's '08-'09 budget recommendations and more.

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with the Senate President and President Pro Tempore about the budget challenges facing the state legislature as they prepare for the 2008 session.  Topics include further reductions in the current '07-'08 budget, the governor's '08-'09 budget recommendations and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Speaker-Designate Ray Sansom, Chairman of the House Policy and Budget Committee and Marco Rubio, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the Speaker and Speaker-Designate about the budget challenges facing the state legislature as they prepare for the 2008 session. Topics include further reductions in the current '07-'08 budget, the Governor's '08-'09 budget recommendations and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Dr. Willis Holcombe, Chancellor, Florida Community Colleges

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Dr. Holcombe about his recent appointment to head Florida's community college system. Among the topics discussed are the recent spike in community college enrollment, proposed 2008 funding, new bachelors degree programs, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Dr. Dale Brill, Director, Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development; and Leo DiBenigno, Secretary of the Florida Lottery

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Dr. Brill and Secretary DiBenigno about the role their agencies play in generating new revenue for Florida's economy. Included in the discussion are the recent efforts of OTTED to attract biomedical research companies to the state and the Florida Lottery's new marketing efforts to increase revenue for public education.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Bill McCollum,
Attorney General of Florida

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Florida's Attorney General about his efforts to fight sexual predators who prey on Florida's children on the internet. Topics also include new anti-gang efforts, mortgage fraud task force, Seminole gaming compact, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Dr. Eric Smith, Commissioner, Florida Department of Education

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Florida's new education commissioner about his background and goals. Topics include the role of FCAT in public school accountability, a national report that shows Florida schools are improving, the recent visit of U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings on behalf of "No Child Left Behind," and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Jane Johnson, Executive Director, Agency for Persons with Disabilities and Bob Butterworth, Secretary, Department of Children and Families

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Director Johnson about the role her agency plays in providing services to Florida's disabled citizens. Secretary Butterworth discusses how the Department of Children and Families is meeting the challenges of protecting foster children and the mentally disabled in Florida.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros,
Surgeon General of Florida;
Monesia Brown, Director of the Agency
for Workforce Innovation

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the two state agency leaders about budget challenges this year and their priorities for 2008. Dr. Viamonte Ros discusses the Department of Health's efforts to raise awareness of health issues in the state. Ms. Brown discusses her agency's role in promoting employment programs and the 2-year-old state pre-kindergarten program her agency administers.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Secretary Holly Benson, Department of Business and Professional Regulation; Secretary Linda South,
Department of Management Services

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Secretary Benson and Secretary South about the challenges faced by their agencies. Topics include the "plain language" mandate by Governor Crist, the Council on Efficient Government, budget challenges and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Dr. James Ammons, President,
Florida A & M University

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with FAMU's new president about the challenges he faces returning to his alma mater. Topics discussed include efforts by the administration and Board of Governors to respond to recent audits that question the school's accounting procedures, an upcoming accreditation visit, the impact of statewide budget cuts, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Dr. Cheri Yecke, Chancellor,
K-12 Public Schools, Florida Department of Education

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Chancellor Yecke about the start of a new academic year for Florida schools that includes several new programs. Topics discussed include high school majors, new physical education requirements, steroid testing, budget challenges, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Dr. Mark Rosenberg, Chancellor, State University System of Florida

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Chancellor Rosenberg about the budget challenges faced by Florida's public universities. Topics discussed also include funding for Florida's two new medical programs, a new law that allows three Florida universities to charge higher tuitions, the Bright Futures scholarship program, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Charles Bronson, Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Commissioner Bronson about the recent Farm to Fuel Summit held in St. Petersburg. Topics include efforts to increase Florida's production of ethanol to 30% of the state's fuel needs. Also discussed is the future of farming in Florida, a new program to monitor food processing and distribution in the state and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Craig Fugate, Director, Division of Emergency Management

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Director Fugate about the state’s preparations for the 2007 Hurricane season.  Topics include the state’s efforts to control wildfires and the importance of Floridians to have a plan for emergencies, including wildfires and hurricanes.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Electra Bustle, Executive Director, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Director Bustle about her first 100 days as the new agency head. Also discussed are the many consumer oriented improvements including new Monday hours, online license and tag renewals, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: David Armstrong, Chancellor, Florida's Community Colleges and Workforce Education

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Chancellor Armstrong about his ten years as head of Florida's community college system. Also discussed are the challenges Armstrong expects to face as the new president of Broward Community College.

Florida Face to Face
Guest:  Governor Charlie Crist

Topics:  Host Beth Switzer talks with Governor Crist about the results of the recent special legislative session on property tax reform.  Topics also include the newly established Open Government Commission, the veto of a 5% tuition increase for Florida universities, the possibility of a special fall session on “no-fault” auto insurance and KidCare, and more.

