Pension reform ready for House vote

Florida House Republicans again have set their sights on pension reform for government employees. A proposal automatically enrolling new hires in a defined-contribution plan Tuesday cleared its final House committee on a mostly party-line vote. The proposal by Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Lehigh Acres, would create survivor benefits for first responders enrolled in the so-called investment/defined…

Two senate bills addressing public corruption are moving closer to floor votes. The House has already acted.

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, is nearing the final push in a two-year effort to crack down on public corruption. Gaetz’s Florida Anti-Corruption Act of 2016 Tuesday cleared the Senate Community Affairs Committee with a unanimous vote and is one stop away from a Senate floor vote. Among other things, SB 686 prohibits legislators from accepting…