Seth McKeel

Congressional Classroom Visit

Seth McKeel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:24 +0000

This past week I was visited by a very special group of students from the Central Florida Area. The Congressional Classroom students boarded a bus bright and early on Wednesday morning and headed north to Tallahassee. Their day at the Capitol included meeting with Commissioner Putnam, myself, and Representative Alan Williams at various times. They also enjoyed a healthy Fresh From Florida lunch in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service’s board room. Rep. Alan Williams and I had a great time visiting with the students in the House Chamber. We spoke about a broad range of topics and gave them some historical insight about the Chamber itself. In the evening, I rejoined the students for the ice cream social that benefitted the Randy Roberts Foundation which supports the Congressional Classroom Program. These impressive students represent Polk County education in such a positive way and I was honored to be a part of their trip to Tallahassee.

HB119 – Motor Vehicle Insurance

Seth McKeel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:59:33 +0000

One of the more publicized issues faced by members this year relates to motor vehicle insurance and personal injury protection coverage (PIP). On Wednesday, the bill was heard in the Civil Justice Subcommittee and was passed favorably by a 10-5 vote. It’s next stop in the committee process will be the Economic Affairs Committee. Personal Injury Protection coverage was first enacted in 1971, through the passage of the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law. The coverage was intended to reduce litigation and provide payment for medical expenses for injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes. Since the program’s inception, the number of PIP claims has grown significantly each year, despite a marked decline in the number of auto accidents which some believe is due to fraudulent claims. As a result, many of the citizens of our great state have seen consistent increases in the cost of their auto coverage. The bill proposes to replace the existing Personal Injury Protection insurance system with the Emergency Care Coverage (ECC) Law which still allows Floridians to recover lost wages and receive funeral benefits. It is a comprehensive bill, and the Florida House’s website features multiple resources to familiarize yourself with the issue should you have any questions.

Tallahassee Update from Rep. McKeel

Seth McKeel — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:51:32 +0000

Week 2 of the Legislative Session is now drawing to a close. It was a week filled with committee meetings and other legislative meetings. I was also very happy to see and meet with many constituents who made the trip up to Tallahassee this week. There were an abundance of important advocate groups flooding the Capitol halls and courtyard, and many made their way into my office to say hello. I was also thrilled to participate in the Everglades Water Supply Summit that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s hard to believe that Session is already a fourth of the way completed, and I’m excited for the upcoming weeks. The process of redistricting will be of utmost importance in the next couple weeks as the proposed House map will be completed and voted upon. It is a historic time in the Florida Legislature, and I thank you for allowing me to represent you.

Everglades Water Supply Summit

Seth McKeel — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:50:22 +0000

The Everglades Water Supply Summit took place on January 17th and 18th. It was a well attended, and planned event and I was glad to be asked to be a part of it.The event started off with a water summit on Tuesday afternoon that included multiple panels and some inspiring multimedia presentations. The panels were very engaging and some of my colleagues participated including Speaker Designate Will Weatherford, Governor Scott, Commissioner Putnam, and Senate President Haridopolos. Famous pro golfer Jack Nicklaus made an appearance on a panel as well. On the morning of the 18th, I was asked to participate in a legislative panel to offer some insight with a few other members of the House and Senate. It was a very engaging panel that I hope the attendees of the event found insightful and entertaining. The water supply and the health of the Everglades is a vitally important topic to the State of Florida, and I thank the Everglades Foundation for involving me in the event.

Redistricting Update

Seth McKeel — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:46:42 +0000

On Monday, January 9, 2012, seven proposed committee bills were approved in their respective subcommittees- Congressional, House or Senate. To review each bill and for additional information, take some time to visit the House’s Redistricting Bills page. The next Redistricting meeting will take place January 20, 2012, where members will workshop the seven plans that have been approved by the subcommittees. Members will also hear public testimony on the maps at that meeting. For those who are unable to attend, the Redistricting Committee encourages citizens to submit comments on the maps via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and the Florida Redistricting blog. Constituents may also submit the redistricting suggestion form online at www.floridaredistricting.org or email the redistricting committee at mydistrictbuilder@myfloridahouse.gov.