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Commissioner McCarty about recent changes affecting property insurance rates in Florida.  Topics include the expansion of the Florida Catastrophe Fund, the effect of mitigation on reducing rates, the June 1st rate filings, the expiration of “No Fault” auto insurance and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Craig Fugate, Director, Division of Emergency Management

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Director Fugate about the state's preparations for the 2007 Hurricane season. Topics include the state's efforts to control wildfires and the importance of Floridians to have a plan for emergencies, including wildfires and hurricanes.

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with CFO Sink about how her legislative priorities fared during the recent legislative session. Also discussed are the state's efforts to fight insurance fraud, expansion of state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Company, the expiration of no-fault auto insurance, the cancellation of Project Aspire, and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Lt. Governor Kottkamp about the state’s battle against wildfires. Also discussed are legislation passed during the recently completed legislative session including election reforms, college tuition, property insurance, property taxes and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles Bronson

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with two of the members of the Florida Cabinet about their legislative priorities during the 2007 legislative session. Attorney General McCollum discusses cybercrime, Medicaid fraud, and other crime legislation. Commissioner Bronson shares his thoughts on alternative energy legislation, funding for “Fresh from Florida”, citrus canker and other consumer issues.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the Lieutenant Governor about the progress of the 2007 legislative session. Among the topics discussed are property tax reform, education, global warming and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guests: Senate Majority Leader Daniel Webster and Senate Minority Leader Steven Geller

Host Beth Switzer talks with the senators about the 2007-08 budget and property tax reform. The senate leaders also discuss issues that will be coming up in the remaining two weeks of the 2007 session.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Ken Pruitt, President of the Florida Senate

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the Senate President about his views on the progress of the 2007 session. Topics include the budget, property taxes, Everglades cleanup, stem cell research and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Florida Governor Charlie Crist

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the governor about his first hundred days in office. Topics include property taxes, 2007-08 Budget, Anti-Murder Act, merit pay for teachers, Everglades cleanup and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Alex Sink and Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Charles Bronson

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with CFO Sink about recent changes in property insurance laws and expanding the role of the Insurance Consumer Advocate and more. Commissioner Bronson discusses Florida’s “Farm to Fuel” programs and the concern over this year’s wildfire season and more.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: House Speaker Marco Rubio, Speaker-designate Ray Sansom, and Rep. Dean Cannon

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the three House members who are expected to lead the Florida House for the next six years. The members discuss Governor Crist’s State of the State address as well as the major issues being addressed during the 2007 session.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: David Armstrong, Chancellor of Florida’s Community Colleges

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Chancellor Armstrong about the unique role community colleges play in preparing students for Florida’s job market and higher education. Also discussed are the diverse demographics of community college students and the recent approval of bachelor degree programs in education, nursing and other high-need areas.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Senate President Ken Pruitt

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with President Pruitt about the upcoming legislative session set to begin March 6th. Highlights of the discussion include the 2007-08 budget, property tax reform, hurricane mitigation, and education challenges.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Commissioner John Winn, Florida Department of Education

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the retiring commissioner about a new DVD produced by the Florida Department of Education that provides information about the state education system to parents. Winn also discusses new high school majors, the role of the FCAT and revisions being made to the test.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Bill McCollum, Attorney General of Florida

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the new attorney general about his first month in office. McCollum also discusses the need for more resources to fight internet crime, gang violence and identity theft.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Jeff KottKamp, Lt. Governor of Florida

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Lt. Governor Kottkamp about his first weeks in office. Also discussed are Kottkamp’s role in working with the legislature on property insurance reform during the recent special session, creating a more open environment for state government, and the governor’s budget priorities.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Rep. Marco Rubio, Speaker of the Florida House

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with Speaker Rubio about the recently concluded special session on property insurance reform and the resulting legislation. Rubio talks about what Floridians can expect from the reforms
made and looks ahead to the issues that will be a priority in the regular session beginning in March.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Alex Sink, Florida's Chief Financial Officer

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the new CFO about her first two weeks in office. Sink also discusses the insurance crisis in Florida and how she views the efforts of the Florida legislature during the special session to address hurricane insurance reform.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Ken Pruitt, President of the Florida Senate

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the senate president about the upcoming special legislative session on property insurance reform. President Pruitt also discusses plans for town hall meetings across the state on property tax reform and his outlook for the new year.

Florida Face to Face
Guest: Florida Governor Charlie Crist

Topics: Host Beth Switzer talks with the new governor about his priorities for the upcoming year. Among the topics is his executive order requiring open government and strict ethics guidelines from all agencies, the upcoming special session to pass property insurance reform and new agency head appointments.