State of the State Address

Seth McKeel — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:30:52 +0000

On Tuesday, Governor Rick Scott took to the podium in front of a crowded group assembled in the chamber to present his State of the State speech. Issues discussed by the Governor included balancing the budget, PIP (Personal Injury Protection), creating jobs, reducing taxes and increased funding for schools. In his speech, Gov. Scott stated that an increase on premiums for PIP are increasing by 30 percent and, currently, that those rates cannot be sustained and that if we are going to be serious about keeping the cost of living low in Florida, we must get tough on auto insurance fraud and abuse. Governor Scott also mentioned the need for new education funding when he referenced his recommended budget which includes $1 Billion of new funding.

I look forward to working with my fellow members in tackling many of the issues presented by Governor Scott particularly education funding, reducing government regulation, and putting Floridians back to work. We can, and should help him achieve these objectives.

Update from Rep. Seth McKeel

Seth McKeel — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:26:41 +0000

This past Tuesday marked the day our office has been working up to these past few months. Legislative Session officially started at 9:30AM on January 10, 2012 and I was thankful to have my wife Kim in Tallahassee with me. After the opening day activities were completed, I focused my attention to the week ahead which was filled with long days full of committee hearings and other legislative meetings. I was happy to visit and meet with many constituents as well who made the trip up to Tallahassee this week.

This session will clearly be dominated by the two major issues of redistricting and balancing the budget. It will indeed be a historic time as we under-take the once in a decade redistricting process. I look forward to discussing additional legislation with you that focuses on my guiding principles of lower taxes, limited scope of government, individual liberties and getting Floridians back to work. As always, it is my pleasure to serve you. Here’s to a successful 2012!

Staff Addition

Seth McKeel — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:24:52 +0000

The onset of Session has brought about an addition to my staff in Tallahassee. This past week I welcomed one of Lakeland’s own into our office as our Session intern. Alex Yarbrough will join my aide Cory Guzzo in our Capitol office to help assist with the legislative duties. Alex is a senior at Florida State University studying Business Management and International Affairs. He will be graduating in May, and is currently applying to law schools all over the country. Alex had the opportunity to study abroad in France for a semester last year and is heavily involved in multiple activities for the university. I consider him a valuable addition to our office, and look forward to working with him over the upcoming weeks. Welcome to the team Alex!

Alex Yarbrough joins the McKeel Staff

Holiday Message from Rep. Seth McKeel

Seth McKeel — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:02:05 +0000

Merry Christmas! As committee weeks in Tallahassee have drawn to a close, I have had some time to reflect on the past year, a year which has brought great challenges but also great reward. The State Affairs committee which I chair has tackled some enormous issues and, while we have much left to do, I am pleased with the reforms we implemented and the work we accomplished. Your support, encouragement and advice has been invaluable. I sincerely appreciate every letter, phone call, and email you have sent me, and as always, I encourage you to continue to stay in contact with me. Most of all, I’m grateful to Kim and my loving family who are my biggest supporters . As my Legislative calendar has continued to expand, my family has been more patient and understanding than anyone should have to be and I’m forever grateful. Kim and I hope that you have a joyful and restful time with your loved ones as our year comes to a close. And, like you, as the new year begins, we will hit the ground running — our Session officially begins on January 10th. I hope you’ll visit me Tallahassee during Session. Please let my office know if you will be in the area so that you can stop by the office and say hello! Cherish these next two weeks with your family and friends, ever mindful of the sacrifices being made by the brave men and women who keep us safe and bring peace to our world. As always, it is a pleasure to serve you.

God Bless.

New House of Representatives Website

Seth McKeel — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:47 +0000

The House of Representatives recently launched its new website, http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/ intended to make navigation and finding information easier and more user-friendly. Most navigational features remain the same but some tools have been relocated or enhanced to ensure you get the most out of your experience on the site. For instance, the Find a Bill tool will now appear on the far right hand side of the website, no matter what page you are on. You may use this fluid tool to search for bills by number, text, session year and Chamber (House or Senate). Other updated features include:

NEW Public Guide- House videos, podcasts and photo galleries can be found on the Public Guide page in addition to being featured rotationally on the House homepage slider. The slider will also include up-to-date information about Session activities, announcements and news. The Public Guide page also includes publications like The Informer, OPI Pulse, On Track and Session Guide, among other items.
Legislative Tracking- used to track specific bills and committees throughout the legislative process. The tool will appear on the left-hand side of the webpage, opposite Find a Bill.
Additional Resources- an expandable section of the homepage that includes links to various resources like the Office of the Clerk, the Office of the Sergeant, and traditional reference materials as supplied by the House and other government entities .